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How Canada Goose, the king of all parka companies, makes one of its coats

How Canada Goose, the king of all parka companies, makes one of its coats

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Walk down any Toronto street between October and April and you’ll spot about 20 zillion down-filled parkas stamped with the unmistakable Canada Goose logo. At the company’s 90,000-square-foot headquarters uptown, 300 workers spend their days designing, cutting, sewing, stuffing and cleaning the ubiquitous coats. We followed the Langford jacket, a cozy men’s parka, on its journey across the factory floor. Here’s a peek at the process.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

The company’s global headquarters is located at 250 Bowie Avenue, just north of Eglinton West and Caledonia.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

The brand’s latest looks are displayed in a showroom inside the main entrance.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

In the product development department, designers dream up concepts for each coat. The line drawings are turned into patterns, which are copied onto large pieces of paper. Once completed, they’re rolled up and sent out to the factory floor.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

Bolts of fabric are stored in rows along the factory floor.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

At the spreading stage, up to 60 layers of fabric are laid out on a long table. The pattern for the coat is placed on top. The tables are fitted with suction holes that keep the fabric from bunching up.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

It takes about 24 minutes for a laser Gerbercutter from Germany to slice through all the fabric layers. (The equivalent of 120 jackets can be cut in a single session.)

(Image: Gabby Frank)

Once the pieces are cut, they’re bundled and distributed to different production lines.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

The Canada Goose badge is attached to a separate piece of fabric using a specially designed sewing machine.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

The factory floor is divided into sections, each responsible for assembling a different piece of the parka. The coat travels from section to section until the production cycle is complete.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

Workers sew a lining into the coat, leaving a hole where stuffing will later be inserted.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

In the stuffing room, each section of the coat is pumped with down.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

Canada Goose sources its duck and goose down from the Toronto-based company Feather Industry. Four blends are used, all of which incorporate high-quality Hutterite down.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

Once all the coat’s panels are stuffed, they’re sent back to the factory floor to be pieced together. Workers use a quilting technique to ensure the down doesn’t shift around inside the jacket.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

Once the lining has been assembled, it’s sewn into the outer shell.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

In the finishing department, coyote-fur trim is added to the coat’s hood.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

The last step? Cleaning. Loose strings are snipped and coats are blasted with air guns to get rid of any dust. Once that’s done, they’re ready to sell.

(Image: Gabby Frank)

On the left, a finished Langford parka. It retails for $825.

Topics: Canada Goose How-To

143 thoughts on “How Canada Goose, the king of all parka companies, makes one of its coats”

  3. I will not wear anything that has real fur on it ….. or stuffed with real feathers …. it is inhumane to trap and kill live animals just for fashion !!!!!!!

  6. You missed the part about coyotes being brutally trapped and inhumanely killed for fur trim.

  7. Warmest coat ever….I bought one for my husband for walking our dog in winter & he loves it.

  8. Um, totally leaving out a BIG part of the picture: the horrifying suffering and deaths that coyotes endure for these fashion items. This story should start with the part where coyotes are cruelly trapped by their paws in leg hold traps, where they may suffer alive for days before the trapper returns to “dispatch” them, i.e., strangle them or club them to death so as not to spoil the pelt with a gun shot hole. Canada Goose is even the subject of a false advertising complaint to the federal Competition Bureau for trying to mislead consumers into thinking their use of fur is somehow humane: http://www.animaljustice.ca/media-releases/animal-justice-files-false-advertising-complaint-canada-goose/

  9. The higher price is not for higher quality, it is for higher labor cost. You know there are countries that can make the same quality product in less than half price

  10. Shame on Toronto Life for covering such a barbaric practice. You forgot a few steps to list. Step 1: Trap and skin coyotes for their fur for brutally unnecessary trim. Step 2: convince all the lemmings in Toronto to wear it.

  11. Who is the brain star that thought this was a good article to post?
    Simone Olivero – you are promoting and advocating cruelty and torture. Toronto Life – this is a completely irresponsible post, you have lost one reader I hope you loose many more.

  12. My, my, my . . . . how convenient that they left out the deplorable images of cruelty associated with the trapping and harvesting of fur and feather down to make these frivolous items. However, I guess if they did, Canada Goose would never place a full-page ad in their magazine. Tripe like this is such an anthropocentric perspective.

