There’s no longer a need to support HH if you want to help Canadian companies. You can support Arc’teryx as an alternative.
Arcteryx appears to be chinese owned
Hasn’t been Canadian since 2001.
Most of their product is made overseas.
That’s pretty sad. I found where their facilities are here: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/explore/supply-chain-partners
Arc’teryx is Chinese owned and for quite some time already. There’s probably only a few Canadian clothing brands that are worthwhile in Canada, but most of them don’t manufacture in Canada either.
Either way, Lululemon comes to mind, but their founder Chip Wilson isn’t a pleasant person in supporting certain political parties even though he technically has been booted by the board of the company (I’m sure he still has shares). Artizia, Psychobunny, Roots…just to name a few that could be considered. Of course, if you’re looking for outdoor wear, I’d say look to the European brands and even then it’s a minefield.
Helly Hansen has never been Canadian…it was Norwegian
It looks like they’ve been quite the global football.
By 1995, the company was owned by Norwegian conglomerate Orkla. That year, Orkla sold a 50% stake in Helly Hansen to Resource Group International, which merged with Aker in 1996.
In 1997, Investcorp bought Aker’s stake and most of Orkla’s stake, resulting in its 70% ownership of Helly Hansen, which was valued at $160 million at the time.
In October 2006, Investcorp sold its shares in Helly Hansen to Altor Equity Partners, a private equity firm.
In 2012, Altor sold a 75% stake in Helly Hansen to the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
In 2015, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan increased its position, acquiring Altor’s remaining stock in the business. In May 2018, Ontario Teachers sold the company to Canadian Tire for CA$985 million.
My god
Helly Hanson is a good, strong brand but never perceived as particularly Canadian. It was a smart move for CT to sell and they got good money for it. They already have the Woods outdoor brand which they can use that money to increase investment in, and now they have the HBC brands picked up on fire sale and are definitively Canadian and will go well with Woods.
Wool and leather are still good old fashioned alternatives to outer wear.
Canada Goose is owned by an American holding company
God dammit. HH is one of the best boating outfitters.
