Canada Goose teams up with Masai Ujiri’s Giants of Africa for a community-led collaboration

The iconic lifestyle brand Canada Goose is known not only for its luxury performance wear and quality craftsmanship, but also for its commitment to fostering positive change within communities. This commitment is illustrated through its dedication to seeking out impactful collaborations that help strengthen communities around the world. 

For 20 years, the youth basketball organization Giants of Africa has been committed to fostering community, cultivating limitless belief, and empowering African youth through basketball, both on and off the court. To celebrate two decades of its critical work, Canada Goose and Giants of Africa have collaborated on a limited-edition piece: the reimagined Crofton Vest for Giants of Africa, with 100 per cent of the proceeds from its sales going to Giants of Africa.

Co-founded by Toronto Raptors vice-chairman and president Masai Ujiri, Giants of Africa has been a beacon of hope for African youth, using basketball as a tool to empower them to dream big through basketball camps, building courts and facilitating outreach initiatives across Africa. “Giants of Africa and Canada Goose both share the same passion to enable people to achieve their dreams by providing them with opportunities for growth and development,” Ujiri says. The organization, under Masai Ujiri’s leadership, has focused on instilling limitless beliefs and providing leadership opportunities through mentorship and quality instruction.

The collection, Ujiri says, draws inspiration from the incredible power of community and the shared passion that basketball generates worldwide. The partnership with Canada Goose stems from a desire to help people achieve their dreams and make a lasting impact on communities in Africa and around the world. It goes beyond supporting African youth, he emphasizes; it’s about bringing communities together globally over their shared love for basketball. 

The limited-edition Canada Goose x Giants of Africa Crofton down vest, designed for easy layering or core warmth when worn alone, is a new take on the Canada Goose staple—a versatile year-rounder that even packs into itself for easy portability. When it’s packed, a cinchable bag and carrying straps make it easy for travel. This style features ultra-lightweight channel-fill construction paired with lightweight fabrics and trims for warmth and effortless movement. The storm flap underneath the two-way zipper keeps the elements out, and the ability to unzip from the bottom allows for an increased range of motion and venting. The Canada Goose x Giants of Africa Crofton Vest is available in the colour Sagebrush with the interior lining in Daffodil, with Canada Goose x Giants of Africa 20th-anniversary co-branding elements. The colourway was inspired by the core colours present in some of the photography captured by the Giants of Africa team over the last 20 years, allowing their rich legacy to continue to shine through.

Founded in 1957 in a small Toronto warehouse, Canada Goose knows a thing or two about being a staple in the community, crafting pieces that last through eras. One of its classic pieces, the Crofton Vest was the perfect choice to symbolize progress, growth and dependability—exactly what Giants of Africa has meant to the youth it has supported along their journeys.

The limited-edition Canada Goose x Giants of Africa Crofton Vest will be exclusively available at the Canada Goose Toronto Eaton Centre store starting Dec. 4. This release serves as a precursor to the full FW24 capsule collection, launching in spring 2024.