Review: Made Inland Pop-Up!
When a coworker told me about a 2-day pop-up of Canadian brands just a short streetcar ride from work, the obvious decision I made was DROP EVERYTHING AND GO.
Made Inland holds this pop-up of 70 Canadian designers & brands twice a year, as a way to support and showcase local and ethical craft.
It’s not every day that I can have access to so many ethical or locally-produced clothes and accessories. Online, yes, but in-person is like a gold mine. And as a Canadian, I find it difficult to find ethical garment brands from my own country. The USA, particularly California, has so many incredible brands – but Canada’s garment industry is still reeling from overseas production. Being able to browse a lot of independent brands and designers I may never have had visibility into was such a treat.
Below are the pieces I chose! All websites linked on the titles below!
1. Kazz
From the front of the show, I saw a garment rack with jackets and knew one was going to come home with me. I can never seem to find the right jackets, and Ashley’s silhouettes fit an almost-petite me just perfectly. Her clothing line is about wardrobe staples and fluidity between male and female aesthetic. The result is a collection of timeless pieces that pair sophisticated structure with relaxed casual.
This coat is made of eco-friendly recycled tweed, and made in Canada.
2. Récréation by Thomas.
Natasha is based in Montreal. She has been working in the fashion realm for years, from stylist to art directord- and just started récréation in 2017 to bring more transparency to the garment industry. Until recently, she was the seamstress of all pieces, but she laughingly told me that she found a wonderful seamstress originally from France, who sews even faster than she does!
Natasha’s style is minimalist and relaxed, with pieces that could be worn in the summer heat at a festival or refined enough to dress up for the office. This tunic is made from end-of-the-roll remnant fabric, so it’s conscious of fashion waste and all pieces work to minimize environmental impact.
3. Hawkly
As soon as you see Gillian’s designs, you know there’s something extremely special about them. I talk a lot about jewellery as heirlooms, especially since my grandparents treated their own jewellery with such care. They carry stories. They’re symbols of who we are. Gillian’s jewellery is forged from bronze, which already gives it a beautifully antiquated feel – with a modern touch. Her design is influenced by:
“hiking in Sri Lanka, biking through Italy, silversmithing in Mexico, rock climbing in Joshua Tree”
(as per her site). We had a great conversation about how Canadian-made products are so hard to come by, simply because there’s hardly any publicity around them. It’s something that I’m becoming more and more passionate about amplifying, especially when I meet such amazing people (she lives part time in a yurt, by the way).
4. Prysm
I’ve been looking for a ring for my middle finger for a while. Having only one ring on a hand was freaking me out for no good reason – so I was on a mission to find one! Prysm is a Montreal-based brand with minimalist, delicate pieces designed here. I’d love to know more about how they’re made, but wasn’t able to find more info yet!
Overall, this was such a WONDERFUL showcase of Canadian independent brands and designers. Ethical fashion has come a long way over the past decade – from niche bohemian or inaccessible luxe fashion – to refined, coveted, beautiful designs that make even fast fashion addicts turn their heads. Bravo. We are a wonderfully diverse country full of passionate, incredible talent. It was lovely that it was so accessible to us.