Two Canada Goose designers are behind a program that has given away about 35,000 kg of Arctic Tech fabric in the North. That’s enough to sew 17,500 parkas!
It all came about when Meeka Atagootak and Rebecca Kiliktee visited the Canada Goose Resource Centre in 2007. They noticed some scrap fabric left over from production and asked if they could bring some home to Pond Inlet to make jackets for friends and family.
Not only was the answer “yes,” but it also turned into an official program. Since 2009, Canada Goose has donated buttons, zippers, lining and trims as well as excess fabric to 12 remote communities across Northern Canada.
It gives Indigenous sewers access to modern fabrics and materials while helping Canada Goose responsibly “upcycle” excess materials.
As an Inuit-owned company flying into the targeted remote communities, Canadian North is proud to support the program. Our volunteers sort and cut the fabric into parka-sized lengths, then we fly the bundles into the communities at no charge.
Fun Fact: Three-yard lengths of Arctic Tech is enough to create a parka in any size.
Our staff also volunteer at the giveaway events with Canada Goose, where we open the doors to the community.
Since 2019, we’ve been a proud partner, co-hosting events across Canada. Most recently, we delivered about 4,500 kg of material in Rankin Inlet in July and another 5,500 kg in Iqaluit in November.
Looking forward to the next giveaway – see you there!
Ivory is happy to have filled her two reusable bags with Canada Goose giveaways.
Kitty tags along on the hunt for warm fabric. Maybe it will turn into a new parka for her!
Fun Fact: One square yard of Arctic Tech fabric weighs just under 6 oz.