Here at Met Radio, we’re celebrating the year 2024 with a series of lists rounding up our favourites of the year! We’ve invited station volunteers and staff to share their top ten of anything that encapsulates their year in pop culture (or otherwise). New lists to surprise and delight will be dropping on the Met Radio website every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this December!
Top ten lists are tricky. 2024 was quick, (or at least it feels that way.) Looking back on the year, there is so much to unpack and appreciate the part it continues to play in my life. This includes new and old interests and hobbies that are all equally celebrated.
Whether it’s curiosity or sheer randomness, I’d like to think my genuine appreciation for so many contrasting interests was the biggest takeaway this year.
With that, here are the top ten brands and their 2024 projects that continue to inspire and amaze me.
1.Visvim
Project: Contrary DEPT 2024 Capsule collections – vintage items and set ups
Since I was 14, Visvim has been the clothing brand that has grown up with me. What started as an interest in their moccasin-inspired sneaker (the FBT) or denim has transformed into an appreciation for this Japanese brand’s attention to material sourcing and every thread and detail.
Its 2024 capsule collections are testament to founder Hiroki Nakamura’s curiosity to balance inspirations that are both of the past and present. Building pieces that are sourced ethically and can last a lifetime are Visvim’s signatures.
With celebrities like John Mayer and Eric Clapton proudly wearing the brand, Visvim resists the temptations of fashion trends and leaning into the hype by limiting its mass marketing with smaller teams and fewer stores compared to other brands.
My favourite parts of Visvim and its 2024 capsule collections are its use of mud dying, natural indigo, hand-crafted goods and finding the best ways to work with local artisans.
2. Snarkitecture
Projects: various museum and boutique building designs, hot wheels
This is quite possibly the most unique architecture studio ever. Artist Daniel Arsham founded Snarkitecture despite being rejected from architecture school.
With a focus on decay and how certain cuts and distressing elements can change the nature of particular objects, he built his own opportunities by creating original artwork and buildings while collaborating with his favourite brands.
2024 continued to showcase this with the studio’s work in the National Building Museum, revamped displays in Kith’s Tokyo flagship boutique, and on passion projects with vintage Porsches and Hot Wheels.
What stood out to me this year was Arsham’s signature details in every project, whether it is a building installation or a toy car.
3. Capcom
Project: Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection
Another nostalgia-driven interest. Capcom’s series like Resident Evil and Street Fighter will always be part of my yearly rotation, but it all started with Marvel vs. Capcom 2 cabinets in malls and fading arcades during my childhood.
The newer games are great, but there is something about MvC 2. Getting the opportunity to choose my favourite X-Men and Street Fighter character will never get old.
Capcom’s decision to upscale and clean up all of its classic gaming collaborations with Marvel was an immediate success, and something that goes beyond the learning curves, the techniques and matches themselves.
For me, it is about that iconic grain on screen, late 90s/early 2000s graphics and nostalgia that were well worth its price point.
4. Toronto Raptors (30th anniversary)
Project: 30th anniversary, City edition jerseys
A rebuild continues for the Raptors, but it has not stopped its marketing team from winning on the merchandising side lately. This was spearheaded by a heavy dose of nostalgia with the jersey retirement of Vince Carter combined with high hopes for the future of the current core.
The Raptors returned to their iconic purple jerseys with two iterations: an exact reproduction of their early 2000s set and a new City edition showcasing the Raptor mascot wearing Carter’s no.15 while performing his signature windmill dunk.
This season feels like a celebration to me by honouring my childhood era Raptors and appreciating the current process of building another winning team.
5. Kojima Productions
Project: Death Stranding 2, new original games
The standard of ‘auteur’ in the video game industry, Hideo Kojima continues to push the narrative on both the technology and storytelling of this art medium.
I grew up a devoted Metal Gear Solid series fan, and his ventures running an independent studio have created new opportunities for his boundless ideas to flourish – as odd and different as they may be compared to other game titles.
2019’s Death Stranding was proof of this, and I am happy to see him announce its sequel, as well as two more original games in the works (OD and Physint).
With every Kojima project, details are scarce for each detail and I am hoping to see more content and trailers in 2025.
6. Lego
Project: Piece by Piece
Lego is a hobby that will never lose its appeal. I have to credit the company for producing sets that are age appropriate for any range, and its themes continue to grow and innovate.
Star Wars and the Clone Wars sets may be on the top of my list, but I have to choose Lego’s collaboration with Pharell Williams on his Lego-built biopic, Piece by Piece as my 2024 standout.
It was another opportunity for the toy company to innovate with a documentary using pieces that can exist in real life, and the film’s success contributed to Lego’s decision to increase its availability of different skin tones for its minifigures.
7. Adidem Asterisks
Project: “Small, Little-Big” – A Retail Concept
This Toronto brand blends music and fashion seamlessly with their own personal DJs, curated playlists and community engagement for every collection drop.
“Small, Little-Big” – A Retail Concept was a three-day experience to set their tone, which can I can loosely explain as streetwear with a deep appreciation for different music genres, and homages to old staples like vintage sportswear (especially baseball caps) and timeless pieces like camp collar shirts for every season. Their roots are Canadian, but the appeal and expansion have found its way to Japan, Korea and France with these pop-ups.
Adidem Asterisks understands what themes work for their core base, but innovate each season to add to the ever-growing foundation with their collections and collaborations.
8. Haven Brews
Project: cultivating a growing GTA community
“More than just a coffee shop – we’re a community hub.”
What started as a small Toronto coffee shop has grown into a place with a love for the arts and music in addition to its attention to sourcing the best beans and tea.
While you wait for your coffee, you can peruse its record shop inside called Flow Records, and find rare Asian prints of classics, video game and anime soundtracks, and the tunes of beloved Hong Kong Cinema.
My favourite initiatives of Haven Brews’ 2024 are its events that are committed to showcasing independent businesses, and creating community connections with both the Toronto Hong Kong diasporas and everyone else inspired by their love of coffee, calm settings and great music.
9. Rick Rubin
Project: Tetragrammaton podcast
Rick Rubin is synonymous with almost every North American music genre. He was already famed for being the co-founder of Def Jam Records (operating it out of his dorm room in the early days). However, he continues to explore his artistic curiosity in so many mediums and genres.
When he is not music producing, his love for stories centre around honest, unscripted conversations with quite possibly the most diverse list of guests.
Tetragrammaton was launched about two years ago, but its consistency and efforts to try new things in 2024 are what continues to draw me back to this show.
Rubin barely speaks on his own podcast, but asks effective, short questions to allow his guests to tell their stories. From there, where the conversation goes is always a mystery.
Favourite episodes: John Mayer, Terry Gilliam.
10. The Criterion Collection
Project: Closet Picks
Like Tetragrammaton, this is not new for 2024. However, Criterion has increased its selections of closest picks and it is always a welcome surprise to learn about what films inspire some of my favourite creatives.
The formula is simple, but what I love about this series is that every chosen individual delves deeper into every choice and their genuine enthusiasm for unearthing past favourites and exploring new possibilities.
Personally, the series reminds me of my own curiosity to finish my backlog of lists, discover new projects and gain new favourites. Watching more films was a goal for 2024 and I’m looking forward to bringing it over to 2025.
