For founder Jennifer St. John, the brand MARNIE & MICHAEL has always been about more than just cool, Canadian-made products.
Witnessing the effects of mental-health struggles firsthand, she wanted to create a company that could give back to and raise awareness for mental-health initiatives. Offering artisan backpacks, tote bags, agenda covers and more, the company donates a portion of sales to mental-health organizations.
We caught up with St. John to learn more:
Q: For those who aren’t familiar, what is Marnie & Michael?
A: Marnie & Michael is a Canadian-made fashion apparel brand with a built-in mental health giveback.
Q: What makes it unique?
A: We are 100 per cent Canadian. Every design is sketched out and developed in our Georgian Bay studio, produced in Ontario and shipped from our office. When we say locally made — we mean it. We are supporters of slow fashion, low inventory and a zero-waste policy. Due to (my) unique voice and experience with having a loved one with mental illness, we are strong advocates for honest conversations about mental health. We raise money for mental-health organizations and services with every purchase, and we continually share resources and information about mental health to our community.
