Pop-up space features alum-founded brand looking to give back to community

At the intersection of art, skateboarding and community is Zero8one5. An emerging street-fashion and skateboarding lifestyle brand, Zero8one5 was founded by PSU alum Itchelle Mapanao, ‘18, and Paul Holloway in 2019. For two weeks, Zero8one5 calls the Proving Ground at Portland State’s Karl Miller Center home. 

“Zero8one5 strives to build a community of good people who uplift and inspire one another to do better, and be better,” Holloway said. “‘Good People Supporting Good People’ is our mantra; it means choosing community over competition.”

As part of their focus on community, Zero8one5 is donating 10% of its profits from the pop-up to the PSU’s skatepark The Courts. Holloway said they want to not only celebrate the park’s contribution to the community, but help raise funds for repairs and additional park maintenance. 

“Ultimately we would love to help grow the culture and the sport of skateboarding, and we celebrate that by giving back to our community however we can; and we encourage others to do the same,” Holloway said.

Long-term, Holloway said they hope to do more brand activations and community-based events to connect with consumers and better meet their needs, while offering a platform to give back to the community.

Jennifer Nolfi, executive director of the Center for Retail Leadership which manages the Proving Ground, said they are thrilled to host Zero8one5 in the pop-up, especially as a PSU alumna co-founded brand.

“We launched the pop-up experiment in 2017 as a vehicle to engage students, faculty, staff, and industry in the Center for Retail Leadership,” Nolfi said. 

The pop-up allows the Center for Retail Leadership to build awareness about their certificate programs while offering a unique experience to students. The space also serves as a research center for the Consumer Research Lab, offering insights from PSU’s diverse student population. The next pop-up, for example, is Market of Choice which will include a research component while featuring local BIPOC businesses. Students will have the opportunity to complete a survey after visiting the space and enter to win a $100 gift card to Market of Choice.

Zero8one5 will be featured in the Proving Ground through May 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are also available online at www.Zero8one5.com and at the Portland Art Museum on the top floor inside of the Bodega.