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March 8 marks International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women around the globe. Today, there are almost a million self-employed women in Canada and women entrepreneurship in North America continues to rise year after year. Sporting Life is incredibly proud to carry these 7 female-founded brands that put women at the forefront of their designs and mission.
Founded by professional speed skier Lauren Kurtz, Après Actif is a Canadian brand that finds its inspiration from ski and snowboard culture. Lauren is both the designer and creative director of the brand, designing minimalist apparel like cozy unisex hoodies and fleece-lined statement sweaters, perfect for that chalet life. The brand also donates a portion of their proceeds to TRACK3 Adaptive Sports Association, a non-profit charity that teaches alpine sports to children and youth with disabilities.
Based in Vancouver, Brunette The Label was founded in 2014 by Miriam Alden, who’s also the brand’s CEO and creative director. The brand is known for their comfy and inclusive sweats and basics that are designed to make people look and feel good—inside and out. In addition to their stylish apparel, women empowerment is at the brand’s core. “Babes Supporting Babes” is their motto, which is all about creating a community that inspires and elevates women to be the best version of themselves.
Three-time Olympic medalist Kari Traa founded her namesake brand in 2002, the same year she won her Olympic gold medal for freestyle mogul skiing. The #1 base layer brand in Scandinavia, you’ll find comfortable and functional athletic essentials like Nordic knits and merino wool pants that effortlessly merge function with fashion. Kari says when they design their clothing they think about how to make women healthier, stronger and happier.
Canada’s most famous Olympic siblings—Justine, Chloè and Maxime, known as the Dufour-Lapointe sisters—are all decorated Olympic medalists having made their mark on the freestyle skiing world. Two of the sisters made history in 2014 when Justine and Chloè stood on the Olympic podium together to receive their gold and silver medals in moguls. The talented sisters recently launched their collection of comfortable and durable apparel, perfect to take you from the chalet to the couch. From cozy jogger pants to classic tees, these elevated basics are made to stand to the test of time.
Alder
New to Sporting Life this season, we’re proud to carry Alder, a premium outdoor clothing brand for women, created in Toronto by childhood friends Mikayla Wujec and Naomi Blackman. Offering sustainable and ethically-produced products, with inclusive sizing and fabrics that feel like a second skin, expect to find everything from cloud-like cozy sweats to versatile outdoor essentials. Made for women, by women, Alder delivers on function and style.
Designed for women who travel, Fig Clothing is a Montreal-based brand that’s all about creating eco-conscious wearable basics that exude stylish comfort. Sustainability is at the heart of the brand, as they only work with eco-friendly fibres and intentionally keep a part of their production in Canada. With extremely versatile pieces like from streamlined joggers to lightweight dresses, Fig Clothing will take you from the cottage to the couch, and everywhere in-between.
Sweaty Betty is one of the O.G. activewear brands for women. Tamara Hill-Norton founded the brand in 1998, starting with a small boutique in London’s Notting Hill. At the time the options on the market were limited and Tamara wanted active clothes for women that made them feel beautiful and powerful. This luxury apparel brand is all about performance and style, from colourful swimwear to moisture-wicking leggings, and years later is still delivering on their original promise.
This L.A.-based brand is all about environmentally-conscious, premium denim that’s fashion-forward, yet mindfully created. Co-founded by Chelsey Santra, who got her start at Lucky Brand Jeans, founded Etica in 2019, determined to change people’s perspectives on how denim could be made. The brand uses cutting-edge technology to ensure their manufacturing is sustainable, while creating vintage-inspired washes and refined fits for the style-minded shopper.
We’re truly inspired by the brands and businesses these incredible women have created and are so proud to offer these women-owned products to our customers.
Shop all these brands, Made by Women for Women
