Posts

April 5th, 2026

CAF Executive Director Bob Kirke will discuss the status of the renewal of CUSMA/USMCA at PV Montréal The session will be held on April 21, 2026, in the Main Conference Room. Mr. Kirke will highlight how tariffs on "Made in Canada" products threaten apparel manufacturing employment in Canada.  The session is part of PV Montréal, supported by key local, regional, and national authorities, including Tourisme Montréal and Montreal Fashion Week, and created in partnership with mmode. PV Montréal event listing here. …

March 31st, 2026

CAF recently met with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to discuss the government's planned information gathering related to nanoscale silver — a substance used in antimicrobial treatments in apparel and textile products. The discussion covered ECCC's current and planned work in this area and the potential for a voluntary, industry-led information gathering exercise that CAF could coordinate on behalf of impacted members and others in the industry. CAF indicated its willingness to explore this approach with the membership before …

March 26th, 2026

body td {border:0;} table.ft-newsletter-sponsor td img { height:unset; margin: 15px auto 15px auto; } @media (max-width:611px) { table.ft-newsletter-sponsor td { display:table; margin: auto; text-align: center; width: 45%; left: 0; right: 0; } table.ft-newsletter-sponsor td img { text-align:center; margin: 15px auto 15px auto; } }       March 2026, CAF Bulletin Industry News  CAF Apparel product compliance/product integrity seminar - April 20, Montreal  The Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF)  is hosting a half-day product compliance and product integrity seminar dealing with …

March 25th, 2026

Canadian employers can now access federal wage subsidies of upto $7,000 per placement when hiring post-secondary co-op students through the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP). Subsidies cover up to 50% of a student's wages (up to $5000) - rising to 70% (up to $7000) for first-year students or those from under-represented groups, including women in STEM, Indigenous students, persons with disabilities, and newcomers. Placements must be net-new hires and run 12–16 weeks. Applications for Summer 2026 (May …

March 16th, 2026

On March 11, 2026, Canadian Apparel Federation partner NetSuite hosted a webinar to explore how cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology can resolve the operational complexities facing fashion brands. A recording is now available. The discussion highlighted key pressures on apparel and accessories companies, particularly mid-market brands seeking to scale. Challenges include managing seasonal inventory and high SKU volumes, navigating shifting consumer trends, meeting omnichannel fulfillment expectations, and coping with manual systems that impede financial visibility. NetSuite presenters detailed how …

March 11th, 2026

  After over a year of uncertainty, Montreal-based SRTX has been sold. SRTX has been a fast-growing startup/disruptor in the textile space.  Between 2019 and 2025, SRTX raised roughly $255 million USD in equity and debt to fund expansion and manufacturing integration.   A $37.5M equity recapitalization in March 2025 proved insufficient, and continued operational challenges led to a formal strategic review launched in October 2025.  In addition to ongoing challenges, the firm was unable to manage tariff changes instituted by …

March 11th, 2026

The Canadian government, through Global Affairs Canada, provides funding for export market development through the CanExport SME program.  Companies have until May 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM (ET) to apply for this funding. CanExport offers financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they explore and expand into new international markets. Especially if you are new to the program, you may want to: View the recording of the Canadian Apparel Federation’s recent webinar on CanExport SME. Download the slides …

February 25th, 2026

    In the fallout from the February 20 U.S. Supreme Court decision, which overturned many tariff actions instituted by the Trump administration, some Canadian exporters had hoped that the ruling might restore the de minimis customs exemption. Following the decision, President Trump issued an Executive Order:   CONTINUING THE SUSPENSION OF DUTY-FREE DE MINIMIS TREATMENT FOR ALL COUNTRIES That Executive Order makes clear that de minimis remains suspended.  There is little or no support in Congress for any change. The …

February 2nd, 2026

The Canadian-produced Crave Series Heated Rivalry, a hit queer hockey romance that premiered to an extraordinary response after being turned down by US networks, has cemented a particular place in the cultural zeitgeist. The centrepiece of all the fashion buzz surrounding the show is a deceptively simple piece of outerwear: the Heated Rivalry fleece. Costume designer Hanna Puley from Canadian streetwear brand Kuwalla Tee and made her own set of modifications. Her stated intention was to make the garment feel …

January 30th, 2026

The Toronto Fashion Incubator has announced that it will close immediately.  Their announcement appears below:   Dear friends, colleagues, TFI members, and members of the Canadian fashion community,   It is with profound sadness and heartbreak that we share this news: after almost 39 years, Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI), the world’s first fashion incubator, is closing—effective immediately. This is not an announcement we ever imagined making, and we are devastated to do so. We know how deeply TFI is woven …