Roots names Joey Gollish as creative director, invests in Mr. Saturday

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Mar 7, 2023

Toronto-based apparel lifestyle brand Roots Corporation announced on Tuesday the appointment of Joey Gollish as a creative director in residence.

In this role, Gollish, the founder and creative director of the acclaimed fashion label Mr. Saturday, will work with Karuna Scheinfeld, chief product officer, who leads the creative and design teams. The position is expected to extend through 2025.

Mr. Saturday and Roots have worked closely together on a range of collaborations over the past two years. They launched the best-selling capsule collection 'Roots Saturday Airlines', while Gollish has collaborated with Roots on leather outerwear, travel bags, and accessories for Mr. Saturday's fall/winter 2023 runway show in Paris.

The appointment marks the first time in Roots history that it has welcomed an outside creative to the brand. Gollish will continue to helm the design and creative direction of Mr. Saturday, during this period. As part of the arrangement, Roots will also take a minority investment in the fashion brand. 

"As we embark on our 50th year, we understand the importance of staying innovative and forward-looking in today's ever-changing market. Through our collaboration with Mr. Saturday in December 2022, we found that Joey had a deep love for the Roots brand and a unique perspective that will support our long-term objective of increasing the brand's global appeal," said Meghan Roach, president & CEO. "We look forward to the exciting opportunities this additional creative influence will bring to Roots."

Gollish founded Mr. Saturday in 2019, which has presented collections on the official American Collections Calendar at New York Fashion Week and on the official Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode's calendar at Paris Fashion Week.

He was also recently named Canada's 2022 Menswear Designer of The Year by Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards, and was also featured as one of the 'New Names to Know' by Vogue and '1 of 20 Canadians Shaping the Next 20 Years of Culture' by Complex.

Gollish is expected to bring a fresh perspective to Roots, while also honoring its storied past. Roots has recently upgraded its collection to include sustainable content and has expanded its gender-free and extended sizing assortment. Working with Gollish represents another step in the Roots evolution. 

"Taking on the creative director residency for a company deeply rooted in my heritage is a true honour. As Roots celebrates its 50th anniversary, I am excited to reflect on its past and help shape its future. From David Bowie to my parents, Roots has been worn by some of my biggest inspirations,” added Gollish.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to the brand's next chapter as we continue to prioritize authenticity, craftsmanship, community, luxury, and storytelling; characteristics also shared by Mr. Saturday. I am grateful for the support of the founders and executive team, who share a vision for advancing the brand while respecting its legacy. I look forward to joining this talented team and embracing this new challenge in my career.”