Roots Canada: Celebrating Canadian Heritage Through Timeless Fashion, Comfort, and Craftsmanship

Discover how Roots Canada continues to influence Canadian lifestyle fashion with iconic sweatshirts, handcrafted leather goods, nature-inspired lines, and a dedication to quality. For nearly five decades, Roots has blended Canadian tradition, everyday comfort, and high-quality craftsmanship. Founded in Toronto in 1973, the lifestyle brand is well-known for its iconic Salt & Pepper sweatshirts, handcrafted leather accessories, casual clothing, and unwavering commitment to the Canadian outdoors. What started as a nature-inspired footwear company has grown into an internationally recognized lifestyle fashion brand. 

Today, Roots maintains its Canadian identity while delivering contemporary collections for changing lifestyles. From comfortable hoodies and everyday wardrobe basics to premium leather bags and outdoor-inspired clothes, the firm strives to create flexible products that combine usefulness, originality, and timeless design. 

From Algonquin Park to an Iconic Canadian Fashion Brand

Michael Budman and Don Green met at Camp Tamakwa in Ontario’s Algonquin Park in the 1960s, and their friendship became the foundation of the Roots story. In 1973, two entrepreneurs founded Roots, sharing an enthusiasm for Canada’s natural environments. The company’s initial product, the Sport Root Shoe, had an unusual negative-heel design, with the heel lower than the toe. The shoe debuted on August 15, 1973, and quickly gained popularity, selling out by month’s end. 

Roots evolved from its first store on Yonge Street in Toronto to include garments, leather products, accessories, and footwear. Its distinctive beaver insignia became a familiar symbol of the brand’s connection to nature, ingenuity, and community. More than 50 years later, Roots still draws inspiration from its roots, blending outdoor influences with modern clothes for everyday wear. 

Iconic Roots Sweats: Where Comfort Meets Canadian Style

The Roots Salt & Pepper sweatshirts, with their characteristic textured look and comfy fleece construction, are among the brand’s best-known items. The line includes hoodies, sweatpants, crewneck sweatshirts, and matching casualwear, offering practical options for lounging at home, travelling, or outdoor activities. Roots has continued to expand its fleece offerings, including Original Sweats and Cloud. These collections mix classic designs with new silhouettes, fabrics, and seasonal colours. The company’s focus on comfort has made its sweatshirts and sweatpants iconic elements of Canadian casual fashion. 

Canadian Leather Craftsmanship That Stands the Test of Time

Another distinctive element of Roots is its longstanding dedication to leather crafting. The Kowalewski family has run the Roots Leather Factory in Toronto for three generations. According to the manufacturer, more than ten trained artisans make each leather bag. Its Canadian-made leather collection comprises purses, select accessories, and varsity jackets. The Roots Varsity Jacket, released in 1979, is an essential component of the company’s design history. Roots maintains specialist leather manufacturing capabilities in Canada, preserving ancient techniques while integrating contemporary shapes and materials. The strategy reflects the brand’s commitment to creating items for long-term use rather than relying solely on fast-changing fashion trends. 

Responsible Materials and Environmental Conservation

Roots has also included sustainability in its product development and relationships. According to the company’s official sustainability statement, several of its core garment styles incorporate organic cotton and recycled materials. Roots claims that more than 90% of its activewear is made from organic or recycled materials, but notes it still needs additional textiles to meet certain construction and performance requirements. The company is a member of the Leather Working Group, which aims to improve environmental practices and transparency throughout the leather supply chain. 

In April 2026, Roots expanded its collaboration with the Nature Conservancy of Canada with a limited-edition Earth Month T-shirt collection. The three designs honoured Canada’s Coastal Forest, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest, and Boreal Forest regions. Created in conjunction with Accelerating Circularity, the shirts used recycled cotton to highlight the possibilities for textile reuse. These efforts relate the brand’s environmental endeavours to the Canadian landscapes that inspired its inception. 

Roots Fall 2026: Modernizing Canadian Heritage

Roots debuted its Fall 2026 line on August 18, bringing a contemporary take on Canadian outdoor style. The collection expanded several existing product lines, including Original Sweats, Cloud, Roam, Horizon, and Activewear, and added Roots Beavermark, a collegiate-inspired collection featuring an embroidered beaver emblem. The firm also showcased updated leather accessories, such as the Riley Crossbody and Margo Satchel in suede, along with new premium seasonal patterns. The Fall 2026 launch showed how Roots continues to reinterpret familiar legacy pieces for modern customers, combining casual design, utilitarian clothing, and traditional craftsmanship. 

Roots continues to broaden its creative connections in September 2026, unveiling a limited-edition collaboration with Toronto-based jewelry maker Lisa Gozlan on September 25. The Roots x Lisa Gozlan line combines two Canadian brands in apparel, jewelry, and accessories. The collaboration reimagines classic Roots emblems with whimsical, contemporary design elements, showing the brand’s ability to connect its legacy with fresh creative perspectives. Beyond product announcements, Roots revealed a key commercial development in August 2026: a deal to be bought by Marquee Brands, in collaboration with Canadian retail giants Joseph Mimran and Frank Rocchetti. The proposed deal values the company’s equity at roughly $161 million and is still subject to necessary approvals, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. 

Roots’ second-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues totalled $49.5 million, compared to $50.8 million in the same period in 2025. In July 2026, the firm also completed the transformation of its distribution centers to Metro Supply Chain, which will assist its overall operating plan. These developments show an established Canadian brand adapting to changing retail conditions while investing in products, partnerships, and its long-term identity. 

More Than Fashion: A Brand Connected to Canadian Life

Roots’ influence extends beyond its clothing ranges. From its iconic beaver insignia to its distinctive fleece outerwear, the company has established a strong association with Canadian leisure, outdoor activity, and community. Its product line includes women’s, men’s, children’s, and gender-neutral clothing, plus footwear, leather goods, and accessories. 

This line lets Roots cater to different generations and lifestyle preferences while preserving its aesthetic. The brand has also established an international presence, with over 100 partner-operated locations throughout Asia and online shopping available to customers in several countries. Despite its global expansion, the brand still emphasizes its Canadian origin in its positioning. 

Continuing a Legacy of Canadian Craftsmanship

More than 50 years after its inception, Roots continues to blend the familiar appeal of its historical products with modern fashion and shifting consumer expectations. Its handcrafted Canadian leather goods, distinctive sweatshirts, conservation efforts, and creative collaborations highlight how the brand maintains its identity. As the fashion market evolves, Roots is synonymous with comfortable apparel, functional design, and Canadian outdoor culture. Its continued popularity comes from crafting pieces that connect everyday moments with a distinct sense of legacy. Visit www.roots.com to see the latest clothes, leather items, accessories, and seasonal collections. 

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