Samantha Goodwin

Support Canadian brands and stay on-trend with our list of the best places to go for wide leg, flare, boyfriend and baggy jeans.

Canadian Made Jeans 

Every Canadian knows that cooler weather is just around the corner. Shorts and summer dresses are on borrowed time, and soon you can start thinking about your other wardrobe - the fall one. A vital component of that wardrobe? Jeans of course. You can't make a Canadian tuxedo without them.  Here are some exciting and diverse Canadian denim brands that offer on-trend jeans such as wide leg, flare, boyfriend and relaxed fit.

Based out of Montreal, Quebec, BODYBAG by jude originated as a label for ravers and clubbers in the 1990s. It evolved into a brand for young professionals but still maintained its edge. The result is innovative and stylish designs showcased on quality fabrics and natural fibers. See their site for the Rockaway High Waisted Jeans with Wide Legs, the Northstar A-line Skirt as well as their Tofino Denim Culottes. These pieces are versatile enough to be worn out with friends or in the workplace.

For wide leg and relaxed fits reminisce of the 1990s, try Kotn's denim line. Here you will see lighter washes and a modern twist on the old skater look. Kotn is a certified B Corporation that designs its pieces in Toronto, Ontario and then ethically makes them in Egypt and Portugal. Each step of their manufacturing process can be traced to ensure accountability. They use natural fibers that can biodegrade at the end of their lifecycle. 

Started in Montreal, Quebec, Lola Jeans makes denim with a commitment to sustainability. Their signature stretch denim is made from 80% recycled cotton, 18% Tencel TM Lyocell derived from sustainable wood sources, and 2% Lycra. Tencel is naturally soft, breathable and ideal for sensitive skin. It is also biodegradable. The result is comfortable, stylish jeans with a minimum impact on the environment. See their website for a variety of wide leg, bootcut and flare jeans. 

Pretty Denim offers highly stylized tailored pieces that are intended to be timeless. Their tapered jeans with front folds and pleats are certainly a standout. They are a nod to the current high waisted jeans trend but manage to be a style all their own. Denim shirts are also available. They are a throwback to the 1960's mod: the style is in the cut.

Naked & Famous Denim uses Japanese raw denim, specifically that from Okayama, because it is amongst the best in the world. It is processed using traditional techniques so that it will conform to the wearer. It will fold, crease and fade depending on how it is worn thus allowing the wearer to imprint themselves into the jeans. Naked & Famous Denim routinely bring innovative new materials into their jeans such as glow-in-the-dark, cashmere blend and rainbow fade. The cut and designs are all Canadian. You can choose anything from skinny to boyfriend to max (their take on mom jeans) to classic straight leg. The Japanese-Canadian collaboration results in a very clean look.

Triarchy is built on the principles of sustainability and accountability. Their denim is made from 100% certified organic cotton. The indigo colouring is achieved through state of the art ozone washing and nano-bubbles while the distressed look is obtained through lasers. These techniques minimize the environmental impact of producing the jeans whilst creating a product that people will want to wear. See their website for a wide variety of on-trend jeans including tapered, high waisted, wide leg, flare, distressed and relaxed. You will also find entirely new designs such as synched ankles and denim mixing. 

The first step in reducing Yoga Jeans' ecological footprint was to design and manufacture their jeans locally; sourcing many of their materials from within Canada and the USA. Their jeans are 100% Canadian designed and manufactured in St-Come Linière, Quebec. Modern techniques such as laser technology combined with enhanced productivity allows them to reduce water consumption and lower their carbon footprint. As the name suggests, Yoga Jeans offers comfort as well as style. Their 4-way stretch, non-gapping waistband and shape memory technology ensures the jeans hug you in just the right places. See their website for wide leg and relaxed fits along with the more traditional tighter fits. 

Denim Forum is a line of jeans by Canadian retailer Aritzia. Available in major Canadian shopping malls and online, they always have trendy and well made clothing on offer. For this season, the majority of jeans have a light to medium rinse in styles such as loose, wide leg, flare and straight cut.  It's definitely worth a look for back to school shopping.

