Christian’s Cool Christmas Present

I got something really cool for Christmas. So, every year ad agencies give their clients (and staff) presents for Christmas. Sometimes it’s a party. Sometimes it’s alcohol. One time it was a PSP (very cool). At TAXI – the Toronto ad agency where I work – they decided to do something a little different.

To commemorate the ad agency’s 15th anniversary, they started the 15 Below Project. Basically, they are creating a jacket for to help homeless people to survive the frigid winters in Toronto.  The coat is an anorak-style, with drawstrings at the waist and hem. A hood can be folded into the collar. Two pockets in the hood, four on the chest, a large one on the back, and a long one down each sleeve can be stuffed with crumpled newspaper as the temperature drops.

You stuff or unstuff the pouches as you need to, so the same jacket that keeps you dry in the rain, becomes something that can protect you from extreme temperatures. In warm, dry weather, the entire jacket can be folded into one of the pockets and there are straps so it can be carried as a backpack or used as a pillow.

I think it’s kind of cool that an ad agency is now finding a second use for their ads – keeping homeless people warm. And it makes a pretty good Christmas present.

- Christian