  13. Great article to post, someone should be fired. These animals are tortured for their fur and down, and you guys think it should be something to glorify??? Sickening.

  15. Canada Douche coats. You can spot those stupid things a mile away. But I am guessing that’s what the dumb ass owners want. Those red round logo’s make great targets. Who the hell can justify wearing animal fur coat in this day and age?!? So when I go to Alpine skiing all my friends will be so impressed.

  16. would have been just as warm without the coyote fur collar. $800 for a coat to walk the dog, you are a stupid ass.

  17. Toronto Life, you managed to miss the most interesting part of the process: the inexcusable violence perpetrated against coyotes, ducks and geese. May we please see an article on that, with many photos.

  19. Wow modern safe shop with no child labor in country with workers rights. How disgusting.

  20. How do you walk two dogs with only one leash? Kill a coyote to wear around your neck, while walking another dog on leash. Holy fuck are you ever disconnected from your actions woman. If you love your dog so much, do them a favor and stop supporting a business that kills their cousins.

  22. This is the most cruel industry ever… too bad Toronto Life chooses to glorify it. sounds like political lobbying and a lot of money paid to someone for this free advertising. clearly some companies can afford to buy the media because of all the money they make from exploiting animals…

  23. It’s great to see a company that has kept it’s manufacturing in Canada, providing jobs in the apparel industry that has virtually disappeared from this country. As for Coyote fur and down, this is a personal choice. These species are not threatened. If you eat meat and wear leather, the same rules apply.

  25. Where are the pictures of the foxes and coyottees who are skinned alive to be turned into a jacket trim? Where are the pictures and videos of the birds screaming in agony as their feathers are ripped from their bloody body? This is white washing at its best (worst). Shame on you. How much were you paid for this?

  26. The coyotees , foxez and birds who are tortured and murdering didnt have a choice. What about them?

  27. How would you like it if someone skinned your dog alive so he / she could make your jacket warmer?

  28. Hey Toronto Life, 2 things: 1. denote this as a sponsored post because it obviously is. 2. Show the missing process of how they get the fur, its not synthetic, it isn’t manufactured, it doesn’t come in a bag from nowhere….its from a trapped animal that then got skinned for its fur. How convenient of you to leave that part out. Thanks for the price though! PASS.

  29. If you live in the arctic circle, and actually killed the animal yourself to stuff in your coat because it’s what you’ve done for hundreds of years, cool. But If you went to SportingLife and spent a grand to walk your dog around in lots of dead animals and stop at starbucks? That’s bloody ignorant. You walked into this lady.

  30. What an ignorant article. The people behind it are even more ignorant. The animal cruelty and suffering that goes on behind the scenes… Really?! Ignorant.

  31. I’d like to see one of these articles on how the material is obtained for the making of these jackets… The cruel trapping of animals and plucking of feathers is crucial to the process of making a Canada Goose Jacket.

  32. I would hope with these comments that each and every one of you is a fully practicing vegan…..just saying.

  33. I very commiserate to canada goose, because of all this greenpeace fools that pollute this company, instead of saying thanks for product they made for us. I wery love their coats and I gonna buy tomorrow new coat, and I hope that these people will grow up (in intellect way) and stop saying nonsense about animals… They all are just expendable material, like a chicken or cow for food…I despise that sort of people because they are kind of moralfags, that look at other people and dont look at theirselfs.

  34. I am very sorry that you have read that rubbush from these people. Just ignore them, they are qute a fools, dont try to argue with them because their minds are closed, they are crazy on that theme and you only spend nerves on them.

  35. The main reason to utilize these cruelly obtained materials is positioning within the marketplace towards elitist buyers who will pay extra for a little cruelty which they equate with luxury.

    Meanwhile the 3rd generation CEO who inherited the company sold most of it to Bain Capital a couple years back, which may account for the further price increases. Local jobs are important – hopefully that aspect will last as they push to keep expanding.

  36. I say we get real luxurious and “utilize cruelty” against everyone of these douche-bags that wear these coats. Those animals don;t have a choice. Those brainless lemmings do. And – quite frankly – deserve everything they might get.

  37. This article is fantastic (/S). But, I’m afraid you forgot one important aspect. The needless violence and animal cruelty.

