Category Archives: Canadian dress

Canadian Fashion Connection – Bonnie Stuart

Posted on 2020-06-07 by Jonathan

Bonnie Stuart shoes began as the Galt Shoe Manufacturing Company in 1910. Founded by E.C. Getty in Galt, Ontario, the company was sold or taken over by Dr. Joseph Radford and his son-in-law Andrew M. Stuart. Radford was a prominent … Continue reading →

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Canadian Fashion Connection – Army & Navy (1919 – 2020)

Posted on 2020-05-10 by Jonathan

In March 1919 Sam Cohen, a native of San Francisco, and his brothers Joe and Harry opened a store at 44 West Hastings Street in Vancouver, B.C. to sell surplus army boots. Originally known as the Liberty store, the name … Continue reading →

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William H. Kennedy – Merchant Tailor

Posted on 2020-05-07 by Jonathan

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries there were thousands of tailors, milliners, and dressmakers working across Canada. Some had labels that identified the name of their business and location, but most didn’t. A donation that came into the … Continue reading →

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Chapman Brothers Ltd. jewellers (1874 – c. 1977)

Posted on 2020-04-28 by Jonathan

Benjamin Chapman presumably learned the watchmaking and jewellery trade from his father who had established a jewellery business in Dublin, Ireland in 1814. Benjamin worked for 16 years as a jeweller in Belfast before immigrating to Canada in 1864. Ten … Continue reading →

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Triad – Toronto jewellery

Posted on 2020-04-26 by Jonathan

A bit of a mystery label – Triad was apparently a Toronto jewellery company founded in the 1940s and in business until at least the 1960s. There are a number of pieces that come up for sale through online sites, … Continue reading →

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Canadian Fashion Connection – KIEN (K’Ien) Jewellery

Posted on 2020-04-14 by Jonathan

Founded in Montreal by Naila Jaffer on February 3, 1986, K’Ien Art Concept Ltee. was listed as a wholesale distributor of jewellery. This means they didn’t manufacture the pieces, but had them made (probably in Canada) with their label. The … Continue reading →

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Canadian Fashion Connection – Anita Pineault

Posted on 2020-03-23 by Jonathan

The oldest of nine siblings, Anita Chouinard was born in Quebec in 1917. Her last name was changed to Pineault when she married. When he left to serve in Europe during World War II Anita took a job with the … Continue reading →

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Canada’s First Black Model – Johanne Harelle

Posted on 2020-03-21 by Jonathan

A year before the first American black model, Donyale Luna, graced the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, Johanne Harelle retired from her modelling career in Canada. Johanne Harelle was born Joan Harell to a French Canadian mother and West Indian father … Continue reading →

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Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario – a city of fashion in 1940

Posted on 2020-01-14 by Jonathan

Found this interesting article from the July 15, 1940 issue of MacLeans Magazine, about the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo. A large part of the article ensures readers that although the population has a large German heritage, it is not … Continue reading →

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Canada’s Silk Steam Trains

Posted on 2020-01-12 by Jonathan

From 1887 until the 1930s, raw silk from the Far East roared across Canada in trains from the port of Vancouver.  Within two hours of the boat docking at Vancouver, stevedores unloaded the 90-kilogram burlap-wrapped 12-inch by 24-inch by 36-inch bales … Continue reading →

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