Canada is home to a growing number cool beauty and fashion brands. There are many homegrown talents in every area, from Indigenous-owned self-care solutions to exquisite footwear finds. We gathered 25 of our favourites to support Canada Day. Have a great time shopping for them!
A Bronze Age
Renee Power, a Vancouver-based designer, has made Renee Power’s brand a favorite for anyone looking for something stylish with a touch of something new. Think Prairie dresses with puff sleeves and silk scrunchies, as well as gathered bags made from silky satin. Each design is made in Vancouver and makes a wonderful addition to your daily wardrobe.
Our choice: Serenity Puff Dress, $350 on abronzeage.com
Azur Fit
Azur Fit founder Erin Ward Williams wanted to create multipurpose activewear that could be worn from spin class to brunch. The brand, which is based in Toronto, offers a range of high-waisted leggings as well as bike shorts and tops in a variety of chic colors.
Our picks: The High Waisted Leggings, $69 and the Upgrade Bra for $48, both in Ivy at www.azurfit.com
Boheme Goods
We love it because Sarah Shabacon, a Maple Ridge style insider, started Boheme Goods in 2016 as a curated selection of vintage finds. Shabacon expanded her range, offering slow-fashion, luxurious linen sets, cool dresses in kaftan, and many other items. Each design is handmade by a local seamstress, giving them a unique feel.
Our picks: The Oxford Shirt, $225 and The Linen Short at $160 each from bohemegoods.com
Casca
Casca cofounders Braden Parker and Kevin Reid set out with their unique approach to sneakers to revolutionize footwear markets. What’s the secret? Three-dimensional printing. The Vancouver-based brand is known for its forward-thinking design elements, such as the SmartFit, which can create a custom footbed from more than 10,000 measurements.
Our choice: Avro Knit Shoes, $198 on casca.com
Cheekbone beauty
Harper’s company offers Canadian-made cosmetics that are transparent and sustainable. It also promotes diversity and inclusion within the beauty industry.
Our choice: Sustain eyeshadow pencil in Cobalt Blue, $24 on cheekbonebeauty.com
CHRLDR
A favourite among Hollywood celebrities such as Eva Longoria and Miley Cyrus, the Montreal-headquartered brand — pronounced “cheerleader” — offers casual designs for everyday wear. Co-founders Hardip Manku, Creative Director, and Eric Schwam CEO, the line’s point of inspiration is “a woman’s journey to growth acceptance and self-love.”
Our pick: Alexis Dropped Shoulder Polo $111 at Chrldr.com
Decade Studio
How do your jeans fit? Molly Spittal, a Vancouver-based designer and brand founder, is eager to answer this question. Spittal’s line Decade Studio focuses on fits and inclusive sizing using a unique ratio-sizing method that aims to find the perfect fit for all body types.
Our choice: The Bonnie Jean in Sintra, $243 on decadestudio.com
Good for Sunday
Good for Sunday was founded by Anthony Kentris and Demetra Kentris in 2020. It features made-in Canada pieces that range from casual wear to formal wear. The designs are made from textiles like modal, organic cotton, and linen blends. They’re ethically responsible and easy to dress in.
Our pick: The Essential Organic Cotton Crop Tee is $42, and the Modal High Rise Bike Shorts are $48, both at goodforsunday.com.
Harley Jae
Laila B. Pottervin, a Vancouver-based designer, takes a slow-fashion approach when creating her designs. She prefers small-batch runs that sell out. Potvin’s collections follow the principle of less is more and feature a carefully curated collection of styles that are often re-offered season after season.
Our choice: The Breeze Jumpsuit, Olive, $325 on harlyjae.com
Heirloom Hats
Hats made by Samantha-Tara Mainville, a Montreal-based milliner, are wearable art. The collection of toppers, which are all handmade in her studio, ranges from straw creations to felted finds, and each one is more unique than the next.
Our choice: The Maze Hat in Natural Straw with Hand-Picked Details, $385 on Heirloomhats.com
Hello Darling Co.
