Pounding the pavement for Canadian footwear

“85% of the shoes sold in Canada are made in China.” That’s what I learned from the clerk at the third shoe store I visited today. She seemed to know a little more than the other stores’ clerks, whose best answer to the question “do you sell any shoes that are manufactured in Canada?” was to “just google it”. Right, because that never occurred to me.

I need shoes. I need a new pair of running shoes, and some hiking shoes. By the year’s end, I’ll need some new dress shoes, too. So, before we get started on the subject of investments (for that’s March’s category), I wanted to do some research into footwear.

Pounding the mall pavement got me nowhere. According to their staff, there wasn’t a single shoe in Ronsons, Town Shoes or Aldo’s that was made in Canada.

I did, however, make some progress wielding the aforementioned Google and collecting a few tips on the 1Y1C Facebook page. What did I learn?

  • La Canadienne makes women’s shoes in Montreal (they’ve got some nice shots of their manufacturing facility on that page). Unfortunately, I’m disinclined to cross-dress.
  • Nor am I particularly butch. If I was, I could consider Viberg’s vast array of boots for dock workers, loggers or just plain stomping around. Along similar lines, I’ve sent a note to Mark’s Work Wearhouse to see if they have any footwear that qualifies.
  • Now we’re talking: Roots makes a few lines of men’s shoes in their Toronto factory. In a pinch, I could see myself wearing these.

I also found a number of local manufacturers of Canadian cliches: winter boots and moccasins.

So, not a complete failure, but my feet still aren’t ready for jogging or hiking. I’ll soldier on with worn-out shoes.

UPDATE (March 11, 2011): I heard back from Mark’s Work Wearhouse. They sent me a list of footwear that’s made in Canada–for men it’s all work boots and shoes, nothing in the running, dress or hiking category.

Photo by Emma Jane Hogbin.



  1. Jennifer Villamere (Reply) Posted on March 9, 2011

    My gosh, those Roots shoes are gorgeous. I vote for those.

    Also: I your blog.

    • Jennifer Villamere (Reply) Posted on March 9, 2011

      Hmm. I put “heart” in angle brackets and it was omitted when my comment was published.

      For the record, I do “heart” your blog.

  2. Jen (Reply) Posted on March 9, 2011

    So often my advice keeps being “get it custom made”. I’d check with the fine folks at Dayton’s and ask where you could get custom running shoes made. Maybe they can???

  3. Derek K. Miller (Reply) Posted on March 9, 2011

    This post may contain some useful info, as I mentioned in email.

    Also, I recall running into some really nice boots, which I’m pretty sure were made in Manitoba, in a store in Parksville, but I can’t for the life of me remember what they were called. Might have been these SportWalks, from the Tender Tootsies group, perhaps the Track, Chris, or Ethan models.

    Running shoes? For that you might have to go seriously vintage.

  4. Laura (Reply) Posted on March 9, 2011

    You may have already found this site, but here is a website that might help you in your search for shoes (and perhaps other things later on).

    https://www.canadianmade.com/

    I don’t know how up-to-date it is, or to what extent the products will meet your standards… but good luck!

  5. Yabut (Reply) Posted on March 11, 2011

    Here’s a list of shoes made in Canada.

  6. Yabut (Reply) Posted on March 11, 2011

    LOL….HERE’s the site where the list is for shoes made in Canada. Sorry about that. https://www.canadianmade.com/shoes.htm

  7. Catherine, QC (Reply) Posted on March 11, 2011

    Just found out about this company this week… yes its more boots… but we do live in Canada… with lots of white fluffy frozen incentive!!

  8. Mary (Reply) Posted on March 11, 2011

    Fluevogs are designed in Vancouver. So that’s got to count for something:

    “Our shoes are designed in Vancouver, Canada, but are made all over the world.

    Roughly 60% of our shoes are made in Portuguese factories, some we have been working with for over ten years. We also use factories in Mexico, Peru, China, and Vietnam. All of our factories are ISO 9002 certified, which is primarily an international quality certification, that relates to consistency and standards of production and quality. In addition to that, from an ethical standard, our factories fully comply with the Labour Law of the PRC act of 2007 (also know as the Worker’s Rights Act of 2008). This brings all of our factories in line with “Western” labour standards, and is checked regularly.”

    https://www.fluevog.com/code/?w=gender:men

  9. Erica (Reply) Posted on March 11, 2011

    Warm weather is approaching, so it’s not exactly the right season, but Kamik boots are made in Canada!

  10. Catherine, QC (Reply) Posted on March 12, 2011

    Opps, forgot the link!

    https://saute-mouton.com/

  11. meryl (Reply) Posted on March 12, 2011

    Love those Roots shoes. You could do that easily.

  12. Maria (Reply) Posted on March 14, 2011

    Some of the viberg boots look great for hikeing.. Is the issue that they are not your style?

    Also, it’s funny that March is all about investments. Not that long ago, good new shoes where a major investment, the returns being the ability to work and live safely, comfortably etc.

    As to the running shoes, ever think of taking up barefoot running? ;) I doubt there is any running shoe that fits the bill.

  13. In Country with Melissact (Reply) Posted on March 16, 2011

    1 or 2 models of Fluevogs are made in Canada, you have to ask which. Some Pajar shoes are made in Canada, Rallye Footwear make rainboots and winter boots. Anfibio make boots – evidently we make a lot of boots… hardly any shoes. Roots footwear are your best option it seems.

  14. Eleanor Thomas (Reply) Posted on March 18, 2011

    I doubt that you will find running shoes made in Canada (I have tried), but second best is shoes made in the USA. I am now wearing New Balance model 883, which are completely made in the USA, in Maine, I believe, which is close enough. New Balance, on their website, shows where all of their shoes are made – no need to guess. Lots are made offshore, but some of their models are made in the US. I don’t think that any other brand of running shoes (real running shoes) are made in North America. Helping the US economy helps ours as well, so that’s the route I have chosen.

  15. Manitobah Mukluks (Reply) Posted on May 27, 2011

    Hi Darren, I might have good news for you! Manitobah Mukluks is one of the few Canadian-made, Aboriginal-owned manufacturers of footwear in the market! I’ve worked for them a few years now and have seen first hand the amazing growth in consumer demand for local, Aboriginal success stories. We proudly support other Canadian brands like Canada Goose that have continued to craft high quality products in the same place that inspired the designs in the first place.

    If you’d like to know more about us: Manitobah Mukluks is an Aboriginal owned Canadian company that produces some of the worlds finest authentic Aboriginal Mukluks, Moccasins and accessories available at better boutiques around the world. All of our products are handmade at our factory in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. Check us out at https://www.manitobah.ca or “like” us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/manitobahmukluks . Thanks for the great blog!

  16. Manitobah Mukluks (Reply) Posted on May 27, 2011

    …and as a fun fact, we’ve actually outfitted several barefoot runners with our Vibram soled mukluks. They’ve had great reviews! We also have several men’s items that seem to hover the line between traditional mukluk and functional modern shoe (due to our unique Vibram partnership). Either way, I understand your concern for made-in-Canada products and I hope you find something that fits your needs!!

  17. Manitobah Mukluks (Reply) Posted on May 30, 2011

    Also fluevog is another great Canadian manufacturer of footwear…mostly dressy and casual leather hand-crafted shoes for men and women…https://www.fluevog.com/