The Ottawa-based company behind the “Canada is not for sale” hat says the products are now 100 per cent manufactured in Canada, as orders continue to flow during a tariff war between Canada and the United States.
Jackpine Dynamic Branding saw a boost in sales in January when Premier Doug Ford wore a dark blue “Canada is not for sale hat,” while speaking with reporters before a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the other premiers.
After launching the hats, Liam Mooney and his partner Emma Cochrane relied on hats imported from Vietnam, Bangladesh and China and toques from the U.S. while looking for a hat completely made in Canada. The hats are embroidered in Toronto.
“Later today, we’re going to be announcing that all our products in our store will be made in Canada,” Mooney told CTV Morning Live.
“It’s an exciting transition. I was on your show less than 50 days ago, so to make that change, that rapidly is something we’re very proud of.”
Mooney said the boost in business has been very exciting.
“We’ve been working really hard to bring Canadian manufacturing to all of our products,” Mooney said. “We have an exciting collection of hoodies, tees, toques, ball caps.”
Mooney says the toque comes from Parkhurst Canada, based in Toronto, while the hoodies and t-shirts come from a Toronto company and the hats come from a Montreal company.
The “Canada is not for sale” hats are now available in French.
“We have them in English and French. Many customers have asked for bilingual versions, so we’re working on that as well,” Mooney said.
You can buy the hats and all the merchandise at www.strongandfreehat.ca.
With files from The Canadian Press
