Canadian outerwear brand Kanuk opens first store in US

By

Robin Driver

Published
Nov 11, 2021

Montreal-based outerwear brand Kanuk has announced that its inaugural U.S. location will open in New York’s SoHo neighborhood on November 23, 2021.

 
Located at 75 Greene Street, the 4,000-square-foot store – Kanuk’s first outside of Quebec – will stock the brand’s latest outerwear collections, including its core Fall/Winter 2021 offering, which ranges from micro-floral-print puffers to insulated parkas in zesty neon shades.
 
The boutique will also offer the brand’s newly launched transitional collection, designed for milder weather, as well as location-exclusive styles.

Designed by architecture studio Atelier Barda, the store seeks to pay homage to the brand’s roots in Montreal.
 
Customers enter the space through a narrow passageway, which leads them into a main shopping area featuring a white, domed ceiling. This central space boasts lighting created by New York-based Derek Porter studio and James Clotfelter Lighting Design, in collaboration with Atelier Barda. Taking inspiration from artists Doug Wheeler and James Turell, the lighting aims to blur the boundaries of the store’s architecture and create the illusion that the garments on show are suspended around the space.
 
“Inspired by Montreal's retro-cult character, the team of designers drew from the idealistic vision of the 60s and 70s that transformed the urban face of Montreal at that time and still inhabits the city today,” explained Atelier Barda co-founder Cécile Combelle in a release.
 
Founded in 1970, Kanuk is known for its durable outerwear, which is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. The brand’s decision to expand internationally is relatively recent, but its products are already stocked by the likes of Ssense and United Arrows, among other retailers. The opening of the company’s first international monobrand location in NYC therefore constitutes a significant step forward in the brand’s expansion efforts.
 
“Kanuk has locally handcrafted its coats for over 50 years. Today, we are thrilled to announce that we are one step closer towards bringing meticulous Canadian craftsmanship to a truly international market,” said Kanuk president Richard Laniel. “Our new SoHo store is an exciting new chapter in our evolution from a small outerwear manufacturer to a global Canadian brand.”
 
Alongside its geographical expansion, Kanuk has been working to introduce more sustainability-focused initiatives over the last few years. Currently, more than 50% of its collection is made with recycled fibers, and the brand has also committed to going fur-free as of 2022.