Oh, Canada: 25 Canadian fashion and beauty brands to know
From Indigenous-owned soap-sellers to fine footwear finds, there’s a haute homegrown talent in virtually every category.
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
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Canada boasts a growing number of cool fashion and beauty brands.
From Indigenous-owned self care solutions to fine footwear finds, there’s a haute homegrown talent in virtually every category — from coast-to-coast.
As a nod to Canada Day, we rounded up 25 favourites for you to consider supporting next time you’re in need of a little something new.
Happy shopping!
The brand: A Bronze Age
Why we love it: Vancouver-based designer Renée Power’s brand has become a go-to for those searching for a stylish piece with a hint of something different. Think Prairie dresses with puffed sleeves, oversized silk scrunchies and gathered bags crafted from silky satin. Each design, made in Vancouver, offers a dreamy addition to one’s daily wardrobe.
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Our pick: Serenity Puff Dress, $350 at abronzeage.com.
The brand: Anián
Why we love it: With a focus on creating timeless pieces from salvaged natural fibres, Victoria-based Anián MFG offers apparel options — many of which are unisex — ranging from layering shirts to cosy knit hats.
Our pick: The Twill Overshirt, $179 at anianmfg.com.
The brand: Azur Fit
Why we love it: Multipurpose activewear that can seamlessly switch from spin class to weekend brunch was the main mission of Azur Fit founder Erin Ward-Williams. The Toronto-based brand’s lineup includes high-waisted leggings and bike shorts, along with a bevy of top styles, available in a rainbow of chic hues.
Our pick: High Waisted Legging, $69, and the Upgrade Bra, $48, in Ivy at azurfit.com.
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The brand: Boheme
Why we love it: Maple Ridge-based style-insider Sarah Shabacon started Boheme Goods as a curated offering of vintage finds in 2016. Since then, Shabacon has expanded her lineup, now offering slow-fashion finds that include luxurious linen sets, cool kaftan dresses and more. The designs are made in small batches by a local sewer, for a one-of-a-kind feel.
Our pick: The Oxford Shirt, $225, and The Linen Short, $160 at bohemegoods.com.
The brand: Casca
Why we love it: Casca co-founders Braden Parker and Kevin Reid set out to revolutionize the footwear market with their unique approach to sneakers. The secret? Three-dimensional printing. The Vancouver-based brand offers forward-thinking design elements such as a SmartFit, which allows for a custom footbed to be created from more than 10,000 measurements of the foot.
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Our pick: Avro Knit shoes, $198 at casca.com.
The brand: Cheekbone Beauty
Why we love it: After a dream inspired founder Jenn Harper to create her brand, the Ontario-based entrepreneur put her full creative force into building the first Indigenous-owned makeup brand. Offering made-in-Canada cosmetics with an eye for sustainability and transparency, Harper’s company also aims to foster diversity and inclusion in the beauty space.
Our pick: Sustain Eyeshadow Pencil in Cobalt Blue, $24 at cheekbonebeauty.com.
The brand: CHRLDR
Why we love it: A favourite among Hollywood celebrities such as Eva Longoria and Miley Cyrus, the Montreal-headquartered brand — pronounced “cheerleader” — offers casual designs for everyday wear. Creative director Hardip Manku and CEO Eric Schwam, co-founders of the line, say its point of inspiration lies in “a woman’s journey to growth, acceptance and self-love.”
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Our pick: Alexis Dropped Shoulder Polo, $111 at chrldr.com.
The brand: Decade Studio
Why we love it: How well do your jeans fit? It’s a question Vancouver-based designer and brand co-founder Molly Spittal is eager to ask more fashion fans. Through the line Decade Studio, Spittal tackles fits and inclusive sizing with a unique ratio-sizing technique aimed at finding the perfect fit for every body type.
Our pick: The Bonnie jean in Sintra, $243 at decadestudio.com.
The brand: Good for Sunday
Why we love it: Founded by husband-and-wife team Demetra and Anthony Kentris in 2020, Good for Sunday offers made-in-Canada pieces spanning athleisure to everyday wear. Crafted from textiles such as modal, organic cotton and linen blends, the designs are intended to make dressing easy — and ethical.
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Our pick: The Essential Organic Cotton Crop Tee, $42, and Modal High-Rise Bike Shorts, $48, at goodforsunday.com.
The brand: Harley Jae
Why we love it: Based in Vancouver, designer Laila B. Potvin takes a slow-fashion approach to her creations opting for small-batch runs that often sell-out. In keeping with the less-is-more approach, Potvin’s collections feature a curated selection of styles often on re-offer season-after-season.
Our pick: The Breeze Jumpsuit in Olive, $325 at harlyjae.com.
The brand: Heirloom Hats
Why we love it: The hats by Montreal-based milliner Samantha-Tara Mainville are pieces of wearable art. Each made by hand in her studio, the collection of toppers range from straw creations to felted finds in a wide variety of styles, each one more creative than the last.
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Our pick: The Maze Hat in natural straw with hand-painted details, $385 at heirloomhats.com.
The brand: Hello Darling Co.
Why we love it: Winnipeg-based designer Miriam Delos Santos creates colourful, one-size creations that are cheerfully wearable — and wonderfully bright. Made in her own studio, the line includes accessories such as headbands, hair scrunchies and more.
