Image via Complex Original
An argument can certainly be made that Canadians have traded their stereotypical politeness for overt patriotism, much to the chagrin of their neighbors to the south. But with Drake and Justin Trudeau repping the northern nation of 35 million on a global scale, one can understand the current lack of humility.
But it’s not just the 6 God and fresh-faced prime minister doing Canada proud in 2016. The country is also home to countless young creatives who are pushing boundaries in the worlds of food, music, and art. Toronto, the largest city in Canada, has become a global hub brimming with creativity, while Montreal continues to establish itself as a cultural melting pot and an exciting, inexpensive place to live.
Something else that’s popping off in Canada: fashion. There are a multitude of innovators adding touches of glamour, freshness, and Canadian flavor to traditional winter weather fits. Just because it’s below freezing, doesn’t mean you can’t have a distinct look. Americans are even adopting the style and putting their own spin on it.
Here are seven people influencing Canadian style today.
Emily Bitze
Website: bunz.com
This Toronto musician and innovator has revolutionized the way people acquire new threads. She created Bunz Trading Zone, a Facebook group and app that allows people to swap clothes, or just about anything that isn’t money. Tens of thousands of Canadians are on it, making it one of the most popular swap-meets in the nation. After all, what’s more Canadian than trading a pair of jeans for a six pack of beer?
Mallory Merk
IG Handle: @malmerk
Needless to say, this 16-year-old American musician and model with a rabid Instagram following is a fashion influencer on both sides of the border. Frequently posting pics alongside A$AP Rocky and Rich The Kid, the NYC wild child rocks Canadian jacket brand Moose Knuckles on the regs. Kanye West has even taken notice of the rising star’s unmistakable fashion sense: Merk appeared in one of his zines.
P.K. Subban
IG Handle: @subbanator
Even though hockey’s most stylish player sports a Nashville Predators jersey on the ice, the flashy defenseman is a Toronto native and former Montreal Canadien. NHLers traditionally wear suits to games before changing into hockey gear, providing the 27-year-old Subban with plenty of opportunities to show off his refined taste. Last year, he wore an old-school suit and burgundy fedora to the Winter Classic. Oh, he’s also created his own line of suits on the side.
Bella Harris
IG Handle: @bellabharris
Moose Knuckles’ October Sunshine Girl comes from music and basketball royalty. Harris’ father is mega-producer Jimmy Jam and her uncle is NBA star Kevin Garnett, but the model is on the verge of blowing up herself. If you haven’t already spotted her modeling for Rihanna’s clothing line, perhaps you saw her on the red carpet of this year’s BET Awards with her pops. Keep Bella on your radar. She’s about to become a superstar.
Xavier Dolan
IG Handle: @xavier_dolan
Aside from making flip phones cool again in his work on Adele’s “Hello” music video, the 27-year-old Montreal director has won a number of Cannes Film Festival awards. In addition to critical acclaim Dolan has received, he’s also turning heads in the fashion world as an ambassador for Louis Vuitton menswear. This dude can do it all.
Harrison
IG Handle: @harrison.music
Toronto is currently known as a prominent hotbed of hip-hop thanks to its proudest son, but the 6’s contributions to the music world extend beyond just Drake and his OVO Sound crew. Up-and-coming producer Harrison Robinson dropped an album in 2016 called Checkpoint Titanium, which bridges the gap between retro soul and modern beat making. The 21-year-old is a multimedia darling, and his official website is currently configured as a dope video game.
Fucci
IG Handle: @fucci
Raised in a small town in Northern Ontario, Fucci is one of Canada’s premier contemporary artists. Everything about his work is bold, including the array of starkly contrasting colors he employs, which is reminiscent of animation you’d find in a ’90s cartoon. Perhaps the most notable feature of his work is its sexually explicit nature. Fucci has professed his love for the female figure, often depicting busty and curvy women, and notes that he finds much of his inspiration from the women in his life. His artistic expression and style are one of kind. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the Fucci and Moose Knuckles collab coming in 2017.
