Brands that give back

Peace Collective

This brand is so much more than its patriotic apparel. For every select garment sold, Peace Collective donates two meals to a Canadian child in need through Breakfast Club of Canada. Recently, they’ve taken on another cause and created the #Unignorable t-shirt in partnership with Pantone and United Way to put a spotlight on local issues such as social isolation, poverty and unemployment. Keep an eye out for more #Unignorable items and apparel in 2019.

Afemme x Moon Time Sisters

Did you know that one third of Canadian women under 25 have struggled to afford menstrual products? That’s why it’s so important to support charities like Moon Time Sisters, which was born out of a need to help young women, specifically in northern communities, who are facing such difficulties. You can purchase women’s shelter kits through the brand’s website or one of Afemme’s handmade beaded bracelets, which also has a vision of normalizing menstruation stigma.

Cheekbone Beauty x First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

When Cheekbone Beauty founder Jenn Harper was creating her cosmetics company she was simultaneously researching how to close the funding gap that exists between traditional and First Nations schools, which is often up to 50 per cent less. The Indigenous beauty brand donates 10 per cent of its profits to First Nations Child & Family Caring Society and has even bigger goals on the mind–to donate 100 per cent of proceeds from online purchases of its lip kit by 2023. 

Lolë Yellow Label Program

The Quebec outfitter is back with its annual Yellow Label Program that sells your pre-worn outerwear and donates the proceeds to food banks including Moisson Montreal and the Great Vancouver Food Bank. So far the program has made measurable differences: the initiative has helped 1,900 families across North America and has raised over $400,000. How does it work? If you bring in your old coat into any Lolë store before November 11 you’ll receive a $50 gift card towards a new jacket for yourself, too.

Alex and Ani

A truly charming way to shop for new jewellery is through Alex and Ani’s Charity by Design collection. Simply choose from any of the co-created bracelet designs and the brand will donate 20 per cent of the purchase price to a specific cause. This holiday season you can purchase the brand’s adorable snowflake bangle that supports Toys for Tots, or the queen bee bracelet which benefits Habitat for Humanity.

Evelyn Iona x Canadian Women’s Foundation

The Canadian Women’s Foundation empowers women and girls through programs which help them escape violence and poverty. It’s a cause that everyone can get behind and is especially significant to Evio Beauty Group founder Brandi Leifso who conceptualized a green, socially conscious beauty brand while living in a women’s shelter. Today, she pays it forward by donating one dollar to CWF for every Evelyn Iona product purchased. 

Manitobah Mukluks x The Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development

Every year Indigenous-owned and operated Manitobah Mukluks partners with the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD) to provide educational bursaries for Indigenous students. Considering poverty in Canada disproportionately affects Indigenous youth it’s increasingly important to support businesses that contribute to self-determination and keep First Nations traditions alive.

Hudson’s Bay Company Headfirst Program

Poverty and mental health share a complex connection, which is why getting the right support early in life is so crucial. HBC Foundation’s Headfirst mission continues to support mental health programming for teens and young adults with their annual Heritage Charity Bear and new this year is their charitable collaboration with WE’s Well-being program. For every Hudson's Bay Company x WE Rafiki bracelet sold, half the proceeds will provide Canadian students and teachers with the proper resources to promote positive mental well-being.

Good Food for Good x Food Banks Canada

Good Food for Good’s mandate is to make it easy to eat well and do good. Inspired by the buy-one-give-one model of brands like Tom’s, the Toronto-based company provides a meal to a child in need with every purchase. Try their date-sweetened ketchup and barbecue sauces (seriously!) and any foodies on your list need to try the organic turmeric tea blends. We call that feel-good food.

The Home Depot Orange Door Project

Since 2007 the program has raised almost 10 million dollars that’s gone towards preventing youth homelessness. The company’s holiday fundraising campaign runs from November 29 until December 16 and supports over 120 partner programs that teach things like life-skills development and safe housing options for at-risk youth. Donations can be made in-store or online.

Endy's Mattress Donation Project

Mattress e-retailer Endy already tackles sustainability at every step of the way—like Canadian-made materials and manufacturing plus recyclable packaging—but did you know they also work to bring a better sleep to people who need it most? The Canadian company partners with charities across the country from Peace River Regional Women’s Shelter in Alberta to Home Again Furniture Bank in Newfoundland and Labrador to donate mattresses that don’t make it past their 100 night trial. So far, the number of mattresses donated would stack higher than the CN tower!

Province of Canada x The Salvation Army

The Quebec-based brand consistently puts Canada first, from it's design studio to local manufacturing, so it's no surprise that their homegrown mandate extends into the holiday season, too. Surprised to learn that socks are one of the least donated but most requested clothing items at community shelters and clothing banks, Province of Canada came up with a simple solution: for every pair of socks purchased, they'll donate one pair to homeless shelters across the country. Getting socks for Christmas never felt so good.