Make a fashion statement at the beach with these curated swimwear brands from Canada. List includes independent and up-and-coming designers. 

Canadian Stylish Swimwear

Even though our summers are short, Canadians know how to make the most of them. Go to any beach or pool and you will see Canadians living their best lives and looking good in the process. How? You ask? By shopping from the treasure trove of talented Canadian swimwear designers. From the timeless one-piece to head turning cutouts, there is something for everyone, even you. Some of the brands featured in our list come from established labels and some come from independent up-and-coming designers. Read ahead and discover your next style. 

Inspired by surf culture, the creators behind June Swimwear sought to make swimsuits that could withstand active days at the beach. They offer an entire Just Swim line intended for water activities such as yoga, swimming or surfing. Make no mistake, the bathing suits still manage to be stylish and comfortable. There is also a wide variety of bikinis and one pieces with on-trend silhouettes that would look good at the beach or a pool party. They come in monochromatic, ditsy floral and tropical patterns in high waisted or cheeky bikini bottoms and bandeau, triangle and sporty tops. 

Anna Kosturova is based in Vancouver, Canada. No doubt inspired by the ocean, her designs have a vintage and bohemian aesthetic. Anna makes striking sustainable crochet and silk tie-dye creations. Her pieces are handmade by generational artisan families ensuring quality and a commitment to slow fashion. High style, her swimsuits have been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The monokini line is definitely a standout. 

As a feminist, Beth Richards seeks to create inspirational images of women that celebrate their beauty without exploiting their bodies. She strives to provide high quality, well fitting bathing suits that will help them feel empowered and confident. Beth Richards offers a wide assortment of styles and prints. They are eclectic but still manage to be polished at the same time. There are plunging V-neck, single shoulder, traditional, cutout and frilly one pieces, available in monochromatic or floral designs. There is every combination of two piece including halter tops with mesh detail, bandeau and triangle tops. You need to see her website to fully appreciate the range of styles. 

Thief & Bandit are known for their recognizable prints. They create sporadic and lively patterns intended to stand out. Their fabrics are printed, by hand, on organic textiles and then hand sewn into unique pieces. Bold patterns on simple two piece swimsuits as well as high waisted bottoms paired with bandeau tops, puff sleeves or bikini tops create a wild spirited and unusual look. And yes, those are shrooms on the bathing suit below. 

Denude Swim offers timeless minimalistic swimwear designed to accentuate women's natural curves. Their swim wear line is made with the purpose to empower women. Their vision is to break stereotypes and borders by offering inclusive and versatile swimwear. Denude Swim's pieces are high quality, double layered swimsuits designed and manufactured in Toronto, Ontario. Their one pieces are primarily monochromatic. There are a variety of designs including asymmetrical, cutout, strapless, wrap-around straps and high cut. 

SHAN is known for luxury clothing designed and manufactured by experienced craftspeople in Laval, Quebec. They offer made-to-measure swimwear as well as ready-to-wear. SHAN approaches swimwear as it would evening dresses, with a focus on quality material, high end design and exceptionally involved construction. Their swimwear and resort wear would be perfect for a luxury beach getaway. 

Imagine Perry is a family run business offering fun and effortlessly cool bathing suits for women, children and babies. Mother of 3, Lena Shaw sought to find swimwear with the following criteria: stylish, the right cut and sustainably produced. When she couldn't find what she was looking for, she created her own and Imagine Perry was born. Her styles have a sweet look to them with patterns such as polka dots, stripes, gingham and floral on adjustable, fully lined one piece and two piece designs. The same patterns are available in children's swimwear so that you can twin with your mini-me!

