Six Canadian fashion brands that give back
How far your dollar goes is about more than just getting a good deal. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for someone else, it’s important to consider not just what you’re buying, but where you’re buying from as well. Canada is full of brands worth celebrating not only for their product offering but their conscience too. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite Canadian fashion brands that have literally made it their business to give back.
COMMUNITY MASKS
Like it or not, we’re all in the market for high-quality, reusable masks these days. Not only does CommUNITY Masks manufacture their products locally in Toronto, but it also gives back a portion of every purchase to support its community! One dollar from each mask, mask holder and mask organizer sold goes to Food Banks Canada. So far, the company has donated 75,000 meals and counting!
PROVINCE OF CANADA
Province of Canada, a Montreal-based brand, offers everything from apparel to home accessories, but it’s their cozy, warm socks that most recently grabbed our attention. For every pair purchased, one will be donated to a Canadian homeless shelter as part of their 1 for 1 Sock Program. Buying new socks never felt so good!
MANITOBAH MUKLUKS
Manitobah Mukluks is an incredible Indigenous-owned company that offers modern Indigenous footwear and accessories to keep you warm all year round. Their Storyboot Project aims to revive traditional arts by creating partnerships with artisans and elders who design its traditional mukluks, accessories and moccasins. For every Storyboot sold, the artist receives 100% of the proceeds.
VESSI
There's nothing worse than coming home with wet socks after being unexpectedly caught in the rain. As Canadians, we often have to deal with unpredictable weather, which is exactly why Vessi created its waterproof sneakers. Each pair is specially designed to be worn in mud, snow, slush, rain, sun and everything in-between all year round. The company also works with a variety of charity partners, and its current give-back program donates $5 from every pre-order of its popular Weekend Sneakers to various mental health charities.
BOHTEN
Bohten was created with a love of nature, style and African culture in mind. The Black-owned eyewear company aims for full manufacturing to be done in Ghana and provides support to food distribution and hygiene in country as well. Bohten also runs a "Greener Every Day" initiative, a year-long tree-planting program to support education for children across Kenya. Back here in North America, it donates masks to homeless shelters in Toronto as well as the BronxCare Health System in New York.
FLAX SLEEP
Ethically manufactured bedding and home essentials? Yes, please! Flax Sleep is a female-founded business that produces beautiful and luxurious linen bedding with an admirable return policy: All returns are donated to Atira Women's Resource Society, which helps women who flee from domestic violence.
