5 Fashion Brands You Probably Didn’t Know are Canadian

Canada is also the birthplace of many successful names

in the sphere of fashion retail

Canada is known for many things: the inherent friendliness of its people, Tim Hortons, hockey, poutine—but what might not be common knowledge is the fact that it is also the birthplace of many successful names in the sphere of fashion retail.

Over the years, the country has proven to be a producer of noteworthy brands that have become staples of consumers across and beyond North America. Here are five fashion brands that had their humble beginnings in Canada:

Frank and Oak

Founded in 2012 and quickly establishing itself as a favorite in Montreal’s famed Mile End, Frank and Oak now has stores all over the Canadian provinces. Being a certified B Corporation, the brand takes pride in its range of sustainably produced apparel, including its line of “circular denim” made from recycled-recyclable fabrics.

Aritzia

Brian Hill opened the first standalone Aritzia store in Vancouver in 1984 with the goal of making “everyday luxury” accessible to consumers. Since its founding, the brand has gone on to curate an impressive roster of in-house brands such as Babaton, Tna and many more. During the colder seasons, Aritzia’s Super Puff puffer jacket (which comes in several exquisite colors, by the way) is a highly coveted fashion piece.

Lululemon

The name is synonymous with yoga wear. That is, after all, how Lululemon blew up and became the multi-billion-dollar company that it is now. Founded in 1998, the brand has come a long way from its active wear roots. Aside from the bestselling sports bras and leggings, Lululemon now carries casual wear, swimwear, accessories, and even shoes!

Kotn

The Toronto-based brand was built on the intention of making high-quality yet affordable cotton basics. In 2014, Kotn co-founder Rami Helali expressed his frustration over the lack of durable yet reasonably priced t-shirts. Let’s just say he was determined to nail the classic plain t-shirt to a T. So he booked a flight to Cairo, found a nice family of cotton farmers and the rest is history. Aside from apparel, Kotn has home products such as beddings and blankets as well.

Mejuri

CEO Noura Sakkijha had one goal in mind when she started Mejuri: redefine luxury. Known for its fine jewelry, Mejuri aims to break the misconceptions surrounding jewelry, especially in cost, intention, and purpose. Whether you’re a gold, silver or diamond kind of gal, the brand designs jewelry for everyday wear, not for special occasions only.