About Us
ZALE Apparel was founded by Akil Thomas and Ethan Low when they were 15 years old. What began as just a hobby, ZALE Apparel is now a Toronto-rooted clothing brand run by best friends who are dedicated to creating versatile products that you genuinely enjoy wearing.
ZALE's philosophy and slogan “See Beyond” serves as our brand identity and fuels our creative process. Being a part of ZALE means pushing beyond your "boundaries" and not conforming to society's expectations. ZALE embodies a blend of talent from many different industries and has allowed us to come together and convey our ingenuity through different collections and products. This is our way of sharing stories and experiences while also showcasing our development as a brand.
Since its inception in 2015, ZALE has had incredible support from all over the world and we hope you continue to follow us on our journey.
Meet The Team
Learn about the people behind the brand and their stories
Co-Founder
Akil Thomas
Akil Thomas is the Co-Founder of Zale Apparel. As a young entrepreneur he started a T-shirt business when he was only 13 years old. Using an online t-shirt printing company to customize hockey themed t-shirts to sell friends, Akil was able to buy his own transportation tickets to school without having to ask his parents for money.
After realized the support and larger market for clothing Akil founded Zale Apparel with the help of Ethan Low. Akil now is a professional hockey player for the La kings and works on Zale during his time away from the rink. He oversees' the business as a whole and drives the creativity for each collection.
Creative Director
Patrick Romain
Born and raised in Toronto, Patrick grew up with a passion for playing sports and fashion. He has since ventured into the creative industry, where he now works as an Art Director in Advertising. Patrick aspires to bring his unique creative vision to the fashion world.
As the Creative Director at ZALE, Patricks collaborates closely the team to lead the brand’s creative endeavors. He develops new original ideas bringing a new perspective on fashion and brand development.
Customer Operations
Paul Akouris
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Paul grew up around both sports and fashion. He met Akil soon after Akil arrived in Canada when they became neighbours. Paul met Ethan playing minor hockey together, which formed a close relationship between the three of them.
Paul is currently studying BioChemistry at Western University. Although he has a strong passion for medicine and health, Paul is strongly influenced and involved in the fashion and streetwear scene. Paul currently is responsible for all customer relations.