I’m a strong believer that constraints are the strongest fertilizer for creativity. While existing in fashion capitals like Paris or New York may give access to boundless resources, the sheer density of fellow creatives can create an echo chamber. As someone who grew up in the furthest thing from a fashion capital (Windsor, Ontario), this topic’s always fascinated me, and I do plan on elaborating on said topic at a later date. Even in spite of my personal biases, this is why I think Canada has such a disproportionate quantity of interesting small brands and boutiques. With high tariffs, a generally shrewd customer, and limited manufacturing resources, starting a brand in Canada can prove especially difficult. My hope is that this list will shine light on the dozens of amazing Canadian brands who deserve all the love in the world. And when it comes to boutiques, you’ll find a ton of incredible curations spanning the country. For Canadian customers - this means duty-free shopping, payable in Canadian dollars. And for non-Canadians, you should still check these boutiques out, as their sales often go overlooked compared to American/European boutiques. If you think I’m missing anyone, please let me know in the comments below!
Brands:
A Care Label - Montreal based basics made entirely in Canada from 100% recycled cotton.
Adapture - Technical fabrications in wearable silhouettes, with a very modern colour palette.
Anian - Rugged, refined, and recycled Canadian workwear meant to wear hard and last long.
Balmoral Sports - High-tech running fabrics meet old-school, nostalgic designs from this Montreal based sporting goods brand.
Bather - Comfortable, stylish, high quality, made-in-Canada swimwear, plus elevated lounge/casual wear.
Bexhill Court - Colourful, unique, hand-knit headwear out of Toronto, Ontario.