Canadian fashion brands we can’t stop wearing: Roots, Aritzia & more

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I attended New York Fashion Week for the first time and challenged myself to only pack Canadian brands. I started with an empty Monos (a Canadian luggage brand) and a stuffed closet. I was in New York for four days, so I knew I needed exactly two dozen shirts, a collection of pants and other items in excess — a serial over-packer. I wasn’t convinced that I could fulfill my over-packing needs with only Canadian brands — oh, how naive. 

The reason I challenged myself to only wear Canadian fashion brands? I was heading to North America’s biggest fashion week three years after the continent’s second-largest fashion event, Toronto Fashion Week, was cancelled. Canada may not be known for its haute couture, but perhaps more nature couture. While we do have awesome outerwear and rugged wear, I was surprised at the selection of stylish, chic and practical options we have too.

I wasn’t fully able to pack all the shoes and clothes that I wanted, so I continued dressing Canadian once I returned to the Great White North. Here are the brands that kept me Canadian-clothing-clad.

Aldo Aritzia DUER Frank And Oak Hilary MacMillan KOTN Lululemon Roots Sorel

These brands are just a handful of Canadian clothing lines, so I’ll update this list as I discover more home-grown labels that I love. Everything that I mention below I’ve tried and recommend.

Aldo

Founded: Montreal – 1972 Recommendation: Thank you Aldo for Pillow Walk footwear — it’s an affordable collection of comfortable shoes and boots with some super stylish options. You can reduce your Band-Aid budget with Pillow Walk footwear because they’re designed to prioritize cushion, support and stability.

Aritzia

Founded: Vancouver – 1984 Recommendation: Ariztia is my go-to store when I need something to wear to an event. Though I usually opt for something trendy, I went super classic this time — so I’d have a few capsule pieces that will stand the test of time and can be easily mixed and matched. 

DUER

Founded: Vancouver – 2013 Recommendation: DUER is a more casual but functional brand that prioritizes comfort and sustainability. However, DUER has pieces that can be dressed up so you can quietly wear super-comfy clothes.

Frank And Oak

Founded: Montreal – 2012 Recommendation: Frank And Oak is a great destination for getting sustainable wardrobe basics. The brand offers styles with clean, simple, straight lines. New York was still blazing hot, so I packed a Frank And Oak tank and a pair of jean shorts, both of which are no longer available. However, these jeans are essentially a long version of the shorts I tried.

Hilary MacMillan

Founded: Toronto – 2013 Recommendation: If you’re looking for not-neutral, you’re in the right place. I like that Hilary MacMillan has bold prints, styles and colours that can be worn on their own or paired with neutrals. The brand offers sizes XS – X4 which is wonderfully inclusive for many body types. I find the garments fit a bit on the larger side (generally speaking), so if you’re debating between sizes, I’d pick the smaller option.

KOTN

Founded: Toronto – 2015 Recommendation: It’s hard not to love KOTN when you learn about its manufacturing — the team should teach a masterclass on ethical production. KOTN directly sources its cotton from Egyptian farms while empowering their respective communities. The brand offers a transparent supply chain from “seed to final stitch.” The end results are clean, neutral, high-quality androgynous styles that top our favourite brands using organic materials list.

lululemon

Founded: Vancouver – 1998 Recommendation: lululemon is no longer Canada’s little secret, but the athletic brand has been recently offering more casual styles. I live most of my life in lululemon and Roots because they are so great at making high-quality, comfy clothes. I appreciate lululemon exploring the casual space because it prioritizes function, fabric, fit and feel and I want all those factors considered in all of the clothes I wear.

Roots

Founded: Toronto – 1973 Recommendation: Roots founding was based at a summer camp in Algonquin Park, Ont. I also grew up with summers at sleepover camp in the Algonquin area — this brand is baked into my being, but its sweatpants are the best in the world. I may be biased, but also, prove me wrong. Though Roots may not be high-fashion they have classic styles that can be dressed up for a nostalgic-chic look.

Sorel

Founded: Kitchener, Ont. – 1962 Recommendation: As the oldest brand on this list, it’s impressive that Sorel has some leading styles — especially its now-signature scalloped soles. Sorel is likely best known for its boots but has footwear for all year round, including sandals, sneakers and clogs. The brand brings its tenure to its technical elements while introducing new styles and bold colours. 

Also, you can check out up-and-coming Canadian designers on Amazon’s Designer Spotlight.

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