Michael Hemsworth, Trend Hunter (INTERVIEW)

Michael Hemsworth, or ‘Hems’ as he is lovingly known in the Trend Hunter office, has a keen interest in eco cardboard furniture. Beyond a fascination with recyclable seating and bedding, Hems is also interested in technology and architecture. He can be found out and about in Toronto riding his bike and keeping up on ecological ideas. He’s also anxiously awaiting the iPhone 13, set for release in 2020.

How do you define cool?

I think I define cool is just a way of being and a way of life. Just going with things and not worrying too much about the consequences. It’s not something you can force, it’s something that has fluidity to it. I think that it’s a lot of stepping back, listening to people, interpreting how other people view the world and gathering your own sense of that. Then it’s just a matter of saying "this is what I think, and this is how I’m going to project myself."

What is your favorite trend and why?

My favorite trend is recycled cardboard furniture. Essentially, this company ships all their products in cardboard boxes, obviously. What happens is once you receive the product, the empty cardboard box can be turned into a free piece of cardboard furniture. The interior is usually colored so you get a pop of color on the top or the sides. It just turns into a coffee table, a chair, a small stool and stuff like that. It’s really cool.

What is your favorite thing about working at Trend Hunter?

My favorite thing about working at Trend Hunter is the community. There’s a definite sense of family here. Everyone is willing to talk things out and it's really social. It’s not really so much a work environment as it is a family get together every day.

How do you reset to get creative?

Resetting my creativity usually consists of going for a walk, taking a seat outside and watching the world as it goes by. Things like feeling the wind and taking deep breaths. I actually get really excited and inspired by silence. After a big snow fall when there’s a lot of snow on the ground, when you go outside and there’s just complete silence because the snow is absorbing all the sound, it makes a perfect storm of creativity where anything seems possible.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

When I was little, I wanted to be a dinosaur. Obviously you can’t grow up to be a dinosaur because they’re extinct and a different species. After that it turned into a writer. I was always praised for my great writing ability from my mom. She is very critical of all aspects of her children’s lives. It was one area where she said to me "keep going with it, you’re really good at it, and it’s something you can really excel at."

Is there anything you’d like to add about Trend Hunter?

Come and find what really inspires you and become part of the Trend Hunter team!