1889 Trading Co.

Complete Brand Identity Program

2026

ZAK, Vancouver, BC
e: info@wearezak.com
w: wearezak.com

Creative Director: Kristian Hay Brand Strategy: Zia Somjee Art Director: Arvin Paelmo Graphic Designer: Bella Sanchez, Brett Boivin Client: 1889 Trading Co.

Winning Entry: wearezak.com/projects/1889-trading-co

The Chinese Canadian Museum asked ZAK to create a name and identity for a gift shop inside Vancouver Chinatown's historic Wing Sang Building. We named it 1889 Trading Co., referencing the year Yip Sang established the original Wing Sang Company. The brand draws on cultural symbolism, custom illustration, and a bold typographic mark to connect past and present, extending across retail signage, wayfinding, packaging, and digital assets.