Shining a spotlight on Seven80

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Welcome to Edmonton—also affectionately known as YEG (after our airport code) or the 780 (our main area code).

We’re a feisty, resilient and supportive city. Edmontonians stick up for themselves, tackle obstacles, get things done and help others along the way. 

Exhibit A: Ador Cochingco. 

As a pre-teen, he used to fight bullies. As an entrepreneur, he expanded his operations in the middle of a pandemic—and did so while supporting local businesses and charities. 

Welcome to Cochingco’s The Seven Eighty, a streetwear brand of Edmonton- and Oilers-themed T-shirts, baseball caps, toques, face masks and stickers. He also runs four Seven80 stores—in West Edmonton Mall, Londonderry Mall and the Premium Outlet Collection at the Edmonton International Airport. 

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Seven80’s t-shirts folded on shelves
A selection of Seven80's stock.

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Opportunities abound 

Cochingco is an unabashed fan of Edmonton. 

“This city and this country have basically given me everything I have,” he says. “I met my wife Jessica here, my two kids [Ryder, 6, and baby Letty] were born here. 

“I came to Edmonton with no money and no contacts and I couldn’t really speak English. Despite all that, there were always opportunities here. If you’re willing to work, someone will notice and doors will open for you.” 

Feisty and resilient 

Cochingco immigrated from the Philippines with his parents and six of his 13 siblings in 1986. They lived with one of his older sisters and her husband in a house in the west end of Edmonton. He admits his first two years in junior high were rough, as he tried to navigate a new school, a new (and colder) country and two new languages, English and French. 

“I remember getting picked on and I remember fighting a lot in grade seven and eight,” he says. “By grade nine, everyone grew two feet taller, so I decided: ‘I’m not fighting anymore.’” 

He went on to study economics at the University of Alberta and work for Cap Connection, managing, buying and designing products for the chain of hat stores. (It was eventually bought by Lids, another chain.) As part of his job, Cochingco travelled to trade shows in cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

“As a 22-, 23- year-old, it was super exciting,” he says. “But, as time went on, I kept missing home. Every time I went somewhere, I couldn’t wait to come home. I was like: ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ "

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"That’s when I realized, I love living in Edmonton. The whole Seven Eighty concept came out of that.” 

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Ador Cochingco stands in front of his Seven80 t-shirts that are hanging and folded behind him.
Ador Cochingco in his Seven80 store in West Edmonton Mall.

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From global to local 

In 2006, Cochingco and a business partner opened their first Seven80 store in West Edmonton Mall. They specialized in global streetwear brands such as Billabong, Hurley and Ten Tree, but also stocked a few Edmonton-themed T-shirts and baseball caps designed by Cochingco. 

“Nobody bought them,” he says. “Back then, everyone still wanted to wear the big brands.”

A decade later, he decided to try again. He could sense a change in consumer habits. More Edmontonians were shopping local, as the city’s food and makers scenes exploded. There was also a greater feeling of civic pride. People were embracing the #YEG hashtag on and off Twitter, and local artists, makers and businesses were hawking Edmonton-themed products, such as activity books, posters and beer. 

Cochingco resurrected his Seven Eighty streetwear line in 2017, starting with caps and T-shirts. Sales were brisk and, steadily, he was able to replace all the international brands with his own designs and other local products. A year later, he bought out his business partner and took over the store. 

Then the pandemic hit. Instead of slowing down, Cochingco continued to grow his empire. He moved to a larger location in WEM and opened shops in Londonderry Mall and the outlet mall at the airport. “If you don’t do anything, you’re going to go out of business,” he says.

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A Volkswagon truck with Seven80 stickers sits in the middle of the store as decor.
Seven80 store in West Edmonton Mall

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Helping others

One of Seven80’s most popular items is its men’s Alberta Beef undies, replete with images of the provincial flag, oil derricks, cows, bales of hay and Lake Louise. For every pair sold, Cochingco donates one to a local charity, such as Mustard Seed and the Bissell Centre. He runs a similar campaign with Seven Eighty toques and, so far, has donated 1,300 of them this winter. 

Cochingco strongly believes in helping others, whether he’s donating to charities or stocking products by local makers in his stores. He works with about 80 small businesses from the 780 area code, selling everything from Roselane’s silk scrunchies to Desperately Seeking Hot Sauce’s spicy concoctions to Jack59’s shampoo and conditioner bars to KUMA’s outdoor gear. 

“It’s very important for us to support local,” says Cochingco. “Our brand attracts customers and the vendors bring in their own customers, so it’s an amazing partnership.

It’s not only important for the survival and the success of these businesses, it creates friendly competition and helps us all raise our game. I hope to see some of our vendors become national brands. That would be awesome.” 

That’s the 780 for you. 

 

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