OTH: a family affair.

Owners Harry Drakopolous (left) and Angelo Destounis (right) are influenced by the lifestyle of living, working and creating in Montréal. Their love for their community and the retail industry is evident throughout everything they produce, a passion that has established OTH as a true retail experience.

Sitting down to eat in one of Montréal’s most renowned restaurants, Voro, I had the opportunity to ask owners Harry and Ang’ a few questions about themselves and OTH Boutique. Here is a look at where OTH has been, where it is now, and where it is going.

Founded in 1999, how has OTH philosophy changed over the years?
I wouldn’t say that the philosophy has changed. We have grown up for sure. We have travelled a lot, we have seen brands/people come and go, but our philosophy has never changed. We are progressive as individuals, and our mandate is about sharing. We sell clothing, but we are a culture shop. And that’s what we mean by «sharing». Through our experiences, travels and research, music, design… we bring different things to our city and exchange ideas with the people that support us, and vice versa of course.

What about OTH Boutique do you feel translates loudest to your people- your city?
I believe that we transcend a vibrant energy and a positive perspective on things. We work very hard and try to be the best at what we do. We are thankful
and feel very lucky to live in Montréal. So many great things happen here, crazy nightlife and amazing restaurants, tons of music festivals, great sports scene including the Grand Prix… There’s lot’s happening here and we are trying to capture it all. And it’s always fun to dress for our four seasons. Those drastic changes keep us creative and motivated!

OTH loves collaborative projects. What have you found most rewarding about them?
Collaborations are always rewarding. Helping a brand get exposure here in our market, in exchange for our company to shine in their channel, is a fair way to progress business. But most importantly, for our creative juices to flow and for the millions ideas that we have in a day, it’s cool to actually turn one into reality. If the product sells and the reaction is positive, that just makes you feel more accomplished as a retailer.

You’re both Greek. Who’s got the better lamb spit?
Hahaha I’d say Harry’s! He gets more involved in the cooking side of things. We are blessed to have a great big family from Greece. Growing up, our parents and grandparents «obliged us» to embrace good healthy food. From a young age, we watched them cook, marinate, charcoal, even harvest the earth! With both of us in our thirties now, we must be more conscious and watch what we eat. Like they say, you are what you eat!

photo by PAUL LABONTE and/or Paul 107 www.paullabonte.com

interview by ryan sullivan at Voro restaurant www.voro.ca