Fineline

Name

Fineline

Legal name

Shop OCAD U

Website

https://fineline.art

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Branded Apparel & Merchandise

NAICS

Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (4581), Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Retailers (4594), General Merchandise Retailers (455)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Family Clothing Stores (5651)

akta.pro primary industry

Apparel, Footwear & Accessories Omnichannel (CRAFAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apparel-Focused Catalog Department Store Retailers (CRAGAIAA), Off-Price / Clearance-Led Catalog Department Store Retailers (CRAGAIAM)

Keywords

• University branded merchandise
• Collegiate apparel
• Graduation memorabilia
• Student-designed products
• Art school lifestyle

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto, Ontario

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: One-time product sales of OCAD University branded apparel, accessories, and gift items through e-commerce storefront. Revenue generated from direct consumer purchases with prices in Canadian dollars.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

The company operates ShopOCADU.ca, the official direct-to-consumer e-commerce merchandise store of OCAD University (Ontario College of Art and Design University). It sells OCAD U branded apparel (hoodies, crewnecks, t-shirts, hats, tote bags), accessories, drinkware, graduation memorabilia (diploma frames, mascot bears), and limited-edition collaboration products (e.g., Roots x OCAD U 150th Anniversary Kanga Hoodie). Production includes student/alumni-designed pieces through the LABEL:OCAD program. Fulfillment is via Shopify-powered online storefront with Canada-wide shipping, plus physical order pickup at The Store (100 McCaul St, Toronto).

Product overview

ShopOCADU.ca is the official e-commerce merchandise store for OCAD University (Ontario College of Art and Design University), operating since 1876. The store offers a comprehensive portfolio of branded apparel and accessories, including the OCAD U Studio line of embroidered basics (hoodies, crewnecks, t-shirts, hats, tote bags), collaborativeCollections like the limited-edition Roots 150th Anniversary Kanga Hoodie and Label:OCAD student-designed products, the A96 and F.C.B.C. archive-inspired streetwear lines, the C.Q.C. contemporary apparel collection, drinkware such as the OCAD U Milk Glass Retro Mug, graduation and convocation items including diploma frames and Bucky Grad Bear plush, and specialty goods like the Legacy Notebook made in Canada. Products are available for online purchase with Canada-wide shipping, local pickup at 100 McCaul St., and order pickup at Roy Thomson Hall during convocation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OCAD U Studio Hoodie A heavyweight black hoodie with OCAD U wordmark embroidered across the chest, featuring 340 GSM heavyweight fleece, drawstring hood, front pouch pocket, and ribbed cuffs and waistband. Targeted at OCAD U students, alumni, and fans seeking premium branded apparel (priced at $68 CAD).
• OCAD U Studio Crewneck A black crewneck sweatshirt with OCAD U wordmark embroidered across the chest, featuring 290 GSM midweight fleece and ribbed collar, cuffs, and waistband. Targeted at the university community for casual branded wear (priced at $58 CAD).
• OCAD U Studio T-Shirt Everyday heavyweight cotton tee with OCAD U wordmark printed across the chest, featuring a relaxed unisex fit and ribbed crew neck (priced at $25 CAD).
• OCAD U Studio Hat Classic black dad hat with OCAD U wordmark embroidered in white, featuring an unstructured dad hat fit, curved brim, and adjustable back closure (priced at $35 CAD).
• OCAD U Studio Tote Bag A sturdy black canvas tote bag with OCAD U wordmark printed in white, featuring jumbo canvas construction, bottom gusset, and long shoulder straps (priced at $20 CAD).
• A96 Hoodie Archive '96 Hoodie featuring an oversized and comfortable fit, heavyweight construction, and high quality graphic embellishments; part of the archive-inspired A96 streetwear line (priced at $80 CAD).
• A96 Set The Archive '96 Set including hoodie and sweatpants, featuring an oversized fit, heavyweight construction, and high quality graphic embellishments (priced at $150 CAD).
• A96 Sweatpants The Archive '96 sweatpant featuring an oversized and comfortable fit, heavyweight construction, and high quality graphic embellishments (priced at $75 CAD).
• F.C.B.C. Varsity Jacket Varsity jacket featuring vegan leather sleeves and pocket linings, high quality embroidery, chenille patches, and quilted interior lining (priced at $165 CAD). Final restock release.
• F.C.B.C. T-Shirt An oversized F.C.B.C. branded T-shirt as part of the archive-inspired F.C.B.C. line.
• F.C.B.C. Quarter Zip Sweater A comfy oversized fit quarter zip sweater featuring embroidery on the foldable collar (priced at $61 CAD).
• C.Q.C. Crewneck Featuring an oversized and comfortable fit, soft-gently washed 100% cotton fabric, and high quality embroidery. Part of the C.Q.C. contemporary apparel collection.
• C.Q.C. T-Shirt Featuring an oversized and cropped fit, heavy weight fabric with screen printed graphics; part of C.Q.C. contemporary collection.
• C.Q.C. Hat A C.Q.C. dad-cap style hat with faded black fabric and adjustable back strap.
• OCAD U Milk Glass Retro Mug A milky white glass mug with bold full-colour OCAD U wrap design, approximately 250 ml capacity with sturdy squared handle (priced at $18 CAD).
• Roots 150th Anniversary Kanga Hoodie
• OCAD University Diploma Frame Modern and elegant diploma frame with brushed aluminum frame, single 2-inch black mat, acid-free foamcore backing, embossed OCAD University logo, and protective glass (priced at $160 CAD). Ships Canada-wide with flat-rate shipping.
• OCAD University Florentine Black Diploma Frame Timeless diploma frame featuring solid wood moulding with black metallic Florentine finish, acid-free mat made from 100% recycled materials, and FSC-certified wood. Made in Canada (priced at $130 CAD).
• Bucky Grad Bear 9" A 9-inch teddy bear plush dressed for graduation in a graduation gown and cap, complete with a diploma in hand and OCAD University wordmark on the gown (priced at $24 CAD).
• Legacy Notebook A 6 x 9-inch notebook with 150 lined sheets/300 pages, printed with vegetable-based ink on recycled paper. Made in Canada by Ecojot (priced at $19 CAD).
• OCAD U Trucker Hat Adjustable snapback trucker cap with OCAD U wordmark embroidered on cap front, featuring 100% cotton twill front panels and 100% polyester mesh mid and back panels.
• North Star Tree Topper Canadian-style tree topper designed in Ottawa by Jackpine, handmade in Toronto. Dimensions 20.32cm x 22.22 cm, fits most trees 1m - 2.5m tall, made of lightweight formed plastic (priced at $50 CAD).
• OCAD U x Soulpepper Holiday Card by Phoebe Xiao Holiday card designed by OCAD U alum Phoebe Xiao, featuring a whimsical winter gathering. Size: 5" x 7".
• OCAD U x Soulpepper Holiday Card by Jesse Yevdaev Holiday card designed by OCAD U alum Jesse Yevdaev, featuring a cozy winter scene. Size: 7" x 5", blank inside, printed on 18 pt recycled matte card.
• OCAD U x Soulpepper Happy Holidays Card A Happy Holidays card designed by an OCAD U alum, available in Red and Green colours.
• OCAD U Dad T-Shirt A classic black tee with bold OCAD U Dad artwork printed on the front, designed for everyday OCAD U pride (priced at $25 CAD).
• OCAD U Mom T-Shirt A classic black tee with bold OCAD U Mom artwork printed on the front, 100% cotton with relaxed fit and classic crewneck (priced at $25 CAD).