    Here’s a good article. Just finishing up your job for you, explaining how the coats get made. I think your targeted audience would agree, you need all available information before you make a choice to purchase something.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2544075/Revealed-Chilling-cruelty-unspeakable-suffering-corporate-denial-Is-TRUE-cost-seasons-Canada-Goose-coat.html

  38. Right, we are “closed-minded” because we don’t accept needless torture and murder of animals. You, are the fool. In more ways than one.

  39. It’s completely astounding, the amount of absolute ignorance and stupidity people display.

    Beyond that comment, I have nothing else to say. Chantell Marie said it well.

  41. We all do the best we can. I AM vegan BTW but am happy non-vegans have made the connection as well.

  43. You are forgetting someone in you assessment. I’m talking about the poor individuals who are trapped and skinned alive for a “luxury trim” or have their feathers pulled out and are left bleeding and in agonizing pain. You are right, it IS disgusting.

  46. well to assume they “rip the feathers out of live geese” and “trap and torture the coyotes for their pelts” smacks of propaganda. I have geese (and chickens and ducks) there is no way in hell you will ever rip a feather out their carcasses without peril!! That’s like saying you can bath a cat by taking him into your shower with you naked!! One of my smaller geese killed a fox all by herself.
    I am not condoning the use of fur or feather let’s just please agree not to LIE about how it is obtained.

  47. nothing is skinned alive…..clearly you have no idea what is involved…I actually own geese, and ducks and chickens…..I would love for you to come and try and pluck a goose alive. They would kill you if you tried.

  49. LMAO!!! You are clearly an uneducated fool…..it would be completely inefficient to try and skin an animal or pluck one while it was alive…..

  50. Just because your geese are treated well does not mean all are. No one is lying.

    “A percentage of the world’s supply of down feathers has been plucked from live birds,[30] a practice which is condemned as cruel by animal welfare groups.[31] The precise percentage of down harvested in this manner is uncertain; while some references report that it is only a small fraction of the total (less than 1% in 2011),[30] a 2009 Swedish documentary reported that it might be as much as 50–80% of the total supply, a figure supported by IKEA (a home furnishing chain) and an industry representative.[31] The documentary also shows birds lying on the floor with large flesh wounds from the plucking, after which the wounds were stitched using a needle and thread without anesthetic.[32]Although live-plucking is illegal in the United States and Europe, it is known to occur in two European countries (Poland and Hungary) and in China.[31] Public sentiment against the practice has, in some countries, been strong. IKEA and Patagonia (a clothing manufacturer) have altered product lines to eliminate the use (or possible use) of live-plucked down.[33][34]”
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_feather

  51. Supporting Canada Goose is supporting horrific and unnecessary animal cruelty. Don’t be That Guy.

  52. Fear, starvation, pain, strangulation: welcome to owning a Canada Goose coat. How many coyotes will need to die for fashion? We also can’t forget about the horrible plucking the Geese endure. Toronto Life: you should be embarrassed.

  56. These coats were originally meant for expeditions now they have become a horrible fashion statement for people who have more money than sense. The same people who don’t care about the cruelty behind these coats. The number of loving dog owners who walk their dogs while wearing these coats is absurd. They all need to be reminded that they are wearing a relative of their dog, a relative who suffered horribly. Fur is not fashionable and not necessary. Leg hold traps are horrific and do not discriminate. How many other animals are killed for these coats?

  57. It’s offensive that Canada Goose trades on the myth of Canada as a rustic, pristine winter wonderland, while at the same time killing wild coyotes to (unnecessarily) use their fur. Fake “fur” is just as good at keeping you warm, and anyone who can afford a Canada Goose coat is almost certainly not living in the types of winter conditions that would make it an issue anyway. The reality is that most Canadians don’t support fur. It is only because of a powerful lobby and a non-progressive government that the barbaric practice of trapping is allowed to continue.

  58. Did Toronto Life just write a really long advertisement for Canada Goose posing as an article? How can you wilfully ignore the animal cruelty that comes along with these coats? Please provide an informed, balanced story that shows consumers what they are really buying — animal suffering at $825 a piece.

  59. Easy on the rhetoric: coyotes are taken in Canada with methods that are certified to comply with the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards, a treaty signed with the European Union. Coyotes are also more abundant than ever in North America….and the main predator problem for ranchers; so coyotes have to be culled even if we didn’t use the fur. Some people choose not to eat meat or wear leather or fur, and that’s their personal choice. But that doesn’t give them a right to impose their views on everyone!

