Kanati Clothing Company
TypeCorporate
IndustryApparel
GenreMenswear
Founded2009
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario
,
Canada
Number of locations
Three
Area served
Global
ProductsGraphic T-shirts, Denim, Jackets, Fleece, Wovens and Accessories
ServicesRetail, Private label, Manufacturing, Logistics, On-Demand Services
Number of employees
Under 50
DivisionsManufacturing, Retail
Websitekanaticlothingco.com

Kanati Clothing Company is a privately held fashion lifestyle company. The line made its fashion debut with a men's sportswear collection for the spring 2009 season. The Canadian menswear label, manufacturer and retailer is based in Toronto, Ontario. The company launched its flagship retail location in Waterloo, Ontario in 2014. The Kanati Co. brand is distributed in North America, United Kingdom, Europe and Japan through GSG Apparel, Inc.

History

The Kanati Clothing Company was formed in July 2009 in Toronto, Ontario. Kanati Co. quickly became a celebrity favorite and in 2012 entered into a new multi-year international distribution arrangement.[1] The company gained notoriety as a pioneer in the fashion industry by creating an Aboriginal-influenced premium lifestyle band which had not yet been seen before. The brand was popularized in the U.S by its appearance in numerous music videos from artists like Drag-On of Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Joey Stylez, Meek Mill, Ja Rule and other popular musicians like Sean P from the group YoungBloodZ.[2] The label was seen on music group Winnipeg's Most in the Maclean's Magazine "Straight Outta Winnipeg" feature [3] as well as on CBC Television's Aboriginal series 8th Fire hosted by Wab kinew.

In 2014 the brand launched a made-on-demand cut and sew program for independent small to medium-sized private labels.[4] The program features the Signature Young line by Curtis Young who is the son of musician and businessman Dr. Dre.[5] The made-on-demand program operates on a membership basis[6] and eliminates a majority of the costs associated with maintaining a clothing company. The system allows labels to order as little as one item at a time and enables designers to get premium cut and sew as opposed to using traditional third-party blank garments.[7]

In 2015 Kanati Co. partnered with Navajo model Deanne Jean Vanwinkle to create "Clothes for Kids". The company donated clothing to children on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona and they plan to donate to different locations annually.[8]

Kanati Co. officially opened a new two-level facility in Waterloo, Ontario in May, 2015 in a $5 million partnership with GSG Apparel. GSG Apparel would purchase 100% of manufacturing rights in July 2015 from the new parent company.[9] The company also moved its headquarters to Mississauga, Ontario and will remain in the Greater Toronto Area(GTA) under the acquisition and change of ownership.[10]

In July 2015, the Kanati Co. brand sold and the board of directors named Peter Phaboriboun as president and CEO and announced the opening of a new retail location in August 2015. Under Phaboriboun's leadership, the company will work towards each division being able to function independently and focus on their separate and distinct identities.[11]

In September of 2015, moved to work with GSG Apparel Inc., who would be taking over manufacturing for Kanati Co.[12]

In December 2015, Kanati Co. donated $25,000 to Syrian refugees making Canada their new home.[13] The company also would donate to organizations such as the Salvation Army, House of Friendship, Ray of Hope and Mary's Place.[14]

Made in Canada

In 2015, after doing business in Pakistan for six years;[15] Kanati Co. pulled all of its production from Pakistan due to supply chain issues causing the company delays.[16] The company cited hostile trading conditions, energy[17] and transportation issues in Pakistan as a continued disruption to its supply chain.[18] Kanati Co became the second high-profile company to pull production from Pakistan, blaming disruptions to orders and the country's instability. Its decision came after US-based Walt Disney last year phased out the sourcing of Disney-branded products from Pakistan, saying the country no longer met its guidelines on working conditions.[19] Both companies identified risks in the country that outweighed the benefits of continuing business in the country.[20] An eye-opening report published in Pakistan Today cited Kanati Co. and Walt Disney exiting the country among other companies and stated "The state is unraveling stitch by stitch. At this rate we are in danger of no state."[21]

As a result of transport difficulties resulting in Kanati Co. spending "far too much time, effort and money" in Pakistan,[22] the company announced it was switching to a domestic production approach in 2015 and would be manufacturing all of its products in Waterloo, Ontario where it can control all aspects of production it couldn't overseas.[23] The company said it could no longer hope for improvements as it takes pride in providing quality service and takes appropriate action when their standards are compromised.[24] Kanati Co. stated that it would not consider returning production to the Pakistan anytime soon.[25] The stability of the country and supply chain disruptions was key reasons for the company to close doors overseas and re-shore to Canada.[26] Kanati Company will no longer allow Pakistan as a permitted materials sourcing country. Kanati Co. now produces its products in Canada.

