Transition to Spring in These Canadian Sneaker Brands
Homegrown brands.
The Buy Canadian movement is moving full steam ahead right now, and consumers may or may not know it’s easy to participate in the footwear space as well. From well-known homegrown giants such as Lululemon to smaller Quebec boutiques tailored toward women, here is a top five list of sneakers sold by businesses headquartered right here in the Great White North.
A portmanteau of material and nature, Matt & Nat was launched in Montreal in 1995. The company has always committed to not using any animal-derived materials in its clothing, bags, shoes, and accessories, instead experimenting with nylon, cardboard, rubber, cork, and even windshield resins.
This remains true for its vegan Marci sneaker made of recycled PVB. The minimalistic lace-up features a synthetic white upper, thick one-inch tan outsole, Matt & Nat-inscribed pull straps, and signature V logo hits in black on the heel.
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Maguires Shoes is a direct-to-consumer brand founded by a pair of sisters aiming to make high-quality, accessible shoes. With bricks-and-motor stores in Montreal, Toronto, and New York, it specializes in all types of women’s footwear, including a couple of sneaker models.
The Simone Trainer first released last spring and is boasting fun new colours in 2025 such as on this denim pair. Supple light-blue suede covers the upper and tongue, contrasting nicely against the fresh white shoelaces and stitching and dark-brown outsole.
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Poppy Barley is a reference to an old medieval English cobbler technique of using poppy seeds and barleycorns as units of measurement for shoemaking. There’s nothing antique, however, about this Edmonton-born family-run business besides its timeless-looking premium women’s shoes.
The Eyelet Sneaker is a comfier riff on the Eyelet Oxford 2.0 flat, possessing the same high-end smooth Biscotti or Black-hued leather uppers and lining, cushioned memory foam insoles, and elasticated laces allowing easy slip-on/off wear. An EVA and rubber sole provides plenty of traction. Comes in a 100 per cent cotton dust bag.
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Vancouver’s own Lululemon is well known for its sporty apparel, but it quietly expanded into footwear in 2022, debuting a number of trainers and runners. Last year the athleisure pioneer introduced new models and a men’s line for the first time.
New to the product range is the Beyondfeel, which the company says was informed by foot morphology and biomechanical insights to create an unrivalled fit and feel, meaning the outsole is designed to mirror gender-specific foot strikes to soften impact. In addition, supercritical EVA foam in the midsole smoothes heel-to-toe glide. Those who enjoy fitness in rain or shine conditions should check out the waterproof version, which helps keep the wet stuff out via special material on the upper.
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Since 2018, Vessi has had a mission to keep people’s feet dry in inclement weather through its range of sneakers all using proprietary Dyma-tex knit technology that prevents water from entering while letting sweat and heat escape. Last month, the Kickstarter alumnus announced a rebranding, complete with a new logo and clothing options such as the Trinity Rain Jacket.
Coming in both a low- and high-top version in men’s and women’s styles, the Stormburst combines the look of a conventional sneaker and the utility of a hiking shoe. The thick dual-density midsole yields great energy return, chunky outsole lugs grip well on different surfaces, and reflective hits ensure wearers are always seen. The all-black model hides dirt, and pull tabs at the front and back make putting them on a breeze.
