Canadians know winter. We’ve rounded up some homegrown, hearty Canadian brands making the best when it comes to functional outerwear.
Here in the Great White North, we know a thing or two about staying warm. For the majority of the year, Canadians are tasked to keep themselves warm as they navigate through daily life. We know how to bundle up. As such, it only makes sense that Canada’s homegrown brands know how to make the best on the market when it comes to functional outerwear. From stylish shearlings to innovative parkas, consider these exceptional cold-weather companies before you nestle into hibernation this season.
Since launching this past summer, Truand Truand’s mission has been to create sustainable and inclusive women’s clothing, produced in Canada by local seamstresses. Now, the label has released a range of stylish, casual women’s collections made almost entirely from recycled and organic materials. Those efforts have culminated in a fantastic winter collection that balances between comfort and chic.
In its Fall/Winter 2021 drop, Truand Truand has released a series of beautifully coloured ski sets, long sleeve t-shirt dresses, and hoodies that will be sure to keep you warm through the winter months. In addition, keeping with its philosophy of supporting women, 10% of every order is donated to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, an organization that supports women, girls, and gender diverse individuals through empowerment programs. $229
Founded upon the philosophy of reflecting Canada’s pioneering spirit, Arc’teryx has become one of the most universally recognized and respected outerwear brands in the world. Designed to withstand even the harshest natural conditions, hardy new releases such as the Nuclei SV Parka and Kyanite AR Jacket offer the versatility, style, and dependability consumers have come to expect from the label.
When it comes to producing luxury winter sportswear, few companies compete with the sheer style and comfort that Moose Knuckles provides. Since its debut in 2009, the label has been defined by its impeccable tailoring, ethically sourced materials, and premium hardware, coupled with proven performance and a unique style perspective.
This season, Moose Knuckles has once again produced a large collection of items that are sure to become wardrobe staples for years to come. From subtle accessories like its Nahanni Headbands or flagship items such as this stunning Glenfinnan coat, Moose Knuckles has a winter aesthetic for everyone. $750
When it comes to braving the brisk Canadian winters, a pair of high-quality boots are nothing short of essential. Thankfully, Anfibio, a Canadian outerwear with over 50 years of expertise in bootmaking, has you covered with the perfect combination of style, comfort, and durability.
This season’s collection offers a wide array of boots and stunning accessories that make for the perfect gift for a loved one or a dependable addition to your winter wardrobe. Featuring an exceptional variety of styles, Anfibio is one of the few brands that truly has a boot for everyone. $370
For years, Norden has built its reputation on producing affordable, ethically produced, and sustainable pieces that refuse to sacrifice on style, with this year being no different. In its latest drop, the label has created a capsule of minimalist styles, utilitarian designs, and comfortable materials that embody the brand’s versatility.
Made from 100% recycled materials while ensuring optimal design and functionality, Norden’s collections are insulated with premium repurposed materials such as Polartec® Power Fill™ to make sure you stay warm during the winter months. $545
Founded upon the philosophy of reflecting Canada’s pioneering spirit, Arc’teryx has become one of the most universally recognized and respected outerwear brands in the world.
Designed to withstand even the harshest natural conditions, hardy new releases such as the Nuclei SV Parka and Kyanite AR Jacket offer the versatility, style, and dependability consumers have come to expect from the label.
It’s hard to imagine that less than a year ago, Penny Oleksiak made history as Canada’s most decorated Olympian. After the 2021 Tokyo games, Oleksiak returned with three new medals in tow, bringing her total count to a whopping seven medals accumulated over the course of her career. And while that would certainly be a reason for any athlete to shout in triumph and fist-pump into the sky, Oleksiak demonstrated a calm and collected spirit of victory that was both humble yet confident. Her record-breaking year was bigger than her. It was demonstrative of a larger movement of young women athletes conquering their sports (see: Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles), owning their success without apology, and championing their own mental wellbeing. At only 21-years-old, Oleksiak undoubtedly has a bright future ahead and is leading a new generation of athletes unafraid to speak their minds on the way to the top.
In 2021, the global esports market was valued at just over $1.08 billion USD (a 50 percent increase from the previous year) and is forecasted to grow to as much as $1.62 billion USD by 2024. With its growth potential, the opportunities to seize in esports are boundless. As the gamer or streamer has become the new celebrity, so too has the influence of their talent agencies, which is where Reed Trimble comes in. Spearheading partnerships at Bad Moon Talent, Trimble has already helped the company establish itself as one of the leaders in gaming and esports talent agencies in his two-year tenure, generating over one million dollars in brand deals for his clients and partnerships with some of today’s biggest brands, including Samsung, Disney, and PepsiCo. His crown achievements? Helping Red Bull sign their first-ever TikTok talent (jordy2d) to their athlete roster, and launching clients like SoundCloud and Sony Music into the metaverse.
Get to know Reed better:
Bad Moon Talent’s Reed Trimble is Leading a New Era in Esports Marketing
“The gaming industry changes every month and in order to be successful you have to adapt or die.”
According to a 2020 survey conducted by Interac Corp., 53 percent of Gen Z and Millennial Canadians reported feeling more concerned about managing their finances than ever before. Reni Odetoyinbo understands this all too well. After purchasing her first property at the age of 23, she began documenting her experience on YouTube in order to show others in her generation that they could do the same. Since then, Odetoyinbo has made it her mission to empower others (particularly BIPOC individuals) through financial literacy and career development content, helping them plan for their first property, negotiate salaries, and understand their worth. With a growing audience of over 30,000 followers, Odetoyinbo was selected earlier this year as one of 135 creators across the world to be part of YouTube Black’s 2022 Creator Class, recognizing her ability to lead meaningful discussions related to Black life and culture on the platform.
Get to know Reni better:
Reni Odetoyinbo is Changing the Discourse Around Personal Finance
“Being a young, Black woman in this space allows me to be a point of reference for people who look like me so that they know that they can do this too.”
Mississauga-born actor and playwright Bilal Baig is inspiring overdue conversations with their new boundary-breaking CBC series Sort Of. Baig is the first South Asian, queer Muslim actor to star in a Canadian prime-time series—one they co-created, nonetheless. After writing the 2018 play Acha Bacha, which explored the intersections between queerness, gender identity, and Islamic culture in the Pakistani diaspora, Baig joined forces with veteran actor and writer Fab Filippo to create Sort Of. The idea was to offer a show that underrepresented groups could identify with and others could learn from.
Produced by Sienna Films, the eight-episode comedy series follows the trials and tribulations of Sabi (played by Baig), a gender-fluid Pakistani-Canadian millennial who straddles various identities, from a bartender at an LGTBQ bookstore and bar, to being the youngest child in a sometimes-complicated Pakistani family, to a nanny for a downtown-dwelling hipster family. A coming-of-age story, Sort of exposes the labels that once characterized our lives as a thing to move beyond.
Furthermore, the series features a truly diverse assortment of talent both in front of and behind the camera. Sort Of is written by Baig, Filippo, Jenn Engels, Nelu Handa, and Ian Iqbal Rashid, with Filippp and Renuka Jeyapalan directing. Baig and Filippo also serve as showrunners and executive producers. In February, Sort Of was picked up for a second season and took home three awards at the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Comedy. – ED