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RootscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Limited-edition OCAD U x Roots 150th Anniversary Kanga Hoodie collaboration. Made from 360gsm midweight fleece in organic cotton and recycled polyester with 150th anniversary back graphic inspired by the Sharp Centre for Design. This is a branded collaboration marking 150 years of OCAD University.
• SoulpepperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration producing holiday cards designed by OCAD U alumni Jesse Yevdaev and Phoebe Xiao. Cards feature winter scenes and are printed on 18 pt recycled matte card stock.
• JackpineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Star Tree Topper designed in Ottawa by Jackpine, handmade in Toronto. A Canadian-made decorative item sold through the OCAD U store.
• OCAD U Students and AlumnicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLABEL:OCAD initiative featuring student-created merchandise and collaborations. Students and alumni can submit designs and collaborate with the store on new products.

Scale indicators2 records

Direct peers

• McGill University Bookstore: McGill's official campus store sells branded apparel, accessories, and graduation items to students and alumni - same single-institution university merchandise model as Shop OCAD U, operating in the same Canadian higher-education retail segment.
• University of Toronto Bookstore: Operates as the official branded merchandise and bookstore for the University of Toronto, selling apparel, accessories, and graduation items to students, alumni, and supporters - directly analogous to Shop OCAD U's institutional retail model, but at materially larger scale.
• UBC Bookstore: University of British Columbia's official merchandise and bookstore offering branded apparel, diploma frames, and graduation memorabilia - shares the same institutional DTC e-commerce + physical retail model as Shop OCAD U.
• York University Bookstore: York University's official retail outlet selling branded apparel, gifts, and graduation merchandise - structurally identical to Shop OCAD U as a university-operated merchandise store serving a single Canadian institution's community.

Broad incumbents

• Ardene: Canadian fast-fashion apparel and accessories retailer with a broad teen/young-adult customer base that overlaps with OCAD U students; comparable as a Canadian mass-market apparel retailer targeting a similar demographic.
• Follett Higher Education: Largest US operator of college bookstores and branded merchandise stores serving hundreds of institutions; relevant as a scaled institutional merchandise operator analogous to Shop OCAD U but operating across many universities rather than a single school.
• Roots: Iconic Canadian apparel and lifestyle brand and current Shop OCAD U strategic partner (150th Anniversary Kanga Hoodie collaboration); comparable as a Canadian heritage apparel brand with institutional and university co-branded merchandise programs.

Emerging players

• Hilltop Merchandising: Canadian custom apparel and merchandise specialist serving schools, teams, and institutions; comparable to Shop OCAD U's institutional custom-branded apparel programs and graduation merchandise offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/finelinearthub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fineline