Meet Casey Marques Pereira | Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Casey Marques Pereira and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Casey Marques, what inspires you?

A lot of my work is inspired by cultural arts, and community. The communities I’m immersed in have shaped my creative path. As I’m growing as a creative I’m finding Im most inspired by cultural arts and the importance of contributing to continuing these art forms.

The way people feel inspires me. Both in my floral business, and carnival design. When I deliver floral arrangements and get to witness the moment someone receives fresh flowers is so cool, or when you are one road with your section of 100 masqueraders celebrating emancipation, its inspiring!

I think travelling is very important, and probably my biggest inspiration. I love learning about the way different people and cultures live. This is what introduced me to Carnival. I spent my first Carnival in Trinidad with a close friend and his family. It wasn’t a planned trip, but it changed my life. I think always trying new things, and stepping outside of your comfort zone is so important.

Architecture has always been one of my biggest inspirations. I love spaces and seeing different homes, landscapes, buildings, etc. Whenever I’m travelling somewhere I always research if any of my favourite architects or designers have spaces where I’m going. As they are often not in tour guides, but accessible.

My dad is also a huge inspiration to me. He can create and make anything. He has definitely contributed to building my character and inspired me to be a kind human. He’s always taught me I’m not better than anyone else, I can do anything, work ethic, and to always walk in a room with confidence. He is great!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Im originally from Calgary where I grew up with my mom, dad and brother. My parents immigrated to Canada from the Azores islands in Portugal. Ive been passionate about culture and travel since I was a kid. I wend to school in Lisbon studying language, and finding direction. Shortly after I moved to Toronto to study Environmental Design at OCADU. I worked at a bank while I was studying to keep travelling as much as possible. I went to school in Jerusalem to expand my architecture education. Being able to live in such a complex place expanded my love for learning about culture. After graduating I worked in marketing and design for awhile. Then getting laid off from my corporate job during covid we launched Mitsu with my two best friends, which has turned into my full time work.

Crown Mas and my costume designing started in 2018. My close friend was entertaining the idea of bringing a section, and asked if I wanted to try designing. I didn’t know much about designing or producing, but having been to Trinidad a few times I knew the importance of building mas. We found a few members of the community willing to mentor me. I spent a lot of time learning the history, process, asking questions, and making mistakes to build to where we are now. Crown Mas is really important to me. It is my community in Toronto, and has taught me so much! Experiencing the openness and diversity in Toronto is so special.

We create Carnival Concept Costumes to tell stories. During the pandemic we used the time to further our concept “Carnival Is Sport”. We used a space in downtown Toronto to create a mini mas camp and produce 4 costume concepts – 1 per week. The designs showed the correlation to sport within carnival and we up cycled sportswear garments into costumes. Another concept we created was a Carnival Barbie. Producing Barbie size versions of our costume. Demonstrating the importance of representation of cultural and arts for kids.

Being a creative I didn’t have much of a business background so starting businesses has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It is not easy by any means! I just try my best lol. You are constantly making choices, decisions and mistakes. I truly think you have to try it to learn. You have to make the mistake to do better. So when something goes wrong it’s important to critic and see what you can do differently, but keep going.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Toronto has really cool neighbourhoods: Dundas west, Ossington & Dundas, Kensington Market, Chinatown, Geary ave., Yorkville, Lakeshore, Scarborough bluffs, Toronto island

Spaces: AGO, Mocca, Aga Khan, Financial District: TD Tower – Mies van der Rohe, Bay Adelaide Centre – James Turrell, Brookfield Place – Calatrava

Food: Ghadir’s (Scarborough), Pho Linh, King Catering, Imanishi, Gaucho Pie, Chris Jerk, Famiglia Baldassarre, Foxley, Maha’s Brunch, Crumbs Gourmet Patties, La Banane, Milou

Shops: Nomad, Cuchara, Better Gift Shop, Makeway, VSP Consignment, Blue Button Shop

Spa: Naked Beauty Bar, Goplace

Local Brands: Mer des Dieux, Mitsu

Boutique Hotels: Annex Hotel, Ace Hotel, Drake Hotel

Day Trip: Prince Edward County, Niagara on the Lake/Niagara Falls (I would stay in Niagara on the lake)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Disco Dash – Pierre Bimwala
My family: Carmen, Carlos, Chris, Kelbs
Mitsu Team: Caroline Bayliss and Nathalie Bayliss
Crown Mas Team: Deon King and Calvin Hyman
Mentors: Candice Dixon, Kofi Gyekye, Aya Sugino
Community: Toronto Revellers and the Toronto Caribbean Carnival

Website: https://www.caseymarquespereira.com/

Instagram: @caseymarquespereira

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-marques-pereira-86492842/

Image Credits
Brandon Reid
 Anil Hanasoge
 Amanda Coffee
 Karolina Pran
 Saty Namvar + Pratha Samyrajah