Canadian shoe brands that aren’t directly associated with winter boots aren’t usually the first to come to mind.
Of course, when you think of Canadian shoes brands, you can’t help but think of the more rugged, seasonal styles!
Isn’t it true that Canadian winter boots are well-known around the world for their sturdy construction and timeless style? Absolutely! I’ve even written a post about them, which you can find here.
However, it would be completely unfair to ignore all of the Canadian footwear brands that offer other styles such as heels, dress shoes, and sandals.
Not to mention that many of these brands are pioneering sustainable and eco-conscious design and also provide vegan footwear.
As a shoe blogger based in Canada, I’m obviously a big fan of Canadian-made and designed shoes. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to try on and even work with many of these Canadian shoe brands.
This is especially true given my 14+ years of experience as a shoe designer and blogger in this wonderful country!
You might be surprised to learn that some globally recognized shoe brands – beloved by both ordinary people and celebrities – are actually Canadian.
There’s a Canadian shoe brand for every taste, style, and need, whether you’re looking for women’s dress shoes, casual sneakers, slinky evening sandals, or even wedding shoes!
In an effort to assist shoe lovers in finding the perfect pair of shoes while also supporting Canadian businesses, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of made in Canada and designed in Canada shoe brands for women that the Great White North has to offer!
Best Canadian Shoe Brands for Women
Nat and Matt
All vegans, unite! Matt & Nat uses animal-friendly materials such as recycled plastic bottles in all of their designs, including wedges, flats, and flip-flops.
They proudly pushed the boundaries of what Canadian footwear brands can do to make their overall process more eco-friendly and sustainable since their inception in 1995 in vibrant Montreal.
On-trend and environmentally conscious? Please sign me up! Matt & Nat shoes are available in over 800 boutiques worldwide, including Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany. They also sell a lot of waterproof shoes!
Aldo
Aldo is without a doubt one of the most well-known Canadian shoe brands. Because of its global distribution, some may consider it the best Canadian shoe brand. And to think, many people have no idea it’s Canadian!
This fashionable Canadian shoe brand, based in Montreal, can be found in shopping malls across the country as well as internationally. You can count on Aldo to keep things on-trend—and affordable—by drawing inspiration from high fashion runways.
Aldo became the world’s first fashion footwear company to be certified as “climate neutral” in 2018, which means that they offset 100 percent of their carbon emissions.
To take things a step further, they introduced a sustainable sneaker made of recycled plastic bottles. Amazon.ca has a large selection of Aldo shoes for women and men, as well as shoes and accessories, which you can find here and below:
It’s called Spring.
Call it Spring is Aldo’s quirky and more affordable little sister brand. Call It Spring offers a wide selection of sandals, stilettos, and pumps, as well as a heavy rotation of sneakers, boots, and slip-on styles, as well as handbags and accessories.
Not only will your feet be up to date on the latest shoe trends, but your wallet will appreciate the affordable price point as well. Most shopping malls near you carry the brand.
Fluevog, John
It’s one of the Canadian shoe brands you can’t miss if you’re looking for something unique and out of the ordinary. John Fluevog shuns trends while remaining extremely relevant.
For over 50 years, the eponymous designer has been creating the most unusual shoes imaginable.
All of the styles are designed in Vancouver and handcrafted in artisanal factories around the world.
The Pilgrim shoe with extra large buckles is a popular style, and the Canadian brand has a large selection of Mary Janes, combat boots, ankle boots, and brogues, to name a few!
Beyoncé wore Seraphina boots in her Formation video, and Lady Gaga has been spotted walking around Manhattan in a black pair of Cubist Cupcakes.
Vessi
Vessi is a Canadian sneaker brand that arose out of necessity. The three Vancouver natives who founded the company had grown accustomed to a little drizzle.
So they decided to take matters into their own hands and create a waterproof, comfortable, breathable, vegan knit running shoe.
Replace your worn-out rubber boots with one of the brand’s reimagined sneakers this season! What’s the best part?
They have styles for everyone in the family. Vessi sells original sneakers as well as limited edition styles.
Soles of Courage
Brave Soles is a female-owned top shoe brand in Canada that sells sandals, bags, and accessories for women, men, and children. T
They collaborate with Dominican artisans and ensure that everyone who works for them is treated ethically.
One of the main motivations behind Brave Soles is to be as environmentally friendly as possible. This includes using high-quality leathers or recycled materials such as tires. Brave Soles has up-cycled 2,452 tires as of this writing!
Beautifully made sandals that are simple, timeless, and stylish are among their styles.
The brand is available online as well as in a number of boutiques across Canada, the United States, and Europe, as well as on their website.
Barley Poppy
Poppy Barley is a B Corporation founded in 2012 in Edmonton by sisters Justine and Kendall Barber. It intends to rethink the fashion industry as well as the rapid pace at which we consume.
They’re helping to save the planet one custom calf-fit boot at a time by producing ethically in fair-wage factories in Mexico and Brazil, using environmentally friendly packaging, and using responsible materials.
Their extensive size ranges in both women’s and men’s footwear make them more inclusive than most.
Check out their women’s Daily loafers for bestsellers, and their men’s Toronto brogues for a classy addition to your rotation.
Native Footwear
Native Shoes, based in Vancouver, are long-lasting, washable, odor-resistant, and suitable for the whole family.
They’re lightweight, allowing for an effortless, comfortable stride, and feature innovative techniques and unique designs. They’re extremely popular among children, but I wear them as well!
The Jefferson style (shown above) is one of their best-sellers. It is made from repurposed algae and is made with Rise by Bloom technology.