  60. The “complaint” is nothing but a letter that anyone could write; it’s just another of the activist propaganda techniques. The Competition Bureau has not found CG guilt of anything! And for another side of the fur story, check out TruthAboutFur.com

  61. It is clear from this comments page that the local “animal rights” networks have been busy! Fact is, coyote populations are higher than they have ever been and are the number one predator problem for ranchers across North America. Overpopulated coyotes are eating people’s pet dogs and cats…..and are even threatening children, something rarely seen before. Some states and provinces have even offered bounties to reduce coyote populations. But if we have to cull coyotes, surely it is more ethical to use their fur??

  62. If “most Canadians” (and others) really didn’t want fur, presumably Canada Goose wouldn’t be making and selling it?!! Our “animal rights” friends would like to impose their personal views on all of us! Sorry: the whole point of Canada is that we can all make our own decisions about what to wear, thank you!

  63. Amazing how so many of these animalist commenters think it’s credible to quote The Daily Mail! One of the sleaziest tabloids going…

  64. So everyone is ignorant except animal activists? Thanks for being clear about how compassionate and progressive and democratic you really are! Animal rights is becoming the new repressive religion for some!

  65. How sad, all these (orchestrated) commenters using propaganda and unsubstantiated rhetoric to attack a company that is actually still manufacturing a high-quality product here in North America.

  66. you dont seem to know that old-fashion steel leghold traps are now banned; the new ones cause little or no injury….in fact they are used by biologists to live-capture and radio collar or relocate wolves, lynx and other animals. Trapper training courses (mandatory for Canadian trappers) teach methods for assuring that new traps are very selective. Stop with the propaganda!

  68. Furbearer Defenders….wow, there’s a credible source….aren’t they the group that’s dedicated to wiping out the Canadian fur trade? Oh, and didn’t they also lose their charitable status some years back?? I don’t want to shock you, but 97% of Canadians eat animals most every day. I suppose you’d call that “violence” too?

  69. Alan, I can see what an emotional issue this is for you. I didn’t mean to upset anyone with my comments. Let’s agree to disagree.

  70. If you were hurting a person, would that person not have the right to “impose their personal views” on you to stop? I understand that coyote’s are not people, but that doesn’t mean they have no rights at all. To kill them when it is not absolutely necessary is an affront to those rights. And to kill them in a way that is agonizingly painful, just to preserve their coats intact, is a further violation of those rights. But, since most coyotes I know are not computer-savvy enough to leave messages here, I am doing it on their behalf. And, by the way, a good percentage of CG buyers are not even aware of the fact that the trim is real dog fur. And your argument that CG wouldn’t be using fur if “most” Canadian didn’t support fur is idiotic. Most Canadians don’t support gas-guzzling trucks…but there are still companies out there making and selling them. Most Canadians don’t choose to smoke…but you can still buy cigarettes.

  71. I think the way that are killed is a bigger part of the problem than the fact that they ARE killed. The leg-hold trap is still legal in Canada, and is still the most widely-used method of trapping. This despite being banned in the EU, a bunch of US states and being opposed by, among others, the American Veterinary Association and the Sierra Club. Leg-hold traps (including the ones without teeth) have one intention – to keep the animal from escaping while the animal fights desperately for its life, often for days. Many animals die trying to free themselves – either from dehydration, blood loss or hypothermia. Some animals become so desperate, they break teeth biting the trap or twist off their own limbs in order to escape. I don’t know what the treaty you cited contains, but I don’t think anyone would agree that this is humane…especially when done for the sake of fashion.

  72. What does the Competition Bureau have to do with it?!? No one is saying that CG as practiced done anything anti-competitive. If you want to leave a comment, at least put a moment’s thought into it.

  73. Don’t apologize for anything Deborah. Alan is accusing us of being “animal-rights” activists while he is clearly a “fur-industry activist”. Let him write his ill-informed opinion for everyone to see. It can only help the cause of us “animal-rights” activists.

  74. The fact that an organization loses it’s charitable status says nothing about whether it is or is not an upstanding organization or whether the cause is or is not valid. Organizations that focus on political advocacy do not qualify as charitable. Oh, and a conservative estimate shows that at least 10% of Canadians are vegetarians and those that aren’t are eating less meat than ever. So your comment about 97% of Canadian each animals almost every day is totally and factually wrong. Another ill-informed comment from this commenter.

