Kanuk ventures beyond Québec, setting off from Italy to expand worldwide

What an honour for Italy at Pitti Uomo 109! For the first time, Canadian clothing brand Kanuk is stepping beyond Québec to reach the rest of the world. President Elisa Dahan confirmed as much to FashionNetwork.com. “Yes, it’s true. If we exclude an episode in the United States a few years ago, this is the first time we are presenting ourselves outside our province. I mean truly outside Québec: we had never really begun to develop beyond Québec towards a global dimension- not even in the rest of Canada. And since we are a fashion brand rooted in outerwear, of course we’re starting with Italy.”

Kanuk, a play on the slang nickname for Canadians (Canucks), has the snowy owl as its emblem. “We chose it because it never migrates; it always stays in Québec, no matter the temperature. It feels tailor-made for the philosophy of comfortable, welcoming Canadian country living,” Dahan points out. “A bit like us so far: we were founded in 1974 in a small workshop in Montréal with the mission of creating outerwear suited to Québec’s particular climate and lifestyle, and today we offer a total look.”

With a lifestyle focus, Kanuk is inspired by the spirit of rural Canadian life- farm-to-table family traditions, a distinctive generational heritage, and outdoor pursuits- while applying uncompromising artisanal standards to production. In the Autumn/Winter 2026/27 Heritage Collection, featuring 30 men’s and 30 women’s styles in a range of colours, the brand expands its ready-to-wear with new jumpers, knit sets, wool pieces, corduroy outerwear, and increased use of Kanuk’s signature sherpa, designed to complement its parkas. The colour palette reflects the season’s defining landscapes: warm earth tones, leafy greens, deep browns, and the muted golds of Canada’s transforming trees.

With two mono-brand stores, one in Montréal and the second just opened in Québec City- “attracting strong tourist traffic,” according to the president- Kanuk sees e-commerce “performing very well and accounting for about a third of the business; but don’t forget that right now we are only distributed in about 30 major stores in Québec. The sky is the limit for what we can achieve from now on,” she smiles.

Elisa Dahan is very confident that Kanuk’s products will be highly appreciated in Europe, “because in Europe the weather starts one way during the day and can shift in the evening and at night- sometimes in the opposite direction- so you need functional versatility, style and lasting durability in what you wear: precisely Kanuk’s attributes, with its timeless pieces and 3-in-1 models with removable layers,” she says.

Kanuk is not only apparel but also accessories, including gloves, scarves, and a super-plush bag, once again featuring the snowy owl. These designs are intended especially for cold climates. Across both the product range and the Canadian brand’s revenue- which rose by double digits last fiscal year- menswear and womenswear are split evenly, 50/50. Accessories account for 10% of turnover.

After Pitti Uomo 109, where she forged many connections with buyers, agents, and distributors, Elisa Dahan aims over the next two to three years to expand the brand into a strong network of quality retailers across Europe. “I’m not interested in quantity; ours is a beautiful brand with a lot of potential, but it needs to be surrounded by the right brands; for me, location is the most important factor to get right, and the business results will follow,” says the Kanuk president, who is also open to launching pop-ups or temporary stores in winter resorts as well as summer destinations, in Italy and beyond.