What clothing is made in Canada?
It’s never been easier or cheaper to find a great new piece of clothing. H&M, Uniqlo, The Bay, your local mall, Amazon all have unique styles at great prices. But we all shop with no small degree of guilt, knowing that these clothes are not being made with the highest quality standards and social or environmental sustainability in mind. While fast fashion may make us look good, it’s not always the best for us or the world. More and more people are asking themselves what clothing is made in Canada?
This article will explore the current made in Canada clothing industry. What’s the history of Canadian-made clothes? Who are the major players? Where is the fabric sourced? Is it more responsible or sustainable than foreign-made clothes? And most importantly, where can we buy made in Canada clothing?
A brief history of Canadian-made clothes
Canada has had a clothing industry for hundreds of years. Before it was cheap and easy to have clothes made abroad and imported, early Canadians had to make clothes with what they had around them or with rare and valuable fabrics imported from England or France. Mainly consisting of natural materials such as linen, wool, and leather, these were simple garments to protect the wearer from harsh weather and brutal cold.
In the mid-1800’s Canada began to mass-produce clothing. Sewing machines and industrial weaving made it possible for large quantities of quality clothes to be manufactured quickly. Centres of clothing production primarily appeared around Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver and Winnipeg for distribution around the country.
More recently, there has been a significant decline in clothing and textile production in Canada. As the access to cheap labour in global markets became easier, demand for more expensive domestically produced clothing declined. Today there are fewer and fewer Canadian sewing houses and textile mills. Though the industry isn’t what it used to be in Canada, several companies, both old and new, won’t compromise on the origin of their products.
Who makes clothing in Canada?
As we explored in the previous segment, the Canadian clothing industry isn’t as big as it used to be, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any high-quality options. Let’s take a look at some brands that won’t compromise on where their products are made:
Anian Manufacturing is an upstart brand from Vancouver Island. They have an active west-coast feel to their apparel, very much laid back but not without being slick. Their focus is on high-quality Canadian-made products that don’t skip on the details. Their materials are sourced from abroad and consist primarily of recycled materials.
Ecologyst; formerly Sitka, also has West Coast DNA. Focusing on biodegradable and naturally derived materials, they seek to reduce the impact on the environment while creating clothes that help people get out and better enjoy it.
Based in Quebec, Province of Canada makes high-quality, understated everyday essentials. Hoodies, t-shirts, sweatpants, and hats are mainstays in their catalogue. Instead of producing these kinds of essentials abroad, they make them close to home.
Encircled of Toronto manufactures all their clothes within a 60-kilometre radius of their offices. They make stylish and straightforward pieces, focusing on sustainable materials such as Bamboo.
No article on Canadian-made clothing can be complete without talking about legendary parka manufacturer Canada Goose. Initially making jackets for expeditions, they have become a global fashion must-have. Found in malls worldwide, Canada Goose is a mainstay of any fashion-savvy closet and still 100% made in Canada.
Hailing from Quebec, this department store takes care to source a number of its articles from Canadian manufacturers, particularly its socks and childrenswear.
Does Canada still produce fabric?
Cutting and sewing a product in Canada is all well and good, but for a product to be truly Canadian, nothing beats a piece with Canadian material AND labour. Just as Canada has a history of clothesmaking, it also has a long weaving history. Indigenous peoples weave wild sheep wool, dog hair, and natural fibres into ornate blankets, baskets, and clothing.
When settlers arrived, they brought European looms, domesticated sheep, and flax for linen. Part of any rural Canadian homestead would have been a spinning wheel and loom where the families’ clothes were woven. Unlike today textiles were time-consuming, precious, and prized.
Industrial weaving came into force in the mid 19th century, and mechanical weaving and knitting machines with it. Much of the material Canadian clothing factories used came from Canadian or British textile mills.
Today a few textile mills remain in Canada. In 2015 Canada exported $2.1 billion of textiles. However, at the same time, it imported $6.4 billion worth. Located primarily in Quebec and Ontario today, the textile industry in Canada produces a wide array of products for home and industrial applications.
Sustainability of Canadian made clothing
Determining whether something is sustainable is never easy - there are so many factors that go into producing something. That said, we can look at what is unsustainable about some of our favourite clothes and see how those made in Canada differ.
Labour Standards
One of the highest costs in clothing manufacture is labour. The average Bangladeshi apparel maker gets paid around CAD$122 per month. Factory owners are incentivized to keep costs low, and factory conditions suffer. Wages for Canadian textile workers start at $15 an hour, and the strict work safety regulations here ensure decent working conditions.
Clean Energy
Energy in Canada is overwhelmingly clean compared to many parts of the world. Countries like China and Bangladesh overwhelmingly rely on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas for their energy needs. 80% of electricity produced in Canada comes from non-emitting sources such as Hydroelectric and Nuclear - the two predominant energy sources in Ontario and Quebec.
Shipping
Something we don’t always think about is the environmental cost of freight. Apparel made overseas literally has to cross an ocean. On a cost-per-ton basis, trains are the most sustainable means of transportation. We also need to think about distance. If a shirt comes from Ningbo to Vancouver, it’s travelling 9,137 KM; that same shirt only travels 3,361 KM if it’s coming from Toronto.
Conclusion
While we can’t find it in every corner of every shopping mall, Canadian-made apparel exists all around us. You might have walked past a Canadian clothing factory without knowing it. From a rich history of clothing and textile manufacture, Canada has recently had a resurgence in upstart companies looking to return domestically made everyday essentials to your wardrobe. Next time you buy a piece of clothing, maybe it’ll say “Made in Canada” on the tag.