Products & Services

The Kanati Co. line is known for its use of high-grade materials, Aboriginal influence and elite status.[27] Kanati Co. lines include men's T-shirts, polo shirts, thermals, leather, jackets, button downs, hoodies, Japanese denim, shorts, skateboards, accessories and swimwear.[28] The label is also well known for its premium headwear [29] including Snapback (hat)s customized with leather and animal prints and hand crafted 5-panels made from different materials including snakeskin.[30]

Kanati Co. also manufactures different fashion lines specifically for different countries and retailers around the world.[31]

The company once offered a private label manufacturing service based on a pre-qualified membership process. It also offers design services and retails Canadian-made brands.[32] This service was acquired by GSG Apparel and is no longer offered through Kanati.

References

  1. ↑ "Home - Site". Kanaticlothingco.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  2. ↑ "SCML Magazine". Scmlmag.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  3. ↑ "Straight Outta Winnipeg". Maclean's Magazine. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  4. ↑ "VladTV". Vladtv.com. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  5. ↑ "HipHopDX". Hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  6. ↑ "Apparel Resources, Everything Sourcing". apparelresources.com. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
  7. ↑ "Ill Society Magazine". illsocietymag.com. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  8. ↑ "Clothes for Kids". kanaticlothingco.com. Retrieved 2014-12-16.
  9. ↑ "Kanati Co. Partners with GSG Apparel". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  10. ↑ "Kanati Co. Announces Opening of Two-level Textile Facility". NBC News. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
  11. ↑ "CEOWORLD Financial - CEOWORLD Magazine Jobs". Retrieved 2015-08-21.
  12. ↑ Department, Media (2015-09-08). "Kanati Clothing Co. to Close Manufacturing Division, GSG Apparel Inc. to Takeover Operations". EIN Presswire. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  13. ↑ "Kanati Co. donates $25,000 in clothing to Syrian refugees". The Record. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  14. ↑ "Waterloo store donates clothing". New Hamburg Independent. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  15. ↑ "Trading Difficulties". Pakistan Times. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  16. ↑ "Kanati Pulls Production from Pakistan". just-style.com. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  17. ↑ "About 6,700 MW Shortfall: Canada-Based Kanati Clothing Leaves Pakistan After 6 Years". Customs Today. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  18. ↑ "Trading Difficulties Sink Another Foreign Entity". The Express Tribune/International New York Times. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  19. ↑ "Pakistan's new textile policy aims to double exports". Just-Style.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  20. ↑ "Western Companies Continue to Exit Pakistan". pakistanherald.com. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  21. ↑ "Badly governed to ungovernable". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 2015-02-14.
  22. ↑ "Outdoor Brands in Innovation Buzz". Just-Style.com. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  23. ↑ "Kanati Co. Embraces Domestic Approach". International Business Times. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
  24. ↑ "Industry News". CCFGroup.com. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  25. ↑ "Western Companies Moving out of Pakistan". yarnsandfibers.com. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  26. ↑ "Textile Manufacturer Kanati Plans to Close Doors in Pakistan". yarnsandfibers.com. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  27. ↑ Lafreniere, Julie (2011-04-21). "It's Bigger Than Hip Hop - Uptown". Uptownmag.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  28. ↑ "Waterloo Chronicle". waterloochronicle.ca. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  29. ↑ Luxury, TrendHunter (2014-05-16). "Aboriginal Inspired Snapbacks - TrendHunter Luxury". trendhunter.com. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  30. ↑ Files, Hat (2013-08-19). "Kanati Co. Snakeskin 5-Panel Cap - Hat Files". hatfiles.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  31. ↑ Casey, Kieron (2013-02-02). "The Totality". the-totality.com. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  32. ↑ "Business". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
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