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Turning shared dreams into reality, Mehmood Kohistani has driven community change through his vintage clothing store, MidnightGear
What began as a simple dream shared between friends in a high school cafeteria has since grown into a vintage store and gathering place for community-oriented youth.
“We were all passionate about clothing and sneakers, and no matter where the conversation started, it always led back to the same vision — opening our own store,” says Mehmood Kohistani, now owner and operator of MidnightGear in Whitby, Ont.
“A space where we could do what we love, create something meaningful, and, above all, give back to our community.”
In 2019, Mehmood took this idea of selling vintage clothing beyond his school's four walls, starting a small online venture with occasional pop-up markets in his backyard.
He focused on sourcing and selling streetwear for teenagers and young adults that combined comfort, style and a cool, nighttime vibe that inspired the shop’s name.
“It’s clothing you can look fly in, but it’s clothing that is also very comfortable. It’s all-purpose,” says Mehmood of his inventory.
As he made inroads into the local area, Mehmood’s bigger dream of giving back started to take shape.
And from its humble beginnings, MidnightGear has become a vibrant, welcoming hub with its heart firmly rooted in supporting communities both locally and internationally.
Mehmood worked on building the online presence of both his store and his charity page, MidnightCAN, on Instagram, slowly but surely creating a community of supporters.
MidnightCAN (short for Midnight Community Aid Network) became a platform to share updates on past and future community initiatives spearheaded by MidnightGear, highlighting the impact of their efforts and inspiring others to get involved.
He hosted the “Kite Flying for Rafah” event in early 2024, a moment that helped him highlight a cause close to his heart.
With that fundraiser, Mehmood, who eventually plans to become a teacher, wanted to present the war in Gaza in a way that was accessible for local children and families, opening the door for meaningful conversations and inspiring action.
Flying kites to honour the children of Palestine, families gathered at a local park to connect, reflect and show support, while clothing was sold to raise funds, with all proceeds donated to aid efforts in the city of Rafah.
“[The kids] saw it as a fun activity and the parents were able to socialize with one another,” Mehmood says. “It helped break the silence that was going on during that period.”
His event raised over $1,000 for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, turning his dream into real impact.
Mehmood opened the MidnightGear storefront in downtown Whitby in July 2024.
Having his own space meant Mehmood could host events and promotions designed to bring local youth together, such as a Call of Duty tournament and a “Midterms for Discounts” promotion.
For the midterms sales event, high schoolers were invited to come into the store and show proof of their average to get that percentage off anything in the store.
“We low-key lost some money on that but that money lost is nothing compared to the value that the kid gained from it,” he says. “Every time they wear the item they bought, they’ll remember, ‘I earned this.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
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Though his events sometimes don’t generate profit, Mehmood emphasizes how it’s never money first for him — it’s about making a meaningful impact.
When the MidnightGear team is not bringing the streetwear community together for fun, connection and motivation, they are hosting fundraisers and collecting donations for local and international causes.
So far, through store sales and customer donations, Mehmood has collected and contributed well over 100 items to local food banks, 50 meals to the homeless in South Oshawa, as well as over 100 board games, toys and pieces of outdoor sports equipment to the Afghan Women’s Organization youth room in Toronto.
Mehmood’s reach goes beyond his business. In his personal time, he helped fundraise for a mosque construction in rural Afghanistan — a project that was completed in December 2024.
Through donating money from store sales and matching donations, he raised over $2,000 to add a roof, doors and repair the foundation of the mosque, which he says will become a safe space for the local Afghan community.
While shopping for clothes can feel like a simple purchase, choosing local vintage stores like MidnightGear means choosing local impact.
Because small businesses are entrenched in their communities, they are more likely to support local, grassroots initiatives.
Almost all small retailers in Canada — 97 per cent — report contributing to their community or province in at least one way, with about 74 per cent of those businesses donating to charities and causes, according to the Canadian Federation for Independent Business (CFIB).
So buying local is bigger than just buying clothes.
Any interaction, whether it be double-tapping a post or making a purchase, can make a difference — not only for a small business, but for the communities it supports.
“That word of mouth to a friend or on social media is big,” Mehmood says. “Some people have well over 500 followers and [when they’re] reposting and engaging with our content, we reach people we never would have reached otherwise.”
Sustainability, cost efficiency and the stories behind the clothes are usually front and centre in the vintage world. But consumers often gloss over the impact that shopping vintage can have post-purchase.
MidnightGear and other vintage shops that give back aren’t just about style — they’re about investing in a future where community, compassion and meaningful change converge.
Mehmood says he’s excited to keep pushing for those things, with plans in the works for a school supplies drive and a visit to Afghanistan to support families during Ramadan, where he'll be able to see the mosque he helped build.
Mehmood’s cafeteria-table dreams may now be reality — but they’re far from over.
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