Bikini Empire makes flirty swimwear for body confident women. Whether taking their inspiration from Palm Springs in 1967, 1950s pinup girls, or burlesque dancers from the 1930s, Bikini Empire manages to be retro with a modern twist. There are one pieces available but as the name implies, bikinis are their bread and butter. Explore options such as black velvet, orchid corduroy or shimmery gold with a ruffle. Bikini Empire is committed to following environmentally sustainable practices and ensuring the health and well being of their workers through ethical working conditions. 

The founder and designer behind Teeny Weeny Bikini co. grew up as a cottager on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka. Suffice to say, she decided to stay in Rosseau and start her own swimwear brand. The swimwear is intended to be comfortable, vintage inspired and flattering. There is an eclectic mix of tube tops, knotted tops and halter styles. The bottoms range from high waisted, shorties and high cut string bikinis. All are perfect for a weekend at the cottage. 

Feminine bathing suits made to make people feel confident and look stylish regardless of size, shape or body type. Canadian brands are highlighted. 

Canadian Inclusive Swimwear

Hedgehogs like to swim. It's true - I googled it. You know what else likes to swim? People. There is a distinct joy attained from jumping into the water on a hot day. You can't swim? Get your feet wet, that's fun too! This joy should be available to everyone, hedgehogs and people alike, regardless of size, shape or body type. Sometimes it can be daunting finding the right swim apparel for the beach or pool. The joy derived from swimming diminished by feeling self conscious in the wrong swimwear. That's why we, at Norther, have selected  a list of Canadians brands that specialize in making inclusive swimwear without compromising on quality or style. Go ahead, jump in!

The Bathing Belle motto is “From Boobs to Bum, Bathing Belle makes it fun!”. That pretty much sums up their ethos when creating swimwear for everyone. This includes men, women, non binary, kids and people who have found the swimsuit shopping experience difficult. There is even a 'mature belles' line for older women. Standard sizing (S - XL) is readily available and custom sizes are available upon request. Bathing Belle has a wide variety of swimwear styles made with fun and whimsical patterns. There is a retro aesthetic to some cute swimsuits whilst others are very modern. 

Based in Vancouver, B.C., Nettle's Tale makes casual swimwear and clothing that is effortlessly cool. A self described ethically made, feel-good bathing suit line offered in sizes 4X-XS, they have something for everyone. They have a wide variety of swimsuit styles including two piece with high waisted bottoms, wrap top with sleeves, and one piece with 'badass' cutout. Nettle's Tale includes the measurements of all of their models so that shoppers can get a sense of how each item will fit. 

Mimi & August produces ethically made swimwear, clothing and home accessories proudly designed in Montreal, Quebec. They have never used professional models to showcase their products. At first, they relied on friends and family. This initial choice became a primary part of their business strategy; to create swimwear and clothing for real people. They offer a huge selection of cute swimsuits in one piece, two piece, high neck, low neck, ruffle and more! Sizes are available in XS - 4XL.  

Londre Bodywear makes swimwear using simple lines and monochromatic colours. The effect is extremely sophisticated, high fashion looks. They are committed to making flattering and high quality swimsuits. This is evident in their clever designs, including the multiway, which can be adjusted to be worn in different ways. The sizes are offered from XS - 4XL. There is also trans mtf swimwear available through the Kendall Gender X Londre collection.  And if that isn't enough, their swimsuits are ethically produced. 

Saltwater Collective is built around the premise that inner-confidence and inner-beauty should be celebrated. The founder has created a wide assortment of styles available in sizes XS - 3XL so that everyone can have control over their own look and highlight the best parts of themselves. They offer modern monochromatic swimwear with clean lines. They are committed to sustainable practices and incorporate recycled materials (including abandoned fishing nets) into their fabrics. 

Unika Swim is a body positive brand that follows ethical and sustainable practices. They offer a huge (seriously, huge) variety of swimsuit styles in both fun patterns and single colours in sizes XS - 4XL. You can mix and match  to suit your needs. If you are still not satisfied, they offer custom made bathing suits. They can make anything from a string bikini to a rashguard in a choice of over 300 fabrics. The swimwear is made by hand in their studio located in Toronto, Ontario. Both in person and online fittings are available. 