  75. Misleading consumers is an offence under the Competition Act. The Competition Bureau has everything to do with it. They are currently investigating Canada Goose.

  76. I see. What I meant to point out is that the Competition Bureau has nothing to do with auditing whether CG is or is not acting ethically in its treatment of animals. Thanks for the correction.

  77. Exactly my point: most people writing here do not seem aware that the Canadian Government (Environment Canada) and industry (through the Fur Institute of Canada) has invested more than $20 million in the world’s most advanced humane trapping research and development program. Most of the problems you cite have long been resolved and live on only in anti-fur campaigning. Google the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards. People who care about animal welfare should be reassured to know about this! And coyote populations must be controlled whether or not we use the fur. Once we are killing them, isn’t it more ethical to use as much of the animal as possible??

  78. I have no problem if you choose not to wear fur (or leather or wool or not eat meat); but it is not productive to promote your opinions with completely false and misleading claims. It is an insult to aboriginal and other trappers….people who actually “walk the walk”, and do not need lessons about respecting nature from urban activists.

  80. Why do you insist on saying that coyotes are killed “in a way that is agonizingly painful”?? Are you aware that most coyotes are shot…either by hunters or else by trappers when they are taken in (new, humane) restraining traps? You have a right to feel that no animals should be killed unless “absolutely necessary”….but PETA and other “animal-rights” groups do not believe that it’s necessary to kill animals for food either, yet most Canadians eat meat. Fur represents a tiny percentage of the animals used for meat, leather and other purposes…

  81. And you need to kill coyotes so that you can skin them for coats because?
    So leg traps are still used? How long do the coyotes sit in these traps until they are killed? How are they killed?
    Stop killing animals.

  83. Coyote populations have to be culled whether or not we use the fur, so isn’t it more ethical to use them?….Several provinces and states have even offered bounties to control coyote populations, to protect lambs and veal calves. Many say we no longer need to use fur because we have synthetics, but most synthetics are made from petroleum….a non-renewable resource. Check out http://www.furisgreen.com

  84. Ya where is the part about the coyotes getting their legs shattered in traps and then getting beat to death with a stick?

  86. There is no humane way to kill any animal that does not want or deserve to die. And eating meat is not a personal choice, not when there is a victim that has no choice. Just go to a slaughterhouse and bear witness to the transport trucks, full of terrified chickens, pigs and cows, arriving at the slaughter facilities and see if you still feel the same. And yes I have done this numerous times, in Toronto at St. Helen’s, Ryding Regency and Maple Leaf and at Fearman’s in Burlington. This will also give you an idea of how animals farmed and trapped for their fur and those who have their feather pulled out for down, feel as well. As far as an over or under abundance of any species of wildlife, mankind, with our know it all attitude and constant interference, have completely destroyed the natural balance of nature and the natural food chain, just like we are destroying the entire ecosystem.

  88. Wow, “minor detail” left out – that of a suffering coyote as it’s killed for the trim. Really Toronto Life? Was that little fact too nasty to be included, or had you just not considered that many of us are horrified every time we see a Canada Goose coat as all we see is a terrified animal. Some are trying to say it’s all via approved methods. What a joke – many traditional methods are barbaric and cruel and have no place in a civilized society. I have a trap that I use for educating the public – no way would I want my ankle trapped – even if it doesn’t have steel claws anymore, it’s a horrendous contraption which can break bones. Do these animals deserve to live free – of course they do. Many companies use fake fur now – wake up Canada Goose and Toronto Life – cruelty for fashion is getting very tired.

  89. I highly doubt that 10% of Canadians are vegetarian but for the purpose of this argument, let’s pretend you are right. How many are vegans? Surely not more than a third of them, at best. So that leaves 97% of Canadians who eat meat or eat animal by-products. Farming is farming, whether you are killing them for their fur or milking them. The important thing is to promote welfare, and unfortuantely activists focus on abolition instead of caring aboutt he animal’s treatment. How often does an activist group release a video “filmed 3 months ago” of poor conditions on a famr (or doctored to look like poor conditions on a farm, but I digress…” If these so-called activists reallt cared, they would be releasing the videos immediately and requesting the farm adhere to welfare standards. That is rarely the case…

  90. People don’t wear Canada Goose for fashion (or at least, not most of them.” They wear it to keep warm. Last time I checked, keeping warm in winter is not about “fashion”, it is about survivial. What do you wear in winter? A coat of non-renewable synthetic fabric made from petroleum by-products?