According to the brand, their Remix Project will help recycle your well-loved pairs into new projects by 2023! Their Mercury Lightknit knit sneakers are also fantastic.
These are shoes that you and your children will enjoy wearing for many years. Believe me when I say I adore ours!
Amazon has a large selection of Native Shoes, as well as children’s shoes at Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.
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Whittles and Alice
Over 95% of the materials used by Alice + Whittles for their products are natural or recycled.
For example, all of their footwear is free of virgin plastic, and they only use rubber from sustainably managed forests.
The brand, headquartered in Toronto, collaborates with a close-knit, diverse group of people to accurately represent a whole community of outdoor enthusiasts.
The Weekend boots are one of their best-sellers because they are ruggedly sleek and ready for any terrain.
Vellies, Brother
Brother Vellies, founded in 2013 by Aurora James of Toronto, creates one-of-a-kind designs that are meant to last a lifetime in your wardrobe.
The Brooklyn-based company’s shoes are handcrafted in countries around the world, including South Africa, Kenya, Mexico, Italy, Haiti, and New York City, with the goal of keeping traditional African techniques alive and thriving and creating more artisanal jobs.
Vegetable-tanned leathers, recycled tire soles, and floral-dyed feathers are just a few of the unique elements used in Brother Vellies shoes.
Hoyden Boots
Hoyden’s funky wingtip derbies and Oxfords are all designed in Canada and handcrafted exclusively in Elche, Spain—a city known for its footwear manufacturing hub.
Melinda Bishara launched the brand in Montreal in 2019. Her goal was to develop core styles that would transcend trends and remain relevant season after season.
To remain sustainable and environmentally friendly, Hoyden’s small batch shoes are made from buttery-soft, high-quality leathers and avoid toxic processes.
Simons
When it comes to Canadian footwear brands, Montreal is a hotspot. Simons is no different!
While the massive department store carries many of the world’s most renowned designers, they also have their own footwear collection designed in-house.
At a reasonable price, you can find chunky sneakers, strappy sandals, and minimalist loafers.
Many of their women’s and men’s styles are fashionably crafted from sustainable materials such as recycled cotton and supple leather.
L’Intervalle
L’Intervalle, based in Montreal, is the place to go when you want to make a statement with your footwear.
The brand, founded in 2015 by a husband and wife team, has grown from a small vision to a force to be reckoned with.
The Canadian label’s shoes are all handcrafted in Spain, Italy, and Brazil, and they aim to defy trends. That means they’ll be fashionable in your closet for years to come.
The brand is accessible, with over fifteen locations across Canada, but it rejects the typical “fast fashion” business model. There are numerous vegan and leather styles to choose from.
Maguire’s Store
Maguire Boutique, located in Montreal, screams fashion. Because of their direct-to-consumer business model, which eliminates extra costs such as distributors and agents, the female-led brand offers high-end designs at affordable prices.
Their original designs are manufactured in hand-selected factories around the world, many of which also produce for other top-tier designers.
Maguire has just released their first vegan sandal, which is effortlessly chic, comfortable, and leopard print. If leopard print shoes are your thing, there are plenty of ways to wear them!
From warm boots to butter-soft slides, the on-trend footwear can be purchased online or at the brand’s Toronto and Montreal boutiques.
The philosophy of the Canadian shoe brand revolves around the concept of wanting less and wanting better in order to create more responsible consumers.
Many of their high-end designs are gender-neutral, utilitarian, and meant to be worn throughout the year. To ensure longevity and high quality, each piece is handcrafted from carefully sourced materials.
Bédard’s House
Maison Bédard is the epitome of Canadian luxury. Jessica Bédard’s brand, launched in 2016, focuses on creating high-end shoes that women can truly live in—from running errands to sprinting through the airport and going out for cocktails.
To ensure maximum sustainability, all of the shoes are handcrafted in Italy in small batches from ethically sourced leather.
Keep an eye out for the brand’s bridal collection as well. Each pair contains something vintage, something new, something borrowed, and something blue!
I adore Jules Leather
This East Vancouver, British Columbia-based company is one of the few Canadian shoe brands that manufactures their products in-house.
Julia Vagelatos and Joshua Blodans, the company’s founders, create bespoke, made-to-order shoes in one-of-a-kind designs and take pride in their quality craftsmanship.
Every three months, Love Jules Leather announces a limited release of men’s and women’s shoes.
Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure you’re on their mailing list to be among the first to know when the next stules go on sale!
Love Jules Leather is available here.
Casca
Are you looking for a classic shoe with minimal embellishment? Casca, a Vancouver-based sneaker brand, can help.
Founders Kevin Reid and Braden Parker used their city’s natural terrain to test their products, so you know they’re up for a challenge.
Their gender-neutral sneakers have waterproof, breathable, and machine-washable uppers, as well as ultra-cushioned insoles (the same kind used by Olympic runners).
PS: You can upgrade your order to include their SmartFitTM option to have your insoles 3D-printed for custom-fit cushioning that improves fit and feel, balance, and fatigue resistance.
Casca also gives back: for every pair of shoes purchased, $1 is donated to the non-profit CODE.org. It is committed to increasing access to computer science in schools and increasing participation from underrepresented groups.
Casca shoes are available here.
Final Thoughts
Are you ready to go shoe shopping now that you’ve read through the extensive list of Canadian shoe brands available in Canada and abroad?
If not, I hope I’ve at least introduced you to some of the best women’s shoes in Canada that are either made or designed in the great white North.
If you have any favorite Canadian footwear brands and/or specific styles to add or share, please do so. Please leave your thoughts in the space provided below!
Don’t forget to check out my popular post about the best Canadian winter boots! See more useful article at my website shoestorenyc.com