Our pick: The Colour-Block Nati Dress, $160 at hellodarlingco.ca.
The brand: Israella Kobla
Why we love it: British-born, Toronto-based designer Emefa Kuadey builds each creation using a blend of “structure and bold femininity.” Kuadey’s perspective comes from a love of fashion, and past experience as a civil engineer, combining to create made-to-order designs that feature eye-catching elements such as cutouts and ruffles.
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Our pick: Dalmar Oversized Shift Dress with Sheer Sleeve, $257 at israellakobla.com.
The brand: KIP Sleepwear
Why we love it: Based in Toronto, KIP Sleepwear offers elevated sleepwear sets that are perfectly personalized with monogramming. Founder Natalie Marshall built the brand from memories growing up when sleepwear was a special gift. The matching sets are crafted from OEKO-TEX cotton or mulberry silk to ensure each precious piece is perfect for sleep.
Our pic: Premium Cotton Pajama Set in Lavender, $256 at sleepinkip.com.
The brand: Maguire
Why we love it: Montreal-based sisters Romy and Myriam Belzile-Maguire create quality shoes crafted in the likes of Italy and Spain, at an approachable price point. Their seasonal styles offer a selection of fun colours and textiles, while also keeping an eye on long-time wearability.
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Our pick: Riva sandal in kiwi, $190 at maguireshoes.com.
The brand: Nettle’s Tale
Why we love it: Based in Vancouver, Nettle’s Tale strives for size-inclusive options for stylish individuals. Founder and designer Julia Church creates a broad
array of designs, ranging from swimwear to sweet summer dresses, most available in sizes XS-4X.
Our pick: The Sarita Dress, $95 at nettlestale.com.
The brand: Ocin
Why we love it: Sustainable swimwear — and, more recently, lifestyle wear too — is the name of the game for Vancouver-based Ocin. Founder Courtney Chew looks to fabrics that are recycled, like ECONYL, a 100 per cent regenerated nylon yarn, to create many of her designs. Ocin also offers a swimwear recycling program that sees them accept pre-loved swim pieces to be properly recycled.
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Our pick: Human Friend Ocean Lover Sweatshort, $105 at ocin.co.
The brand: Poetry of the Gods
Why we love it: After a traumatic incident left her with PTSD, Vancouver Island-raised founder Melissa Della Porta looked to new avenues of creativity and self-care. Poetry of the Gods blends Della Porta’s ancestral values from her Indigenous heritage with a know-how for natural ingredients to create sustainable apothecary products ranging from soaps to skin care.
Our pick: Head in the Clouds Multitasking Toner, $58 at poetryofthegods.com.
The brand: Sisters Sage
Why we love it: Founded by sisters Lynn-Marie and Melissa-Rae Angus, Sisters Sage offers handmade wellness products ranging from soaps to smudge sprays. The East Vancouver-based entrepreneurs use traditional Indigenous ingredients such as cedar, sage and tobacco to create their line of vegan, cruelty free products.
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Our pick: Creator Soap, $11.50 at sisterssage.com.
The brand: Solios Watches
Why we love it: Perfect for those who are either tired of changing their watch battery, are looking for a more sustainable timepiece option — or both — Solios offers sleek, solar-powered wristwatches. Created by Quebec-based creatives Samuel Leroux and Alexandre Desabrais, the brand is billed as being the first watch brand to earn B Corp.-certification.
Our pick: The Solar Black Black Mesh & Black Case, $340 at solioswatches.ca.
The brand: Sonya Lee
Why we love it: Vancouver-based designer Stephanie Sonya Ibbitson founded her accessories brand Sonya Lee in 2014. Celebrating natural leathers that get better with age, in combination with sleek designs, Ibbitson creates timeless pieces in her local studio that could last a lifetime.
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Our pick: The Alberta, $445 at sonyalee.co.
The brand: Thief&Bandit
Why we love it: Halifax-based designer Amie Cunningham created her brand Thief&Bandit more than 10 years ago with a fun, artisan approach to fashion. To date, the brand uses hand-printed designs on organic fabrics, sewing each garment by hand in their local studio.
Our pick: Shroom Victoria Dress, $212 at thiefandbandit.com.
The brand: Three Sisters by Emma
Why we love it: Formed on a basis of creativity and relationship, founder Emma Cabana explores beadwork through the lens of both culture and tradition. Inspired by her Métis culture, Cabana’s earring designs are made in small batches by hand in Vancouver using Miyuki glass beads in an array of hues.
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Our pick: Red Sparks earrings, from $110 at threesistersbyemma.com.
The brand: Vestige Story
Why we love it: Designer Aileen Lee creates minimalist pieces that are thoughtfully crafted in Canada in small batches. Aimed at offering “goods with stories to tell,” Lee partners with social enterprise and non-profit groups to see the clothes she creates do more than just make people look good.
Our pick: The Dialogue Sweatshirt, $138 at vestigestory.com.
The brand: Zaleska jewelry
Why we love it: There are brands for everybody, and then there are brands for every body. Vancouver-based jewelry designer Sylvia Tennant is trying to offer all of the above with the brand Zaleska. Offering an array of demi-fine and fine designs with natural stones, from earrings to rings to necklaces, Tennant ensures there’s a perfect fit with ring sizes from four to 12 and custom-cut chains for necklaces.
Our pick: The Empress Ring in gold, $88 at zaleska.ca.