  91. Canada Goose does not have the moral responsibility to ensure that ALL geese are well-treated, only their own. Shall we stop using feathers because someone treats their geese badly, but others do not? Then I guess we should also stop eating chocolate, stop wearign diamonds, stop buying anything from China… the list goes on. Do you research, buy products that are well made with good ethics, and don’t buy the rest. Your wallet speaks louder than uninformed opinions.

  93. So I guess this means if you havea dog, you also can’t eat meat. Or wear leather. Or buy a car with leather seats. Wow, it is a lot of work not being a hypocrite!

  95. Oh yes, so easy. A diet that involves stuffing yourself with supplements to get all of your nutrients. Try telling that to the 97% of the world who eat animals or by-products. You’ve got a winning idea!

  97. You should take a course in nutrition you don’t need to eat meat and their by-products to be healthy. Meat consumption is on the decline by the way. You’d also be able to feed more of the planet if yiu didn’t have to feed so much garin etc to animals raised for meat. It’s a far better winning idea than continuing with current factory farm processes while ruining the planet.

  98. If meat consumption is on the decline, that is because people have realized that eating meat every day is not healthy. I don’t advocate that, and neither do most meat eaters. But a having diet without any meat or animal by-products makes it extremely difficult to get all of your nutrients without supplements, and close to impossible for a child. Anyway, we are off topic. What do you wear in the winter? Vegan coats? Ones made of petro chemicals?

  100. You are kiding, right? This mghgt be fine for winter in California, but hemp and cotton in minus 20?? Good luck! And loving the acrylic lining, that’s wonderful for the environment.

  101. Coats are super warm. And yes it gets to minus 20 where I live. You’re so concerned about the environment? Go Vegan

  102. Not for one second do I beleive that a hemp and cotton coat is good enough for minus 20. You are either a liar or you are wearing layers of cashmere and wool underneath.

  103. Coats are super warm. And yes it gets to minus 20 where I live. You’re so.cincerned about the environment? Go Vegan,

  104. Strange how selective people can be when it comes to what one accepts as O.K, and what one chooses to demonize. To be more precise if you have leather handbags, belts booties and garments, these are animal products. Choosing to single out fur as some do is selective hypocrisy. Like leather(which was fur before the tanneries removed the fur) fur pelts have been taken legally and by licenced trappers. Canada has an abundant renewable resource that is well regulated Under Provincial jurisdiction. Speaking directly to anti coyote activists it is very easy to note that the majority against are city folk and have little knowledge on this subject and tremendous difficulty grasping the logic which is verite. Over population of coyote means less ducks for instance, yes the wily coyote loves to plunder ground nests. I guess the wildlife biologists would Knock any antis’ arguments down so quickly. Why and how? Education is the correct response, have you studied in this field?

  106. Thanks! It is amazing what we have been able to accomplish in the past few years. Look at all of these publications promoting fur? That didn’t happen in the 90s.

  107. I studied fashion marketing and I think it’s really interesting and positive that in this economical context, an outerwear brand still produces (and creates jobs) in Canada. It’s amazing how the new fast fashion culture is so cheap (50$ coats?!) you have to stop and wonder under what conditions they are made.
    I love Canada Goose and how their designs are getting trendier but still keeping the high quality we are looking for: they ARE the warmest.
    As for the coyote trim, coyotes will be trapped in Canada for population and disease management. This is a fact that cannot be denied. I personally think it’s amazing that the fur is used instead that thrown away (like in Europe when they also trap animals, what a waste of natural resources!)

  110. and it will always be annoying when vegans try and turn you into one of them…

  111. Annoying perhaps but not cruel. Making animals suffer needlessly is not something to strive for.

  112. Do you mean compassion for the rural communities that depend on fur and feathers and other natural renewable resources for their livelihoods? Or the people earning their living at CG’s impressive new factory — in Canada, not made more cheaply in the Orient? Or do you the common sense of following the advice of the World Conservation Union (and every other credible environmental conservation authority) that it is preferable for us to use sustainably-produced natural materials (like fur and down) vs petroleum-derived (i.e., noon-renewable) synthetics?!