Miriam Delos Santos, a Winnipeg designer, creates cheerful and wearable one-size creations. The line includes accessories like hair scrunchies, headbands and more, all made in her studio.
Our choice: The Colour-Block Nati Dress ($160 at hellodarlingco.ca).
KIP Sleepwear
KIP Sleepwear is based in Toronto and offers high-quality sleepwear sets that can be personalized with monogramming. Natalie Marshall, the founder of KIP Sleepwear, grew up with sleepwear as a precious gift. Each piece of the matching set is made from OEKOTEX cotton or mulberry Silk to ensure a perfect sleep experience.
Our pic: Premium Cotton Pajama set in Lavender from sleepinkip.com, $256
Maguire
Montreal-based sisters Romy Belzile-Maguire make high-quality shoes in Italy and Spain at an affordable price. The seasonal styles are available in a variety of colors and textiles. They also focus on durability.
Our choice: Riva sandal, kiwi at maguireshoes.com for $190
Nettle’s Tale
Julia Church, founder and designer, creates a wide range of designs that include swimwear, sweet summer dresses, and more. Most are available in sizes XS-4X.
Our choice: The Sarita Dress, $95 on nettlestale.com
Ocin
Courtney Chew, the founder, uses recycled fabrics like ECONYL to make many of her designs. Ocin offers a swimwear recycling program where they will accept used swim pieces.
Our choice: Human Friend Ocean Lover Shorts, $105 on ocin.co
Poetry of the Gods
Poetry of the Gods combines Della Porta’s Indigenous heritage and a knowledge of natural ingredients to create sustainable apothecary items that range from skin care to soaps.
Our choice: Head in The Clouds Multitasking Toner ($58 at poetryofthegods.com).
Sisters Sage
Sisters Lynn-Marie and Melissa Rae Angus founded Sisters Sage, which offers handmade wellness products ranging in product range from soaps to smudge-sprays. To create their vegan and cruelty-free products, the East Vancouver entrepreneurs used traditional Indigenous ingredients like cedar, sage, tobacco.
Our choice: Creator Soap, $11.50 on sisterssage.com
Solios Watches
Solios watches are solar-powered and sleek. The brand was created by Alexandre Desabrais and Samuel Leroux, both Quebec-based designers.
Our choice: The Solar Black Black Mesh and. Black Case, $340 on solioswatches.ca
Sonya Lee
In 2014, Stephanie Sonya Ibbitson, a Vancouver-based designer, founded Sonya Lee accessories brand. Ibbitson’s local studio is renowned for creating timeless pieces that can last a lifetime. It combines natural leathers that improve with age with elegant designs.
Our choice: The Alberta, $445 on sonyalee.co.
Thief&Bandit
Amie Cunningham, a Halifax-based designer, created Thief&Bandit over ten years ago. Her brand is characterized by a playful, artisan approach towards fashion. The brand has used hand-printed designs on organic fabric and each garment is sewn in the studio.
Our choice: Shroom Victoria Dress, $212 on thiefandbandit.com
Three Sisters from Emma
Cabana’s earring designs, inspired by her Metis culture are handmade in Vancouver with Miyuki glass beads in a variety of colors.
Our pick: Red Sparks earrings, from $110 at threesistersbyemma.com.
Vestige Story
Aileen Lee, a Canadian designer, creates minimal pieces that are carefully crafted in Canada in small batches. Lee’s goal is to offer “goods that have stories to tell”, and she partners with non-profit organizations and social enterprises to ensure the clothes she designs do more than make people look great.
Our choice: The Dialogue Sweatshirt at $138 from vestigestory.com
Zaleska jewelry
There are brands that are for everyone and then there are brands that are for everyone. Sylvia Tennant, a Vancouver-based jeweler, is trying to provide all the above through the brand Zaleska. Tennant offers a wide range of fine and semi-fine designs with natural stones. These include earrings, rings, and necklaces.
Our choice: The Empress Ring in Gold, $88 on zaleska.ca
