Kanuk’s Snowy Owl logo has become part of the fabric of Canada over the past half century. And now, the company, best known for its outerwear, is hoping to expand its presence in the U.S. market.
Although it had opened a flagship in New York’s SoHo in 2021, that store has closed and Kanuk is available mostly online in the U.S., through Nordstrom and the brand’s own website. But on Wednesday, the brand is hosting a Canadian cabin-themed cocktail event in New York with Elisa Dahan, who took on the role of Kanuk’s president two years ago.
Dahan is a serial entrepreneur: She cofounded Mackage, another popular Canadian outerwear brand, as well as Dodiee, a women’s knitwear/shapewear brand named after her mother. Kanuk is the first brand she’s worked for that she didn’t personally start.
Kanuk was founded in 1974 in Montreal and built its reputation on creating outerwear designed to withstand Canadian winters. It is credited with revolutionizing coat manufacturing with its Taiga Parka, which featured a seamless body, moisture-resistant lining, fleece interior and a Sherpa-lined collar.
Kanuk has become a lifestyle brand.
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The brand was founder-owned until 2015, when it was acquired by Corporation Financière Champlain, a Montreal-based private investment firm. The business was sold again in 2024 to Thread Collective, with investor Bertrand Cesvet leading the transaction. Thread Collective is the $500 million Montreal-based owner of Psycho Bunny, Frank and Oak and Salt Life and licensee for a wide range of brands, including Dickies, Ellen Tracy, Nautica and Scotch & Soda.
“It’s funny how quickly you become invested in something,” Dahan said. Although she didn’t create Kanuk, she has been wearing the brand her whole life. “Kanuk is my off-duty wear. I am a girl who loves the city, but I actually do have a country house.”
While owned by Champlain, the company instituted a more modern interpretation of the brand and opened the SoHo store as it sought to create an international business. In contrast, Dahan’s mission is to help the brand return to its roots, which are centered around “a touch of workwear, a touch of comfort, a touch of cozy and layering,” she said. “I feel like the foundation of the brand really resonated with me, but it got lost in translation over the years.”
She described Kanuk as “a real legacy brand, and I felt the world should really know what this brand was founded for.”
Kanuk offers both men’s and womenswear.
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Her vision is to evolve Kanuk from an outerwear specialist into a lifestyle brand rooted in Canadian country life. The collection draws its inspiration from Québec’s landscapes and spans knitwear, layering pieces and ready-to-wear. In recent years, young people have been scouring vintage sites for some of Kanuk’s signature pieces.
“The younger generation’s interest in Kanuk’s heritage jackets was very telling,” she said. “Those pieces have such a distinctive character, particularly the Sherpa collars with the owl emblem. I saw an opportunity to build a clear visual identity from those signatures and use the brand’s craftsmanship and expertise to create a complete wardrobe.”
As president, Dahan oversees all aspects of the business, from design and marketing to pricing and partnerships. And while she doesn’t have day-to-day interaction with Thread Collective, its back-end support has been invaluable. “I feel like I have carte blanche, but at the same time I have the support of a big organization whenever I’m stuck or need to brainstorm or talk through something.”
Elisa Dahan
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The brand currently operates two stores in Canada, with a third in Toronto slated to open shortly. But Dahan’s goal for the U.S. is to expand Kanuk’s reach within the wholesale market. “We’re on Nordstrom online, and we have a few very small boutiques,” she said. “But this is the real launch. It takes time to clean up a brand that has lost its way, and I wanted to make sure it was in the right place before we sold into the wholesale market.”
The event on Wednesday will be cohosted by actress Sophie Nélisse and is expected to draw several other actors, models, stylists, press and content creators.