17 Canadian Fashion Brands To Support Right Now
(Art: Aimee Nishitoba)
Clicking “add to cart” can be a real mood booster, especially when your hard-earned cash goes toward supporting homegrown businesses. From well-made basics and delicate lingerie to statement jewelry, we’ve rounded up the best Canadian fashion brands to shop this summer.
Fellow Earthlings
From their tiny seaside studio in Guernsey Cove, P.E.I., Fellow Earthlings’ wife-and-husband founders Sydney and Christopher Seggie have been making one-of-a-kind eyewear ( from $200) out of would-be waste material since 2015. Among their greatest hits: The brand manufactured the retro cloud-shaped sunglasses spotted on Anna Sui’s spring 2020 runway and recently collaborated on an all-Canadian line with eyewear boutique BonLook. (Oh, and Justin Trudeau also owns a pair, so there’s that.)
OkayOk
With so many graphic tees on offer (from $45), picking just one is impossible—though we’re partial to the seriously awesome Business Woman print. Bonus: The shirts are designed in the brand’s Toronto studio and are made from cotton milled in Montreal and Scarborough, Ont. OkayOk also makes adorable kids’ clothes, cozy sweatsuits, socks in dozens of hues and super cute custom-printed totes.
Biko
Gold, silver and pearls sound like a classic jewellery combo, but in the hands of Corrine Anestopoulos, creative director of Toronto-based Biko, the materials feel fresh again. Thanks to a sleek mix of metals and contemporary shapes, the brand’s pieces (from $65) instantly up the cool factor of any look.
Small Hours
Jenny Lien, the self-taught maker behind Toronto’s Small Hours, puts a cheeky spin on timeless leather goods. Each item is a testament to the brand’s minimal aesthetic, with Lien playing up shapes, colours and textures to lend her wares a little whimsy, too. We’re currently crushing on the stamped leather key rings (from $29), which are available in eight skin tones.
This Ilk
With earrings that combine brass, rattan and fringe, This Ilk’s latest creations are right on trend. “As a child, I wanted to be an inventor,” says Montreal-based designer Tamara Bavdek. Now, she finds pleasure in the creative process that goes into making her bold, feminine pieces (from $24).
Opelle
Toronto-based Opelle offers a selection of handcrafted buttery leather handbags (from $150) in an array of timeless styles. Keep an eye out for the brand’s seasonal collections, which feature new designs and seasonal hues, like this hot pink take on its signature Baby Ballet bag ($495).
Noémiah
Gauzy fabrics, ballooning cuts and feminine details give Noémiah’s pieces a dreamy aesthetic (from $150). The brand also offers dainty jewelry handmade in its Montreal studio, as well as a few delicate home decor accessories crafted in collaboration with indie ceramic maker Goye.
Maguire
Fashion footwear brand Maguire—founded by sisters Myriam and Romy in 2017—offers quality products at reasonable prices (from $115). The products are designed at the brand’s headquarters in Montreal’s trendy Mile End neighbourhood and manufactured in factories worldwide, including one in Canada. Maguire prides itself on its transparency, and information about where each product is made is available on its website.
Kaela Kay
Inspired by founder Catherine Addai’s Ghanaian roots, Toronto-based fashion label Kaela Kay combines classic cuts with stunning prints and vibrant colours. The brand’s pieces (from $250) are available in sizes 2 to 22 and have caught the eye of A-listers, including Busy Philipps.
Ellie Mae
Spotted on the likes of Gwen Stefani and Bella Hadid, this Toronto-based cool-girl label marries timeless cuts and playful details in its pieces (from $80).
Free Label
Made with soft, sustainable fabrics and handcrafted in Canadian factories, Vancouver-based Free Label makes casual and loungewear pieces (from $52) you can feel good about, each available in sizes 2 to 22.
Fortnight
Handcrafted in Toronto using luxe fabrics, Fortnight’s line of delicate intimates (from $42) and colourful swimwear (from $78) is made to be shown off but doesn’t compromise on comfort.
Warren Steven Scott
Indigenous designer Warren Steven Scott creates his trademark ovoid earrings based on traditional designs found in the carvings and paintings of his ancestors, the Coast Salish people. His bold laser-cut acrylic creations come in a wide range of designs and stunning colours, like this zesty dangling chandelier ($70).
Silk Labs
A treat for your hair and skin, Silk Labs’ line of luxe 100 percent silk scrunchies, headbands and sleep masks (from $10) are hand-sewn in Toronto.
Kwesiya
Specializing in wax textiles, the colourful printed cotton fabrics common in West Africa, Toronto-based label Kwesiya offers clothing, accessories and headwraps (from $25) for every occasion. Focused on inclusion, founder Fanny Ngantcheu chose to name her brand Kwesiya, which means “mix it” in Cameroonian dialect.
Heirloom
Blending tradition and modern aesthetics, Montreal-based milliner Samantha-Tara Mainville elevates style to an art form with statement hats (from $160) and chic hair accessories (from $42) that beg to be displayed. (In fact, her creations have been shown at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art.)
Franc
The foundation of a great wardrobe is well-made basics, and Toronto-based Franc is the place to shop for timeless tops, dresses and bottoms (from $47) that last. Frustrated with the standard practices of the fashion industry, founder Brandy Mercredi created Franc to make the kind of clothes she wanted to wear—casual, comfortable and ethically made.
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