Whether it’s the Markle effect, or just the world finally waking up to the teems of talent in this country, Canadian designers are making a global splash in London (Erdem), Paris (Sid Neigum), New York (Nonie, Tanya Taylor, Beaufille) and beyond.
If your budget doesn’t quite allow for fresh-off-the-catwalk-pieces, it’s still possible to support Canadian fashion. Designers from Hilary MacMillan to Jenny Bird are offering a range of highly covetable apparel and accessories at more wallet-friendly price points — you just have to know where to look, since some are direct-to-consumer and many are only sold online (which, let’s be honest, is where we’re doing most of our shopping these days). Here are 14 Canadian fashion labels to shop this fall.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
OKAKIE
This Vancouver-based fashion label, founded by the team behind WORKHALL Studio, offers well-priced apparel manufactured in downtown L.A. The brand is named after designer Nicole Campre’s grandmother; OKAKIE (or húgákiyé) means “to paddle” in Dene First Nations.
OKAKIE’s latest collection features a mix of comfortable separates and sexier, form-fitting designs. These pleated, drawstring-waist trousers — made from wood pulp! — are a great motivation for finally getting out of sweats and other elastic-waist pants.
OKAKIE Haas Pants, $, available at OKAKIE
et Tigre
Based in Vancouver and Los Angeles, et Tigre offers dreamy dresses and oversized blouses reimagined in easy-care fabrics. Plus, everything is ethically manufactured in L.A.
The Jayme dress, one of et Tigre’s signature designs, is named after one of co-founder Adele Tetangco’s daughters. Available this season in a timeless black-and-white polka-dot pattern, this billowy cotton number is a transitional-weather must-have.
Price in USD.
et Tigre Jayme Dress, $, available at et Tigre
Bronze Age
Headed by Chinese-Canadian designer Renée Power, Bronze Age debuted in 2016 as a contemporary accessories label. These days, the indie fashion brand offers everything from croissant-shaped shoulder bags to Japanese-cotton tank tops — all handmade in Vancouver.
I’m saving up for one of the brand’s gorgeous cotton house dresses; in the meantime, here’s to wearing silky “bedroom shorts” this fall as a WFH bottom. This pair is made-to-order and available in four colours.
Bronze Age Bedroom Shorts, $, available at Bronze Age
Fortnight
Lingerie brand Fortnight is one of the new wave of Canadian body-positive swimwear and underwear brands. Designed by founder Christina Remenyi and handmade in Toronto using luxe fabrics from Italy and France, Fortnight’s styles prioritize comfort and style — you won’t want to rip off your bra the moment you get home from your socially distanced park hang.
Last year, Fortnight released a pair of lace-trimmed jersey bloomers designed with artist/stylist Amy Shio (aka @lesbest) — they’re now a permanent staple for the intimates brand. Wear them as chic pyjama bottoms or like de facto bike shorts under your favourite mini-dress.
Fortnight x Les Best Bloomers Fortnight x Les Best Bloomers, $, available at FORTNIGHT
Kotn
Kotn gave us the perfect excuse to wear jeans and a tee every day when it launched its comfy, perfectly fitting line of women’s T-shirts in 2017. Designed in Canada and made in Egypt, the brand is known for its ethically produced knit cotton basics — it’s a certified B Corporation company, meaning it meets a list of verified environmental and social standards. Kotn recently introduced woven garments; 100% Egyptian cotton button-ups, shirt dresses, and woven bottoms were added to the line last year.
The classic “Weekday Shirt,” available in three colours, features a slightly shrunken fit and is recommended both for petite women and those with shorter torsos. This is a button-up that will look as good on its own as it would under your go-to fall jacket.
Kotn Weekday Shirt, $, available at Kotn
Hilary MacMillan
Hilary MacMillan transitioned her eponymous line into a vegan and cruelty-free label last year, ending the use of fabrics such as silk and wool (she stopped using fur, leather, and feathers in 2016). Her womenswear collection, which is produced both in Toronto and abroad, is extremely affordable for a runway designer.
For her fall 2020 collection, MacMillan revisited many of her signature designs including fabulous trench coats and tailored pencil skirts. I have my eye on the lightweight pleated dress, which could be worn solo or layered under a summery tent dress.
Hilary MacMillan Pleated Dress, $, available at Hilary MacMillan
Jenny Bird
Name a celebrity and she’s probably worn one of Toronto-based Jenny Bird’s distinctive, sculptural designs. Bird’s jewellery is generally made overseas with sterling silver- and 14K gold-dipped brass, and (bonus!) over half the styles in the current collection are priced under the $100 mark.