Minnow is an independent swimwear label based in Toronto, Ontario. They have their own designs as well as several collaborations with artists resulting in unique and fashion forward styles. High-performance function and diversity of the human form is taken into account with each piece allowing their wearers to feel confident and comfortable. Sizes range from XS - 3XL. Minnow strives to adhere to environmentally friendly practices by minimizing waste from their production process. 

A curated collection of Canadian brands that make handbags, totes, duffle bags, and fanny packs from upcycled materials.

Canadian Upcycled Bags

Fashion with a conscience. Read below to find Canadian brands that create an assortment of bags made from repurposed materials. Here, you can support businesses that find innovative ways to reduce waste and promote a sustainable economy. 

Bedi is a Canadian brand based in Montreal that creates handmade apparel right here in Canada. Their pieces are created with innovative materials that minimize waste. They have created proprietary fabrics from regenerated fish nets that are extracted from the ocean. They make bags from upcycled leather from former airline seats and then use discarded seat belts from the automotive and aviation industries to create webbed straps and accent details. When upcycled materials are not available, they try to use locally sourced and sustainable alternatives.

Veinage designs and manufactures fashion modern accessories that have a vintage feel. Everything is carefully handmade in Quebec using recycled wood, textiles and leather. Veinage puts an emphasis on "simple" through their geometric shapes, lines, and clean designs. They create versatile pieces that look great on an evening out or at work. 

Echos in the Attic believes fashion doesn't have to be destructive and wasteful. They make a line of signature bags that are handmade in Canada from upcycled materials in small batches. At the time of writing, they are diverting 250lbs per week of fabric that is bound for the landfill and repurposing it into signature, original, cross-body flatbags, slingbags, handbags and totes. They even pass their waste fabrics on to local artists and craftspeople, or recycle it. 

Terra Organic is a wife and husband owned business based in Campbellville, Ontario. They make bags using artisan fabrics that embrace the irregularities and variations that come with hand-dyed fabric. They intentionally size their products so that no fabric is wasted. 

Mariclaro makes bags from repurposed vintage automotive interiors and aviation materials. All of their bags are handmade in their studio in Snow Road Station, Ontario. Mariclaro has also made merchandise for such big name brands as Mercedes Benz, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines and TEDx Talks. 

Roncy Packs was created by a mother and her two daughters in Toronto during the summer of 2020. They make handcrafted fanny packs using locally sourced, upcycled materials. They source their materials locally from a variety of places including upholstery/drapery stores, a nearby textile recycling facility, thrift shops, trades, and community donations.

Cognizant of minimizing waste, even their scraps get pieced together to make patchwork fanny packs, mini-wallets and cardholders.

MYTAGALONGS makes bags that are intended to help people stay organized. With an assortment of smaller bags that fit into larger ones, customers can access their possessions quickly without the dreaded deep dive to the bottom of the bag. MYTAGALONGS has collection of bags made from recycled plastic bottles. 

Savoia Handbags contributes to eco fashion by using a variety of recycled fabrics to make handbags. Each piece is handmade. Savoia Handbags is Canadian based but Italian inspired. 

Arraei Collective

Arraie Collective is a SUSTAINABLE chic capsule clothing collection for the eco-aware woman. Ethically made with love and organic hand woven hemp.

Bellantoni

BELLANTONI is an independent, sustainable fashion label based in Vancouver whose mission is to help people dress well while being kind to animals, people and the planet. This brand was founded in March 2017 by sustainable fashion advocate and designer, Bianca Bellantoni, out of a need for versatile, stylish clothing that was made sustainably and ethically.

Tentree

Tentree makes apparel using the most sustainable materials in the world. They also plant ten trees for every purchase made. At the time of writing Tentree had planted over 77 million trees.

Brands

Arraei Collective

Bellantoni

Tentree

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