Fashion & Garments

Innovative department concept housing over 30 Indigenous brands and collaborations with Indigenous artists

Chelsee Pettit was always passionate about fashion as a means of artistic expression. She is a member of Aaamjiwnaang First Nations but, growing up in Sarnia, ON, she struggled to keep her roots in her heritage while fitting in with white society. Seeing the conditions and lack of pride that has been instilled in many Indigenous youth, Chelsee became determined to create a better future through leading by example and showing them that they can maintain their cultural identity while succeeding in the modern world.

At 26 years old, she founded Aaniin Retail Inc., an innovative department concept housing over 30 Indigenous brands and collaborations with Indigenous artists. Her company acts as both an online platform and physical storefront in downtown Toronto – allowing her vision of connecting people from all walks and phases of life through creativity, education, artistry & business reach even further.

Despite having no college degree, but over 8 years experience in retail management – Chelsee believes that everyone has something unique to offer the world – thus providing hands-on learning opportunities for those looking to upskill themselves significantly. In her view, alternative sources of education and knowledge are vital to allowing youth to find their passions.

Chelsee is an inspiring leader and mentor whose mission is to give Indigenous youth the tools they need for success. Through her work, she has helped many people reach their highest aspirations, proving that anything can be achieved with enough determination. Aaniin creates a direct impact to the Indigenous economy by allowing a wide demographic to shop online and in store. Designers that she showcases range from individuals living on reserve to those in the heart of Toronto. Her fashion pieces are intended to start conversations for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across Turtle Island – showing the world that we are still here and the future is Indigenous and bright.

In addition to her online and in-store platform, Chelsee is a frequent speaker at events, podcasts and panel discussions on the topic of unlocking the deep Indigenous economy and empowering Indigenous youth. She has hosted fashion shows and events to elevate and showcase her own creations and those of other designers. Chelsee has been awarded over $21,000 in small business grants from companies including MasterCard, American Express and Shopify.

Chelsee’s journey and success have been chronicled through features in a number of news sources:


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The challenges of moving from a service-based to product-based business

Victoria Marshman is a passionate and driven entrepreneur, marketer, community leader, and dance educator. Born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, she has operated and scaled two 6-figure companies since 2015 and has helped raise over $250k for local Canadian charities through charitable events. Recently, Victoria has Co-Founded Mave & Chez: a luxury ergonomic slipper brand designed for women, by women. The brand successfully launched on Kickstarter in October 2022, with over 425 pre-orders, and was selected as a “Project We Love” by Kickstarter. The brand has already scaled to 6-figures in just a few short months in the market. Catch Mave & Chez on the next season of Dragon’s Den this fall.


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Persevere through trials and tribulations to reach success

Karly Gramlich is the Founder and CEO at Upper District; a Canadian-based sustainable luxury fashion and accessories brand. She describes herself as unapologetically unconventional. Despite growing up as a farmer’s daughter and miles away from the luxury scene, her ambitious personality took hold and Upper District was born. She sought to outfit those who have worked relentlessly to achieve their goals, despite an unconventional background. Those who have worked tirelessly through trials and tribulations, only to persevere and reach success.


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Profits and Purpose with Jennifer St. John

Founder and Head Designer at MARNIE & MICHAEL, Jennifer St. John, has been involved in art and design since her earliest days. In 2020, Jennifer launched her business, along with a mission to start a mental health initiative and began a retail shop during the peak of the pandemic, taking a risk that has paid off. With an online shop and six retail locations, Jennifer creates and hand sews her own line of high end leather bags and accessories and devotes up to 15% of all profits to mental health initiatives. She just completed her first successful mental health annual fundraiser and fashion show, with proceeds donated to RVH hospital Foundation.

Jennifer’s mom was untreated and undiagnosed with mental illness for her first fifty-two years of life. Growing up in this very unstable environment with her sisters, no one talked about mental health and everyone around her was distracted by her mom’s unhealthy coping strategies. The only constant in her life was instability and shame. The name, Marnie & Michael, is in honour of her parents and her mother’s journey – now she is determined to be a part of the conversation and space that is changing the stigma!


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Supporting Staff for Success

Tammie Hunter was raised on Vancouver Island and as an adult lived in several communities around BC before settling in Nanaimo near her family. After exploring a few careers, she discovered later in life that being an entrepreneur is the most rewarding and engaging. She often says she wishes she had known what being a business owner was like earlier on in life.

As an artist she has had a very successful career selling her art in several galleries and art shows over the past 20 years. Since she started LegArt Apparel her art has taken a backseat. But she’s itching to get back into her studio to continue her lifelong dream of being a serious artist.

Tammie started LegArt Apparel in 2014. Since then, it has grown to be one of the top apparel companies in Canada in its particular style of clothing, mainly leggings. The company has grown from the original box of 100 pairs of leggings in the basement to over 4,000 pieces of inventory in a large warehouse and storefront in Nanaimo.

After almost 10 years in the industry, Tammie has gained much experience, having learned mostly through trial and error what it takes to be successful in the apparel industry. Through many ups and downs, hard work both mentally and physically, and learning with a team of dedicated employees and mentors she feels it’s time to implement an exit plan that will set her successor up for further success. The next three years will bring new challenges but she is up for it!


