78 4: S t o r m A n g e c o n e b, L a c S e ul F ir s t N a t i o n , O ji b w e /c o u r t e s y o f N a t i v e N o r t h w e s t
B C B U S I N E S S . C A
N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 24
WINTER WARMERS
These B.C. designers and makers are creating the coziest
snow-ready winter wear by Dani Wright
I N V E N T O R Y
5. Cozy Toes
Father-daughter
duo Robyn Phelan
and Sean Gallant
started making
their cozy creations
in 2005 with a sock
machine in the family
garage. More than
15 years later, they
founded Kootenay
Socks. Based out
of Castlegar and
Okotoks, Alberta,
the brand keeps
high-quality fibres
at top of mind to
maintain comfort for
its customers while
supporting Canadian
manufacturing.
kootenaysocks.ca
2. Winter Icon
Watson Gloves is a
B.C. legend. Founded
over 100 years ago
by John Watson
and Wayne Stanley,
the iconic brand
originally catered to
Vancouver's dock
workers. Today,
Watson has over
2,000 styles, including
the winter-ready
Duke that features a
cotton lining and soft
deerskin leather. No
matter which gloves
you're buying—
winter or high-
performance work—
each is hand-crafted
at its Burnaby factory.
watsongloves.com
4. Wrapped Up
All of the art featured
on scarves, shawls,
hoodies and more
listed on Vancouver-
based marketplace
Native Northwest
are designed by
Indigenous artists.
Like, for example,
the Sleeping Bears
version of the Eco
scarf, designed by
Storm Angeconeb
of Lac Seul First
Nation, Ojibwe—
which, despite its
soft, cozy texture,
is fabricated out of
100-percent recycled
plastic bottles.
nativenorthwest.ca
1. High-Tech
Warmth
Dustin Butcher
and Cheryl LeBarr
founded Squamish-
based Made in 2022,
which immediately
stood out in the
outdoor gear crowd
thanks to mountain-
ready custom jackets
that use AI technology.
The tool records over
75 measurements
and feeds them
into the company's
patterning software
to guarantee a perfect
(and inclusive) fit. Plus,
additional tweaks and
adjustments are free.
madeoutdoor.com
3. Head in the
Game
Vernon-based
Canadian Frost
started as a side hustle
for Nicole Semeniuk.
But years later the
electrician-by-trade
took to making
her hand-knit and
-sewn products full
time. Items like the
five-in-one beanie
provide warm and
stylish options—from
a scarf to a rolled
toque. Though the
company does have
some products that
are factory-made (like
the trucker hats), all
are ethically crafted.
canadianfrost.ca
6. No Cold Feet
After moving from
Scotland to Canada,
Helen Long founded
Padraig Cottage
in 1977—selling her
hand-crocheted
slippers at craft
markets in Vancouver.
The brand is still based
in North Vancouver,
but has expanded
from artisan fairs into
a nationwide market
(over 100 retailers
Canada-wide) while
still maintaining its
handcrafted touch
and support of the
local community.
padraigcottage.
com
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