Canadian Hat 1918 | Harricana

*Canadian Hat Boutique Is Located In Our Troy Studio

A Bit About Canadian Hat

Our Mission is perpetuate the century old millinery’s expertise by offering hat collections for both men and women in a wide variety of styles and price ranges and keeping the custom-made hat tradition alive with on-site moulding and making.

Offer the perfect hat for all our clients’ needs: affordable and elegant, while valuing the knowledge of its craftmanship. Inspired by the deep Canadian heritage.

Our Vision is to offer a one-stop-shop where people from all generations can converge and tap into the heritage of Canadian hat-making expertise.

Become the international reference in the creation of the most elegant and functional hats.

Values

Cultural Preservation and Education

Canadian Hat is one of the oldest millineries in North America. Its museum-type boutique concept perpetuates this tradition and educates passersby about this traditional profession. Sewing technique expertise is passed down to younger craftspeople.

Respect for the Environment

Our production methods are environmentally friendly. We do not use any chemical processes in the manufacture of our accessories. We also revalue jeans, silk, tweed, wool and recycled ties in our line of hats. We also integrate dead stock material in our creations. The use of noble and upcycled materials and the reduction of waste in the textile industry are therefore at the heart of our concerns and we are proving that fashion can also be sustainable.

Ethics

We visit all our production partners in Canada and abroad regularly to ensure they share the same commitment and to validate that all craftspeople are working under ethical conditions.

Their Story

Since 1993, our expertise has allowed for us to communicate emotions from generation to generation by recycling high-quality fashion apparel. By recycling old furs, we have saved the lives of more than 1 million animals over the past 23 years. It has also enabled us breath new life into more than 100 000 coats, silk scarves, cashmere scarves and wedding growns, which would never have been worn again if they had not been remodeled. We give gorgeous materials a second life and transform them into unique pieces, proving that fashion can also be sustainable.

As concern for the environment is a core value of ours, all our creations are made under ethical manufacturing conditions.

THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME « HARRICANA »
The Harricana River in Canada stretches over 500 km long. The first fur exchanges took place on its shors. The original name of the river was Nanikana, meaning « main road » in Algonquin, however this was changed by missionaries of the time into which we have today.

LOCAL POWER
Almost 90% of the fur used by Harricana comes from Quebec. It’s a well know fact that raccoon, otter and beaver fur is so solid and durable that It can last for up to 100 years.
A combination of fur and other materials can breathe new life into your clothing and turn them into modern treasures.

2016

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At Japan’s international Gifu Fashion Contest, the young designer Mariouche Gagné represents Milan’s Domus Academy and makes into the final. At that moment, Harricana has been created.

At the age of 25, Mariouche creates a sizable collection of clothing from recycled fur. She single handedly founds her company with funds that she acquires as the first-time recipient of the Fondation du Maire de Montréal grant.

Exports to Europe begin. During that time, International sales makes up half of Harricana’s revenue and include 18 countries such as Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Greece, Japan, Russia, Australia.

Since 1994, Mariouche has recyled over 50 000 coats and turned them into new branded creations, adding up to nearly 400 metric tons of refurbished fur. It’s estimated that close to half a million animals’ lives were saved.

Harricana starts to produce and create knitted clothes.Collection in the collaboration with Monsieur de Castelbajac from Rossignol.
Harricana Pop-up store on the famous street Les Champs Élysées in Paris.

Harricana has developped a collection for Mobilia and collaborate with Monsillage to create the smell of Harricana in Perfume.

Harricana created an entire collection for Rossignol.

Pop-up stores at Bilboquet and Birks boutique.

Opening of the Harricana boutique in Old Montreal, 416 McGill Street, Montreal.

M&A by Canadian Hat whom Diane Lanctôt is the owner.