20 Comments
User's avatar
Julia Di Spirito's avatar

So happy to have stumbled upon this! Canadian living in NYC - we always joke down here that the Canadians just tend to find each other. I have always been so invested in supporting Canadian retail and wrote an article sharing some of my favourite brands just a few weeks prior. Picked up a few new ones from your list that I will be adding to my wish list.

Expand full comment
Monica Ainley DLV's avatar

So glad to hear this!! Please share your article!

Expand full comment
Julia Di Spirito's avatar

Thanks for asking! here’s the article: https://open.substack.com/pub/whatareuwearing/p/oh-canada

Expand full comment
Sita's avatar

Fellow Canadian here living in the US. The way people here always describe me is polite. And whenever I see someone wearing a Roots t-shirt here in California (which doesn’t happen often) I get really excited.

Expand full comment
Monica Ainley DLV's avatar

The radar !! Haha. And yes, polite is also accurate I reckon.

Expand full comment
Debra's avatar

Ahhhh, I remember when Beaver Canoe/Club Monaco sweatshirts were the uniform of every teenage girl. Thank you for doing this roundup of your fav Canadian brands!

Expand full comment
Monica Ainley DLV's avatar

As do I! Still wearing ‘em over here !

Expand full comment
Cara's avatar

Thank you for this! I really enjoy your writing style and this list is so handy as I uncover more of Toronto, my husband’s hometown.

Expand full comment
Mary's avatar

I loved this! I’ve always been an extremely patriotic Canadian, so I’m particularly upset at the present moment.

Expand full comment
Pandora Sykes's avatar

This made me laugh a lot. I thought of you when she said that 😂

Expand full comment
Karin S's avatar

I can relate to being that expat. I spent 3 years in London explaining I wasn't American but Canadian & yes, often they described us as some version of modest although someone did say "oh you're the boring ones" :) I may have taken that as a compliment & think she meant within the Commonwealth. It's true about being able to spot another Canadian as we're just different enough to stand out. So many great Canadian companies in all areas. We're being extra supportive & hope we'll continue to be even when the leaders change south of the border.

Expand full comment
Monica Ainley DLV's avatar

They used to call my Canadian friends and I "the Snow Yanks" at Edinburgh university. LOL. My friend Emma Knight documents this in her novel The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus --our comeuppance!!

So many great companies out there to support I agree, this list is the tip of the iceberg!

Expand full comment
Katie's avatar

Also a lament for the end of the Hudson’s Bay stripes!

Expand full comment
Monica Ainley DLV's avatar

Absolutely.

Expand full comment
Ruth's avatar

Hooray to the true North strong & free! Enjoyed reading your post immensely with your commentary on Cdn designers at a time where our very existence is threatened by current American politics. Oh and you forgot to mention Greta Constantine from Toronto and Catherine Regehr of Vancouver both designing fabulous event dressing as well as SMYTHE, Maguire shoee, Liza Gozlan jewellery……and what about Lululemon?!

Expand full comment
Monica Ainley DLV's avatar

So glad you enjoyed it -and yes, there are many, many more. These are just my personal favourites in the fashion arena, but the ones you list are all great too. Check 'em out people!

Expand full comment
Gema’s Cultural World's avatar

Given the times, there is a sense that Canadians are coming together in many ways. I had the pleasure of visiting Vancouver and Whistler town last summer and it was incredibly beautiful. We want to return to see more! Would love to do a train 🚂 through the mountains! Summer of dreams! 🌲🌲🐟🛶

Expand full comment
Monica Ainley DLV's avatar

Absolutely the dreamiest of summer plans, I concur. So glad you enjoyed your time "out West", isn't it magnificent!

Expand full comment
Pandora Sykes's avatar

Also I lurve that navy sweater . And those mejuri earrings

Expand full comment
Monica Ainley DLV's avatar

Thank you and thank you for calling it a sweater, which has not gone unnoticed!!

Expand full comment