Canadian fashion is a product of unabashed adventurism and an indomitable outdoor spirit unfazed by the country’s (very) long cold winters. Gone are the days, when Canada saw itself as America’s poor little sister. Today, Canadians no longer look to Europe or the States for fashion ideas. Canadian styles may seem a little too focused on comfort, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be chic. In fact, we want to highlight here that were practically ‘invented’ in Canada and have taken the world by storm.

Six Canadian fashion inventions you didn’t know were Canadian

The blanket jacket

More commonly known as the wool capote-style peacoat, the Canadian blanket jacket was once considered so iconic that it was recognized as part of the Canadian identity. This first-ever athleisure garment from the 1890s has made several comebacks during the 20th century. It has inspired multiple designers, and this so-called ‘foe of frost’ continues to live on in the hearts and minds of Canadians in the 21st century, too.

The sweatsuit

While the or tracksuit was championed and popularized by Adidas in America in the 1960s, the sweatsuit incited a revolution in Canada beginning in the 1970s, when the new design house Roots Corp came out with a fresh new line. Born out of a love of sport, streetwear, and Canadian imagery, Roots created a sweatsuit that was not only comfy but became iconic in the 1980s and 1990s, romanticizing Canadian culture and adventurism.

The parka

Everyone experiencing winter in some shape or form will have one of these at home while being completely unaware that the parka was invented in Canada. More precisely, we have to thank the First Nations culture in the Canadian Arctic for this wardrobe item. The style of the parka changed from a pullover design to an open front to accommodate different activities, and eventually manufacturers like Quartz Co. or, more notably, Canada Goose took these designs and brought the look to urban streets and made the parka an integral part of pop culture.

The ’toque’

The “toque” (referring to a winter cap or beanie if you like) is a Canadian term. Although the concept of a knitted cap to keep your head warm is not unique to Canada, the term is, and a sea of pom-poms – the difference between a toque and other winter caps – is a stereotypical sight in Canadian winters. Originally, toques were worn for tobogganing or snowshoeing, their warmth and iconic look eventually caught on with the mainstream. Today, virtually every big brand comes up with new and exciting looks for an effortlessly chic and warm winter look each year.

Leggings

Oh yes, it’s true: leggings were invented in Canada. It was the iconic Canadian brand Lululemon that came up with this ingenious idea.  They sought to combine yoga and casual athletic wear into something that could be worn with regular clothes. The Vancouver-based brand initially offered yoga-inspired athletic apparel that quickly revolutionized the purpose of leggings, giving them a chance to shine on the street and in the gym – there probably isn’t a woman’s wardrobe anywhere in the world today tht doesn’t contain at least one pair of leggings.

Necessity meets style

So here we are, Canadian fashion is most definitely a trifecta of necessity, comfort, and style. When asked to choose whether feeling comfortable or looking good was more important to them when considering the clothing they purchase, 76% of Canadians chose feeling comfortable. The very harsh winters dictate clever layering, and the Canadians are masters of that craft. They have no time for dainty accessories or fall-apart-after-the-first-wash fast fashion. They want quality, durability, skin-friendly fabrics, and functionality. Canadians are also extremely conscious of the environment, meaning they insist on sustainability in production and delivery.

Canadian fashion e-commerce is thriving

As Canada is a vast country with many areas only accessible by air, e-commerce is a lifeline for many. However, Canadians generally prefer buying from a Canadian, rather than a foreign online shop. The reason? Canadian national pride, paired with sustainability concerns (long delivery and return chains), and of course pricing. New entries to the Canadian fashion e-commerce market will therefore be well advised to open a local subsidiary, or at least partner with an established local partner for logistics.

Language

While both French and English are official languages in Canada, the number of Francophones is declining. There are still some territories, where only French is spoken, but the majority of Canadians today are bilingual. Nevertheless, national pride plays an important role here, too. Anyone trying to establish an online presence in Canada, must at least offer the option of changing the language of their content to Canadian French.

Canadian French has adopted a lot of words and phrases from the First Nations, meaning that a ‘simple’ translation into French for France would be considered lazy and cheap.

Bottom line

Never underestimate the Canadian Spirit. It is indomitable, fiercely proud of its heritage, and unyieldingly loyal to its principals. “Buy Canadian” isn’t just a slogan, it is a conviction and a lifestyle that anyone wanting to do business in Canada must take into account. Things to consider are therefore the option of opening a Canadian subsidiary, local customs and culture, and linguistic finesse in the delivery of your sales proposition. Another point to consider: Canadians have a lot of time on their hands during the long winters. Online shopping will only be fun if there is dynamic content that changes frequently. Make sure you keep things interesting, highlight the benefits of your offering like you sustainability efforts regarding delivery and return policies, and the use of environmentally friendly packaging.



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autor_eurotext_100Author: Eurotext Editorial Team

We explain how internationalization works, provide tips for your translation projects and outline some of the technology and processes used. We also report on current e-commerce developments and cover a range of language-related topics.