Canadian fashion stepping up for Black Lives Matter
Players in the industry are donating, working toward change
Canada’s fashion creators, retailers and brands are showing solidarity for Black Lives Matter. Some have pledged thousands in donations, others have opened their platforms to share resources and start necessary conversations. Some have turned their talents — for photography, for design, for brand building — into meaningful initiatives for change. Here are a few initiatives.
Martel made a tote with a message
Montreal-based handcrafted womenswear brand Martel has created a tote bag printed with the words “No Justice, No Peace.” All of the money from the $25 bag will go toward Canadian organizations fighting for equal rights for Black communities.
Photographers are offering up their prints
Toronto-based fashion photographer
Maya Fuhr is selling prints of her work ($50 for an 8x10 print and a 5x7 pay-what-you-can option) and the money raised from this will go to Prints for Regis, a charitable photography initiative that donates to the Justice for Regis Korchinski-Paquet GoFundMe campaign. Fellow photographer Lily Cummings is sending anyone who makes a $20 donation to organizations supporting victims of racial injustice with a high-resolution print of her work. On Instagram Stories, Cummings has shared that more than $1,100 has been donated so far.
Canada’s fashion players, both big and small, are donating
Aritzia has donated $100,000 to the NAACP and Black Lives Matter. Canada Goose is giving $100,000 to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the ACLU. Lululemon has pledged $100,000 to the Minnesota Freedom Fund. Beauty brands are donating, too: Vancouverbased RMS Beauty is donating $25,000 each to the NAACP, Black Lives Matter and The Bail Project. Ilia is donating $50,000 to Black Lives Matter and the NAACP’s Legal Defence and Education Fund.
Toronto-based jewelry line Cuchara has donated 100 per cent of last weekend’s profits to the Minnesota Freedom Fund and the Black Visions Collective. Montreal-based womenswear label Rightful Owner has committed to donating 20 per cent of sales to the ACLU. The label’s founder, Rose McMahon, wrote on Instagram that she will not be posting anything about herself for the next week. “I will, however be posting Black voices from my community,” she said. Kotn is amplifying Black voices This Toronto-based brand of ethically made cotton basics is turning over its social platform (and 88,000-strong Instagram following) to those who can use it to “educate the community or share feelings about what’s happening.” Nordstrom is having “courageous conversations”
In an open letter penned by Pete and Erik Nordstrom to their U.S. and Canadian social channels, the retailer has shared that “Courageous Conversation” forums have been set up by their Black Employee Network and that they have had “a big impact.” The brand also posted a 10-minute video with snippets of their employees sharing their frustrations, feelings and lessons on how to inspire change.