I am a fan of the luxe Jenny Bird Studio Collection, inspired in part by Play-Doh (Bird used her son’s modelling clay to create the initial designs) and full of gentle curves. P.S. In mid-September, Bird will be launching a chic new collection, Toni, that’s full of easy staples designed for everyday wear.
Jenny Bird Small Ora Hoops, $, available at Jenny Bird
Maguire
Maguire, which has a boutique in Montreal’s buzzy Mile End neighbourhood and on Dundas West in Toronto, is a direct-to-consumer accessories label focused on affordable luxury and production transparency (its factories are based in Canada, Italy, Ethiopia, and China). There are no set seasons, and production runs can be small; if you love a style, you’ll want to place an order quickly before it sells out.
These leather sneakers — also available in cow and cheetah prints — are sure to be a lively, comfortable addition to your fall wardrobe. Style them with cute frayed jeans or a midi-length skirt, and you’re good to go.
Maguire ALBA Dalmatian, $, available at Maguire
Poppy Barley
Ballet flats are baaaaack — The Row and Loewe are just two of the many designer brands pushing them this fall — and we are all about these sleek, metallic flats from Edmonton-based Poppy Barley.
Poppy Barley got its start in 2012 as a made-to-measure, direct-to-consumer footwear company. These days, the accessories label continues to offer boots with custom-fit calf widths in addition to leather shoes, handbags, and small accessories. Ethical manufacturing processes (for example, ensuring that factories offer a living wage and health benefits to workers) are important to the company, which is a certified B Corporation. One percent of all sales goes to community partners.
Poppy Barley The On-The-Go Ballet Flat, $, available at Poppy Barley
Uncuffed
Make this accessories label your new go-to for leather goods. From laser-cut scarves to sexy harnesses to cool leather scrunchies, Uncuffed offers the outfit-making extras that you’ll often see in magazines but have trouble finding in stores. Designer Olga Barsky, who launched the label in 2017, worked as a stylist and saw a gap in the market for fashion-forward leather accessories.
Available in two colours, Uncuffed’s leather hair tie is a stylish way to embrace the ’90s-inspired scrunchies trend. Handmade to order in Toronto using lambskin leather from Europe, this is one hair accessory that is sure to elevate your everyday pony.
Uncuffed Leather Scrunchie, $, available at Uncuffed
Warren Steven Scott
Once look at Warren Steven Scott’s colourful drop earrings and you’ll understand why this young designer was nominated for the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent, Accessories at the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards last year.
Scott apprenticed with Canadian designers Jeremy Laing and Comrags before launching his eponymous label in 2018. The Indigenous designer incorporates design elements from his Coast Salish heritage into his work — the colourful, lightweight earrings embrace shapes such as ovoids and feathers in vibrant and modern combinations.
These acrylic and sterling silver earrings, available in four different colours, are handmade in Canada and guaranteed to spark conversations.
Warren Steven Scott Salish Chandelier Mini, $, available at Warren Steven Scott
John + Jenn
From Jennifer Wells and John Muscat, the duo behind that royal engagement coat, comes their lower-priced John + Jenn collection, which is internationally known for its cozy knits and everyday tailored outerwear.
Ideal for those tricky transitional-weather fall days, John + Jenn’s windowpane “coatigan” would look great with your go-to tee and jeans — or, use it to elevate your WFH sweats for quick errands, without sacrificing comfort.
John + Jenn Solenne Windowpane Sweater Jacket, $, available at Anthropologie
Comrags
Comrags designers Joyce Gunhouse and Judy Cornish met as students at Ryerson’s fashion program, and launched a label together in 1983. Today, the duo still operates a boutique in Toronto’s Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood, and produce everything in-house at their studio above the shop. Fabrics are sourced from European mills.
Interesting suiting is one of the label’s signatures, as are breezy, go-anywhere dresses. I love the idea of wearing this structured, sleeveless dress with socks and sandals right now, and then with a turtleneck and a great pair of leather boots when it gets colder.
Comrags Tech ‘Linen’ That Dress, $, available at Comrags
Eliza Faulkner
If you’re team puffed sleeves, you’ll definitely want to take a look at Montreal designer Eliza Faulkner’s charming fashion collection. Before launching her eponymous label in 2012, Faulkner worked with designers such as Erdem, Roland Mouret, and Roksanda Ilincic while completing her degree at Central St. Martins. Many of the fabrics she uses are woven in Montreal, and the collection is also entirely manufactured there.
This versatile, oversized top made from eco-friendly, Oeko-Tex certified linen features a sweet “bunny ears” shoulder detail. Wear it with leather leggings and heels for patio drinks, or with a simple A-line skirt and slides at home.
Eliza Faulkner Bunni Top, $, available at Eliza Faulkner
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