These local designers and makers will keep you warm this winter
Dustin Butcher and Cheryl LeBarr founded Squamish-based Made in 2022, which immediately stood out in the outdoor gear crowd thanks to mountain-ready custom jackets that use AI technology. The tool records over 75 measurements and feeds them into the company’s patterning software to guarantee a perfect (and inclusive) fit. Plus, additional tweaks and adjustments are free.
Watson Gloves is a B.C. legend. Founded over 100 years ago by John Watson and Wayne Stanley, the iconic brand originally catered to Vancouver’s dock workers. Today, Watson has over 2,000 styles, including the winter-ready Duke that features a cotton lining and soft deerskin leather. No matter which gloves you’re buying—winter or high-performance work—each is hand-crafted at its Burnaby factory.
Vernon-based Canadian Frost started as a side hustle for Nicole Semeniuk. But years later the electrician-by-trade took to making her hand-knit and-sewn products full time. Items like the five-in-one beanie provide warm and stylish options—from a scarf to a rolled toque. Though the company does have some products that are factory-made (like the trucker hats), all are ethically crafted.
All of the art featured on scarves, shawls, hoodies and more listed on Vancouver-based marketplace Native Northwest are designed by Indigenous artists. Like, for example, the Sleeping Bears version of the Eco scarf, designed by Storm Angeconeb of Lac Seul First Nation, Ojibwe—which, despite its soft, cozy texture, is fabricated out of 100-percent recycled plastic bottles.
Father-daughter duo Robyn Phelan and Sean Gallant started making their cozy creations in 2005 with a sock machine in the family garage. More than 15 years later, they founded Kootenay Socks. Based out of Castlegar and Okotoks, Alberta, the brand keeps high-quality fibres at top of mind to maintain comfort for its customers while supporting Canadian manufacturing.
After moving from Scotland to Canada, Helen Long founded Padraig Cottage in 1977—selling her hand-crocheted slippers at craft markets in Vancouver. The brand is still based in North Vancouver, but has expanded from artisan fairs into a nationwide market (over 100 retailers Canada-wide) while still maintaining its handcrafted touch and support of the local community.
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