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Se lancer dans la fabrication de cuir végétal

Fannie Laroche a grandi dans une famille ou l’entreprenariat était un mode de vie. Riche de 10 ans d’expérience en tant que styliste personnelle à son compte, elle se questionne depuis un moment sur les pratiques éthiques appliquées dans le milieu de la mode et, faute d’options intéressantes, décide de créer sa propre solution : La création de cuirs végétaux à partir de matières résiduelles.

Elle-même végétalienne engagée et motivée à faire avancer la cause, elle crée Flaura, cuir végétal afin d’offrir des cuirs haut de gamme durables, locaux et naturels aux marchés du textile et des intérieurs de voiture.

Passionné et curieux de nature, le parcours professionnel de Grégory Hersant l’a amené successivement à occuper des postes touchant à la recherche, à son financement et à l’enseignement. Chimiste de formation, il a tout d’abord travaillé comme chercheur et gestionnaire de projets en chimie verte puis comme conseiller en développement de la recherche (soutien administratif des activités de recherche) et en fin dans le domaine du transfert technologique. Tout ce bagage d’expérience lui a permis de bien maîtriser les éléments importants de la chaine d’innovation. Grégory s’intéresse également depuis plusieurs années à la valorisation des matières résiduelles. Il offre d’ailleurs depuis 2008 des services de consultation en chimie verte et plus spécifiquement dans le cadre de projets touchant à la valorisation de matières résiduelles organiques ou d’origine végétale. Il est profondément convaincu que toutes les matières que nous jetons constituent un formidable réservoir d’opportunités d’affaires. Flaura, cuir végétal est une formidable opportunité de prouver qu’on peut à la fois donner une nouvelle vie à une matière considérée comme un résidu, développer un projet d’entreprise viable tout en ayant une approche respectueuse de l’environnement.


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Calgary-Based Entrepreneur is Changing the Way We Sleep

If you ask Lara Smith what led her to create Lusomé, she would tell you it was partly circumstantial, partly destiny.

She kicked off her 20-year career at two of the biggest fashion houses in the world – Ralph Lauren and Gucci – and quickly worked her way up as a senior executive at some of Canada’s largest retailers. There, she traveled the globe to discover and create innovative apparel solutions that would make a difference in the lives of consumers.

But it wasn’t until Lara watched her sister battle with breast cancer and the uncomfortable, long-term side effects that resulted from her treatments that she set out to find the most important solution of all – a solution to preventing overheating and night sweats in the clothing that is meant to make us feel beautiful. Lara looked throughout North America and Europe for a sleep brand with beautiful style and fabrics, but they were using 100% polyester and chemicals in the finishing process. Not to mention, their cooling technology never truly worked.

That’s when Lara decided to create her own solution, one that fuses beauty, comfort and science. Her vision came to life through Lusomé, a new pajama brand that promotes the health and sleep of its wearers through first-of-its-kind technology that stops night sweats before it starts.


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From farm to fashion – this Halifax entrepreneur talks SLOW FASHION

Laura McNutt’s post secondary education prepared her for a lifetime of creative pursuits: Laura studied Fine Arts, Environmental Design, then earned a Masters of Architecture at Technical University of Nova Scotia. Following 15 years in the architecture industry, she taught I.B. Fine Art, and engaged in the film industry.

Laura’s professional design career crossed film, architecture, fine art, and design fields, throughout Canada, Bermuda, Switzerland, USA, and Finland. She currently operates a design/build business, designed in the film industry, and taught prep school Fine Art.

Laura was an inaugural member of the Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership, awarded a number of RFP artwork installations in Halifax Regional Municipality, and recently chaired the Awards Committee of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia. As Laura the entrepreneur, also operates a boutique vintage shop, KingsPIER Curated Collections, which is the entrepreneurial culmination of decades of passion for heritage, craftsmanship, fashion, and sustainability.


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The future of fashion with Lisa Lawrence

Lisa J Lawrence – Co-founder, President and designer. Lisa has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in art and design from the University of Alberta. She has managed a variety of rapid growth retail and entertainment businesses in both the fashion and art industries. She has in depth experience in design and is the creator of all the collections for Lawrence Scott Atelier. She oversees all operations and is the heart and soul of LAWRENCE SCOTT INC. Lisa is currently located in Ottawa where she runs a remote team of predominantly of women who have complete autonomy over when and where they work.


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Creating a fashion and accessories brand popular among celebrities

Lisa Drader-Murphy designs and produces seasonal collections of fashion and accessories that are of the moment yet enduring and classic in quality and expression of timeless design, all from her 250-year-old sea captain’s estate in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. Willow Vale Estate, co-managed by her husband, Carey Murphy, also operates as a 5 star boutique resort, boasting multiple spa amenities.

Her label has received extensive international coverage including CNN, New York Times, Entertainment Tonight, BFM Europe, NRJ France, European Vogue, Cosmo, Flare, ELLE, CTV, CBC, SLICE, Canadian Learning Television, Global TV, and has been seen on runways across Canada. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Missi Pyle, Linda Cardellini, and Michelle Rodriguez are among the many celebrities who have selected Turbine for their wardrobes. Turbine has been invited to present at celebrity gifting suites during the Toronto International Film Festival, Golden Globes, Oscars, and the Cannes Film Festival and their signature leather handbags have been spotted on the red carpet.

Established in 1997, Drader-Murphy’s design house is unique in that it is one of few vertical fashion companies remaining in Canada. Her collections are sold exclusively at her 5 privately held retail locations and online.


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