Vancouver knows a thing or two about rain. So it’s not surprising that two sisters from Toronto, Ashley McDonald and Jenn Lancefield, ended up on the West Coast when they went searching for a way to make their stylish rainwear 100 per cent waterproof.
“Once you puncture a hole through any fabric it’s no longer waterproof,” McDonald explains. “That’s why we use seam tape to seal the seams so there’s no water leakage. It’s a special technique that only a handful of factories do.” One of the very few in Canada happens to be in Vancouver.
Designed in Toronto and made in Vancouver, their bicoastal line of jackets called Trout Rainwear launched last year. Armed with extensive experience in both fashion buying and marketing, the sisters enlisted the help of Parsons the New School for Design graduate Sarah Hopgood as head designer to create jackets that bridge the gap between fashion and function while braving a downpour. Their second spring/summer collection features oversized hoods and collars, or hidden hoods and sleek, fitted arms for a flattering silhouette. Tailored with breathable and waterproof Italian double-face cotton in cheery hues, styles include a two-toned cape, cozy reversible liner, and a classic trench. All we can say is, let it rain.
Available at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada.
Photos: James Ryang.
