How to Wear Canadian « Sharp – Canada's Magazine for Men

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May 2013

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How to Wear Canadian

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://www.nakedandfamousdenim.com/"> Naked & Famous Denim</a>
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<b>The Designer:</b> Brandon Svarc
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<b>The Gist:</b> Despite having the option to live in any one of the 22 countries his jeans are sold in, <a href="http://sharpformen.com/sympatico/the-denim-fanatic/">Brandon Svarc</a> of Naked & Famous Denim has chosen to stay true to his roots and operate from his native Montreal. A favourite amongst denimheads, Svarc’s also made headlines for injecting a little creative flare into his products, having previously produced the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY1Iz0Pzxy0"> “world’s heaviest denim”</a> (that stands up on its own) and raspberry scratch-n-sniff jeans.
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<b>Go to him for:</b> Your new favourite pair of jeans.

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://wantessentials.com/">WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie</a>
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<b>Designers:</b> Dexter and Byron Peart
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<b>The Gist:</b> Twins Dexter and Byron Peart, the design duo behind WANT les Essentiels de la Vie, have created a luxury brand of accessories that invoke “intelligent simplicity.” With previous collaborations with industry heavy-hitters like Mr. Porter, J.Crew and Orlebar Brown, their brand offers everything from handbags to iPad cases and gloves all with an effortless elegance that is born and raised in Montreal.
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<b>Go to them for:</b> The perfect, minimalist bag.

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://www.philipsparks.com/">Philip Sparks</a>
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<b>The Designer:</b> Philip Sparks
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<b>The Gist:</b> Designer Philip Sparks acquired a taste for heritage tailoring and style while working with the design departments of the Canadian National Opera and the Stratford Festival. With products made entirely in Canada, Sparks' aesthetic can be described as modern attire with an old-school flavour for the classy gentleman. From a rugged pair of boots to the perfect jacket, drop by his store in Toronto or visit his website to take a look at the goods. Sample sales are frequent and often.
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<b>Go to him for:</b> Classic menswear pieces with a vintage twist.

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://www.wingsandhorns.com/">wings + horns</a>
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<b>The CEO:</b> Craig Atkinson
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<b>The Gist:</b> Though it is not often mentioned among the style cities like London, New York or Milan, <a href="http://sharpformen.com/style/brands-you-should-know-wings-horns/">wings + horns</a> puts Vancouver on the fashion map. Its urban styling and west-coast vibe, blended with a strong Japanese influence, make this brand a top menswear contender in Canada, and major player on the world stage. It's now available through some of the biggest menswear retailers around the world, a definite measure of success.
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<b>Go to him for:</b> The greatest everyday wear you'll ever put on.

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://www.shan.ca/en">Shan</a>
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<b>The Designer:</b> Chantal Levesque
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<b>The Gist:</b> If it’s one thing we can appreciate, it’s a Canadian brand that <i>stays</i> Canadian. From start to finish, the luxury swimwear company keeps production on home turf despite the fact that it has over 500 points of sale around the world. By sourcing premium materials and employing innovative techniques, the brand provides a welcome bit of heat and sex appeal to Canada’s made-for-winter offerings.
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<b>Go to them for:</b> Luxury swimwear that’s flattering and will last a lifetime.

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://www.klaxonhowl.com/">Klaxon Howl</a>
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<b>The Designer:</b> Matt Robinson
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<b>The Gist:</b> Back in ’93, Matt Robinson opened a store that carried an assortment of vintage selects. Fast-forward to 2013 and you’ve got a full-fledged brand that has cultivated a loyal following of eager fans waiting for Robinson’s next round of sartorial hits. His brand offers up a dish of military-style contemporary goods for the no-fuss kind of guy.
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<b>Go to them for:</b> Vintage-inspired menswear for the utilitarian man.

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://canada.roots.com/">Roots</a>
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<b>The Founders:</b> Michael Budman and Don Green
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<b>The Gist:</b> From the company’s official name (Roots Canada Ltd.) to their iconic beaver logo, Roots is your quintessential Canadian brand. Their selection of lifestyle apparel and quality leather goods have been ingrained into Canadian culture for as long as they’ve been running. Not only that, but they’ve got a great track record of supporting emerging Canadian designers and athletes, and that’s something we can get behind.
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<b>Look to them for:</b> A sturdy leather bag that can keep up with you wherever you go.

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://www.mackage.com/fw11/">Mackage</a>
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<b>The Designers:</b> Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy
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<b>The Gist:</b> Mackage designers Eran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan have been sketching their visions for great outerwear since their childhood days in Montreal. Now with a flagship boutique in New York’s Soho district and distribution through Saks Fifth Avenue (US), Holt Renfrew (Canada), and Harvey Nichols (Europe), they're bringing their vision to life and drawing a lot of high-profile attention while doing it. Clothes from the design duo's brand have been seen on a bevy of celebrities, including John Legend, Kellan Lutz, will.i.am, Stephen Dorff and more. Their female fan following is just as strong, just ask Halle Berry, Adele or Eva Mendes, who have also been spotted wearing their clothes.
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<b>Go to them for:</b> Bad-ass outerwear fit for Canadian weather.

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://www.joefresh.com/">Joe Fresh</a>
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<b>The Designer:</b> Joe Mimran
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<b>The Gist:</b> Best known for being the founder of both Club Monaco and Joe Fresh, Joe Mimran’s international success on the fashion scene is definitely gold medal-worthy. Club Monaco operates 140 locations worldwide and Joe Fresh recently made a splash in the states when the brand opened its much-anticipated flagship location on Fifth Avenue. The opening captured the attention of the media and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who called the brand, “the greatest Canadian export since Justin Bieber.”
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<b>Go to him for:</b> Fashion-forward simplicity.

<b>The Brand:</b> <a href="http://www.dsquared2.com/">DSquared2</a>
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<b>The Designers:</b> Dean and Dan Caten
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<b>The Gist:</b> The youngest of nine children, twins Dean and Dan Caten have been players in the fashion world since 1984. Over that time, the Toronto natives have built an impressive collection of accomplishments and accolades, showing on runways all over the world, dressing A-list celebrities and being featured in fashion's favourite industry publications. Known for their festive use of colour and pop culture references, these siblings proudly continue to remind the world of their heritage with their motto: "Born in Canada, Made in Italy".
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<b>Go to them for:</b> Luxury urban selects with an attitude.

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