  113. Janice Randall – nothing “humane” about the killing. Nothing. A word that is tossed around much to easily.

  115. It’s amazing that you’ve someone managed to determine that all those videos showing abuse in factory farms have been doctored. Even the companies themselves don’t use that defense. They say it was a one-time thing, they say it was a rogue employee, they fire someone, etc… And the authorities almost always find them guilty and fine them (as piddly as the amounts may be). But I’ve never heard one of them use the defense that the video has been doctored. You must be quite the sleuth to have figured this out. I’m surprised your job at CSIS allows you the time to leave comments on message boards.

  116. Besides, nothing you say can be taken at face value. You are a paid employee of an organization who does PR for the fur industry (I did a bit of research). This is supposed to be a discussion board for average people to exchanged ideas and debate policy, not a medium for well-organized and well-funded organizations to promote their agenda. I hope Toronto Life will agree with me and have your comments removed.

  117. Wildlife biologists I suppose are no longer required, the antis know all there is to know about our wild fauna. Here is an assumption , the biologist has a degree, the naysayers do not. Who should we listen to ? The educated mind or the bleeding heart? I would take the logic over the emotion, Canadas’ wildlife happens to be abundant due to educated management who have the situation well in hand. Trapping in Canada is well regulated by the provinces and territories and the activists have much to learn from these agencies. Enough said !

  118. Face the facts! We use animal products in Canada. If any of you had seen what coyotes did to my pregnant ewes last winter you would see what torture is. The soon to be born lambs were ripped out of the ewes and all were left to die. The coyote population has to be kept at a reasonable level and making use of the fur is sensible. The feathers are gathered from geese and ducks that are used for food.
    We should be proud that we have a product made in Canada by Canadians. Do you buy clothing that you don’t really need from factories in other countries that exploit their workers? Support your own country!!
    My family have been farmers of livestock and grain for generations. Don’t insult me by talking about cruelty to animals when you probably have not raised anything but spoiled cats or dogs.
    I love animals of all kinds but I know that they are not human, they are here for a reason.
    Come out to countryside, visit a farm, watch the wild animals running free, see the cattle, horses and poultry living in comfort. You can’t begin to understand how animals and humans interact if you have not been out of the city.

  119. What are ethical materials for winter coats? Don’t forget that we must not use unethical petroleum products. Can’t use wool that is raised on an animal. Cotton is grown using unethical oil. Nylon and polyester are out. Better move out of Canada…

  120. The more the general public knows, the more they stop wearing fur, eating meat and buying unethical products. As you suggested, I do use my wallet to prove my point.

    If you want to buy Canada Goose, go for it. I can only hope that when other people learn more, they will also use their wallet to stand up for animals. But don’t be ignorant about the animals that died so you could be warm when there are other suitable alternatives.

  121. You used a fur trade association as a source. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

  122. Patagonia making great strides in achieving this goal. They are an awesome company that actually cares about the planet.

  123. Why assume that people here are not vegan? So tired of this lame argument. It’s the do nothing if you can’t do everything attitude. What a loser remark. Whether you start with NOT buying one of these coats or reduce your meat consumption, everyone is on their own journey. Just because you are feeling guilty about your choices don’t accuse others of doing the same. I’m sure that a lot of people providing comments here are in fact vegan. I know I am!

  124. oh and how do they kill them after they are trapped? I’ve seen the trapping manual myself which promotes strangulation as a legitimate method, and several youtube videos of trappers that crush the neck of animals by standing on their neck with their foot. It’s the stuff horror movies are made of. Now that social media exists you can no longer run from the truth. Stop pretending this is ‘humane’.

  129. It’s interesting to me that commenters here see the animal rights issue and apparently nothing else. To me the article highlights (unintentionally) the death of artisanship. Everything comes off a production line these days, churned out as cheaply as possible in pursuit of the mighty dollar. This article is not about fur at all. It’s all about how frickin’ brilliant Canada Goose is at killing any and all competition.

  130. Lol… of course you are. How do you know if someone is a vegan? They tell you.

  131. “The more the general public knows, the more they stop …buying unethical products.”

    You are absolutely right. And that is one of the reasons that people are buying more fur. They are looking at the environmental impact of synthetics and people are realizing that fur is ethical, sustainbale, biodegradable, long lasting, warm, and local (if you are a Canadian buying Canadian fur…) Farming is not all evil, neither is trapping. If you had a pet you’d know that if you feed them badly and treat them badly the first signs of maltreatment are in the fur. Fur farmers have every reason to ensure their animals are well fed and stress free. As for the trapping, the leg hold traps are the same ones used by environmental agencies to catch and re-home animals, so they are not as horrible as everyone makes them out to be.

