Canada is not about maple leaves and Mounties, folks. It’s also the home of some of the best and the brightest in the eco-design community.

A romantic spring/summer 2010 look for Canadian label Thieves, designed by Sonja den Elzen. (Courtesy of Thieves.ca)
And with all those pristine mountains and rivers, it makes perfect sense for British Columbia to play host to Vancouver Eco Fashion Week (VEFW) — the first fashion week to be dedicated solely to showcasing ethical designers. Featuring runway shows, conferences, and parties galore, it debuts September 28-30.
VEFW is the brainchild of Myriam Laroche, the bilingual “éco-styliste” who runs Myriam’s Closet to dress television personalities and others in need of style assistance in the latest and greatest in eco-fashion. With a wardrobe full of organic, fair trade, recycled, vintage, and sustainable fashion, she’s setting out to prove that you can look good and do good simultaneously.
And that seems to be the theme of Canadian fashion in 2010. In this issue, we explore the many ways that Canada is producing some of the most provocative yet wearable fashion — and whipping up a controversy once in a while.
First, Madison noticed that Canada is rich in natural resources but doesn’t have easily farmed land. That might be why so many Canadian designers have gotten creative with recycled textiles.
You may have heard about a European Union ban on Canadian seal fur coming from the controversial annual seal hunt. But what you may not have heard is what the ban means for the Canadian Inuit hunters who rely on selling the pelts to provide for their communities. If you want to learn something new today, check it out.
Sometimes it seems like Canada’s main export is talent for Hollywood, and we have to give a round of applause to these celebrities who use their fame to bring the spotlight on a variety of environmental and social issues.
Craving more Canada? You can always check out Seam Ripper, a compilation of stories from the Behind the Seams archive.