#canadian flannel clothing manufacturers | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

reekyteekicha · 7 months ago

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I have found exactly one company that makes high quality thoughtful well designed clothing.

It is a Canadian nightgown/pj manufacturer.

The company is called Nights in White Flannel.

They use only the highest quality cotton fabric, fabric that is produced locally in Canada. They only produce each item after it has been ordered. Meaning, if you, like me, are uncommonly tall, you can ask them to make the items longer. Because they will totally do that for you.

The fabric is cut at a central location, then it is sent to the home of one of their sewers. These are people who work from home and sew every item to the highest standard.

When the item is finished it is packed into a flannel bag, made of the fabric left over from cutting the clothes. The bag is hand stitched shut, taped up and sent to you.

I have been wearing some items of clothing from this company for over 15 years. Like, I still have the first nightgown I bought from them, and I still wear it alllll the time. It’s a huge difference in quality.

Is each item I buy from Nights in White Flannel a lot more expensive than buying pjs at Walmart? Yes it absolutely is. However, the price is well worth it. The pjs are more, comfortable, more stylish, and last 15 to 30 times longer.

Not only that, but I know that every aspect of the creation of these pjs is not produced in a sweatshop. And that, dear friends, helps me sleep easier.

One side effect of my research for this novel being steeped heavily in textile history is my swelling disgust with modern fabrics.

Firstly they're so thin? Like most things you see in Old Navy or even department stores might as well be tissue paper?? Even some branded sports t-shirts I've bought in recent years (that are supposed to be 'official apparel' and allegedly decent quality) are definitely not going to hold up more than a year or two without getting little holes from wear.

This side of even two hundred years ago fabrics were made to be used for YEARS, and that's with wearing them way more often because you only owned like three sets of clothes. They were thick and well made and most importantly made to LAST. And they were gorgeous?? Some of the weaves were so fine and the drape so buttery we still don't entirely know how these people managed to make them BY HAND. Not to mention intricate patterning and details that turned even some simple garments into freaking ART.

I know this is not news, the fast fashion phenomenon is well documented. Reading so much about the amazing fabrics we used to create and how we cherished and valued them, though, is making it hard not to mourn what we lost to mass production and capitalism. Not just the quality of the clothing and fabrics themselves, but the generations of knowledge and techniques that are just gone. It makes me what to cry.

I need to get a sewing machine.

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yegarts · 2 years ago

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“I Am YEG Arts” Series: Mike Lundy

There are no days more full than the ones we look back on. That understanding of nostalgia is something Mike Lundy knows better than most. For more than six years, he and his partner, Brittni, have been reaching into the past for the inspiration behind their Canadian apparel line, Flannel Foxes. Though Lundy’s design may borrow unabashedly from the past, his mandate for the business reflects what he values today: creating ethically made, socially conscious goods that celebrate the place he calls home—beautiful Western Canada.

Designer, collaborator, and big fan of good folks—this week’s “I Am YEG Arts” story belongs to Mike Lundy.

Tell us about your connection to Edmonton and why you’ve made it your home.

I never pictured Edmonton being my home. I moved here for school to study design at MacEwan, and as Edmonton grew on me, my roots here grew deeper. It’s Canada’s biggest small town, with a welcoming warmth and community that makes me feel at home.

How did Flannel Foxes come to be, and where do you hope to take it next?

My partner, Brittni, actually started Flannel Foxes with her friend. What began as a blog was re-imagined as a clothing brand, and then when I got involved in 2016, we developed the visual identity and apparel. For the last six years we’ve been exploring Canada West, finding inspiration and reflecting it in our clothing.

Looking forward, we plan to continue to expand our range of gear, to collaborate with good folks, and to hopefully do some good for our community in the process.

You describe your apparel as “durable and ethically made in Canada (whenever possible) with partners that treat their people right.” Why was that essential to your brand, and what about that has proven the greatest reward?

Our brand celebrates Canada and the wonderful people who call this land home. We can’t honestly do that without commemorating the craft and skill of Canadian manufacturers. That’s why 100% of our gear is made in Canada. Our investments stay in the community, and as a reward we get to develop long-term relationships with our manufacturers.

What is the creative process like for you? Where do you usually begin?

The inspiration for Flannel Foxes designs comes from a place of nostalgia. Brittni and I visit antique malls and shops, getting a creative spark from old shirts, hats, travel brochures, maps, and even tractor manuals. Once we have our inspiration, the design process starts. I draw, push pixels, and work with our manufacturers until I have a collection that reflects the nostalgic mood that we’re targeting.

How important has collaboration been to your career, and why are you drawn to it?

Other people do a whole lot of cool things. When we work together, we can make something new—a crossover between two people or brands that is more than the sum of its parts. Collaboration in the context of Flannel Foxes has given us opportunities to work with our favourite brands, restaurants, and even CBC!

When you’re taking a break from a project, what will we likely find you doing?

I like to cook, and sometimes my personal social media feeds look more like a food blogger’s than a designer’s. If I’m not working, chances are I’m making some food.

How have you grown as an artist/designer throughout your career. What’s been the biggest change, and what’s stayed the same?

I’ve experienced a lot of the different facets of visual design. I started out designing a lot of websites, worked as an art director at an ad agency, and have freelanced doing brand and packaging design. I love learning new skills, and I think all that experience changed me, giving me a holistic approach to design.

What has stayed the same? I still really get a kick out of designing.

Who’s someone inspiring you right now?

I love the work that Jessica Nepton-Chaye is doing with Copper Cherry. She’s making beautiful bags and backpacks right here in Edmonton. Her dedication to craft and quality is remarkable!

Tell us about what you’re currently working on or hoping to explore next.

We’re working on a few collaborations with folks that mean a lot to us and to Edmonton. Keep your eyes peeled and you’ll see what I mean!

When you think YEG arts, what are the first three things, people, or places that come to mind?

The Royal Bison Art & Craft Fair. They’ve created a place where Edmonton’s artists and designers can showcase their weird and wonderful creations.

MacEwan. It’s where I learned my craft and developed roots in the Edmonton arts community.

The murals. I love the murals and street art across Edmonton. A couple of my faves are the giant Mr. Cenz piece on the back of The Monolith and Jill Stanton’s mural on the Varscona.

Want more YEG Arts Stories? We’ll be sharing them here all year and on social media using the hashtag #IamYegArts. Follow along! Click here to learn more about Mike Lundy, Flannel Foxes, and to shop their apparel.

About Mike Lundy

Mike Lundy is the co-owner of Flannel Foxes and an Edmonton-based designer. When he isn’t designing apparel, he attempts to run a design studio with a focus on branding and packaging design. In a previous life, he was an art director and a website designer at a few of western Canada’s most celebrated ad agencies and design studios. Mike moved to Edmonton in 2007 after growing up in northern Brazil, and is grateful to have this wonderful city as home, even if he’s not quite used to the winters.

#yeg #yegarts #edmonton #edmontonarts #iamyegarts #artistfeature #yegmade

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