  132. So no one here is an animal right’s activist trolling fur articles and spreading lies?

  133. Righ, doctored is not always the right word. I apologize. What I meant to say is that they will go into farms and rile up the animals so they look stressed out when they film. They will choose the 0.2% of the animals that are sick and only film then (some animals on farms are sick. Fact. That’s just the way farming works, adn farmers work to get them better.) As for all of the skinning alive, those also weren’t doctored, those were videos that were commissioned by an animal rights charity. No one, and I mean NO ONE, skins animals alive in the fur industry. As for the “one time thing” and “rogue employee” stuff you are talking about, that wasn’t fur farms, that was livestock.

  134. Who are you to decide an animal’s needs or how an animal suffers? Would you put a dog in a kennel for 24 hours, pass food through their crate and argue that their mental and physical needs are being met? What is the difference between a fox and a dog? So foxes get all their food passed into the small cage where they reside with no enrichment and no opportunities to be physical, and you’ve deemed that stress-free? Animals are individuals- they have personalities and social relationships. They want to feel the earth and explore new environments. They want to live. If you don’t know that then you’ve never observed an animal. Animals are not our slaves. Really think about what you are saying…’the lives of slaves are just fine…after all they get shelter and food’. Here’s a link to an illinois fur farm. Do you still think this is humane? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaXZUJsC2W0‘

  136. There is no point arguing this anymore because ultimately I believe that animals are a resource and not people. They deserve to be treated with respect and not to suffer, but they do not deserve rights in the way that we have them. You go ahead and live your life without the use of any animals, and I will live mine and use them responsibly. And by the way, just because Patagonia has one synthetic fabric that isn’t toxic poison, doesn’t mean we should all be running out and buying synthetics.

  137. Yeah, I see you created a career out of promoting the suffering of animals so I’m definitely wasting my time engaging with you but hopefully other people can read these comments. Regarding using animals ‘responsibly’. I don’t think it takes a genius for anyone to think about the realities of pairing profit with animals. Do you really think welfare issues are at the forefront of a business owner’s agenda? Most of the staff who work at slaughterhouses or places where fur-bearing animals are electrocuted are degenerates (after all who would seriously do that for a living?!). You could only imagine what is going on behind close doors – mutilation and abuse. I work in an industry with animals. They don’t have voices so people can cheat them and take advantage of them and no one has any idea what’s going on. When that coyote is trapped and lying theres scared, starving, and frozen, who’s going to care if the trapper doesn’t show up because of poor weather conditions? I seriously don’t understand why you would think that animals should be treated like resources. The only thing I can come up with is that you never got know an animal and had the opportunity to bond with one. They really do have such incredible personalities. How about posting this on your next blog article:
    http://nypost.com/2014/10/20/woman-goes-to-fox-farm-for-fur-coat-gets-pet-instead/

  138. Really interesting article! It’s been pretty educational to learn the process of a large manufacturing company. I’m a bit sad to see the comments below are totally focused on the “fur” aspect, there’s a lot more interesting things I took from the article. Hand manufacture, local produce, delicate and skilled work. It wouldn’t be so awful to have more companies follow in these footsteps instead of investing in bad human welfare, child labour and so on.

  139. Just out of curiosity, do you sleep on a mattress? Is it stuffed with goose down? feather down? How about pillows? Okay, maybe not – how about your sofa? Is your house insulated? Most homing insulation tends to use hair fibres. Maybe you’re vegan? Did you know most animal carcasses from fur industries are used as bio manure, in particular a percentage of which is used on Soy farms. How many vegans think they are unconsciously not killing animals, maybe not directly. Maybe indirectly. It’s a fact, all industries overlap, all animals (including humans) overlap.

  141. Not at all, I’m a huge avid supporter of animal welfare not rights. My post is merely highlighting that it isn’t as black and white as animal rights activists would like us to believe, especially in the instance in which animal rights activists insult and demean those who do not share the same opinion. I have done my research on veganism and the vegan society doesn’t directly comment on how and which certain farming and agriculture overlaps with animals indirectly. I just think there needs to be consideration to other aspects not just the “animal rights” debate.

  143. You forgot to show the pain and misery of the coyote’s being killed in a trap very slowly

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