By Canadians, for Canadians. Spend your money wisely.
Name: Ideal North
Products: Knitwear, scarves, toques, shawls, sweaters, bags
Manufactured In: Quebec
Where to buy: Tourist destinations, Online
Website: www.idealnorth.com
Canadian Owned: Yes
Ideal North produces a large variety of knitted products. Their goal is to represent the majesty of Canada through the quality of their clothing. As they say themselves, “we knit the Canadian experience”.
Name: Crowncap
Products: Hats, vests, scarves, headbands, earmuffs, workwear, gloves, mittens, bags
Manufactured In: Winnipeg, MB (some possibly international)
Where to buy: Online, various retailers
Website: crowncap.com
Canadian Owned: Yes
Crowncap has been manufacturing headwear since 1934, initially making textile headwear for farmers in Western Canada. They have a large variety of high quality hats and other products. If one of their products is made in Canada, it is clearly listed as such on their website.
Name: String Theory
Products: Scarves, Shawls, Headwear, Toques
Manufactured In: Montreal, Quebec and Toronto, Ontario
Where to Buy: Online
Website: stringtheoryscarves.com
Canadian Owned: Yes
String Theory was launched in 2010. Based in Montreal, the knitting studio produces woolen accessories. They source materials from Quebec and North Carolina, and finish their products in Montreal and Toronto. Their designs range from classic to modern and creative – these are not your cookie-cutter bland scarves, they are designed to make a statement while keeping you warm.
Name: Puffin Gear
Products: Adults and kids SPF rated hats, winter hats, mitts and scarves
Manufactured In: Toronto, Ontario
Where to Buy: Online, lots of retailers
Website: puffingear.com
Canadian Owned: Yes
Puffin Gear has been making hats for over 20 years in their Toronto studio. From UPF 50+ sun protection hats, to Harris Tweed caps, Polartec® fabric winter gear, and rain hats, they have you covered so you can get outside and play.
Name: URBRIMS
Products: One of a kind hats
Manufactured In: Edmonton, Alberta
Where to Buy: Online
Website: thehatcircle.com/collections/unbrims
Canadian Owned: Yes
URBRIMS makes beautiful hand-made hats, that are individually numbered as they are all unique. They ship for free anywhere in the world.
URBRIMS was started as the creator’s way to get out of the house and combat isolation. When a beautiful hat is hanging on a hook there is not a better invitation to get into the world. Hats are to be worn outdoors, not indoors, therefore take a walk everyday. The destination can be to around the neighbourhood, to the park, a local cafe, the theater or farmers market.
URBRIMS will keep you healthy, active and engaged in life. URBRIMS will also take care of the obvious such as keep you warm, keep you cool and shade you from the sun.
Name: Tilley Endurables
Products: The famous Tilley hat, travel clothing
Manufactured in: Don Mills, Ontario and international
Where to buy: Company website, stores in Toronto and Vancouver, other retailers
Website: tilley.com
Canadian owned: No, recently purchased by a UK company
Tilley, which started in 1980, is most known for their iconic Tilley hat, which allegedly has once been eaten by an elephant and then defecated out fully whole some time later. Their hats are warranted for life, buoyant, and will even fit a giant head like mine.
Recently they have started producing some of their hats overseas, so look carefully at their listings. They don’t seem to have dropped their prices any so it’s unfortunate that they’ve gone this direction.