Harry’s Guide to Moose Knuckles
When winter’s worst draws closer, many look to this Canadian label for protection (not to mention aesthetics) throughout the year’s coldest months.
By: Harry Rosen StaffDate: 2024-10-23
Any Canadian could explain the value of a warm winter coat; a wardrobe essential for anyone who dares not fly south in solace during the coldest time of year. Grow up expecting everything from hail to sleet to snow to any combination of the three all within the same day and you’ll understand why we care so much about proper protection from the elements.
Naturally, one could trust a Canadian – or two, in this case – to intrinsically know what goes into a great winter coat. Enter: Noah Stern and Ayal Twik; two Canadians and Toronto Metropolitan University (formally Ryerson University) fashion design graduates with a passion for excellence, performance, and style, and the co-founders of Moose Knuckles.
Made for the Tundra
Moose Knuckles was founded on a singular belief; to craft exceptional performance-tested clothing designed to withstand extreme weather without sacrificing style.
While Moose Knuckles expansive product offering isn’t entirely dedicated to winter forecasts (they make fantastic warm-weather and transitional pieces, too!), the brand developed its now-global reputation from its winter-specific coats and jackets.
“Winnipeg is one of the coldest major cities in the world, so we know cold and can deliver the highest quality outerwear in the world,” says Noah Stern, whose family operates a 100-year-old garment factory in Winnipeg specializing in cold-weather outerwear.
Styled for the Street
Moose Knuckles isn’t just dedicated to top-tier performance innovation, however. Keeping warm is one thing, but customers want to look great in their clothing as well. “We take the technical aspects of our product very seriously, but we also think it’s about fun,” says Twik, Stern’s business partner and fellow Toronto Metropolitan University (formally Ryerson University) Fashion School graduate.
Between the two of them, Twik and Stern have elevated Moose Knuckles to superstar status, with the brand’s coats and jackets becoming coveted “grail-worthy” items for those who understand the value of investing in their outerwear. And while style and function have become pillars for the Moose Knuckles brand, so too has sustainability.
Safe for the Planet
Moose Knuckles also comprehends the weight of the fashion industry’s carbon footprint, and how technical garments like parkas and heavyweight coats can be particularly harmful. For this very reason, Moose Knuckles places an emormous emphasis on sustainability through responsible sourcing and production practices.
Between the fabrics chosen for each garment (of which Moose Knuckles pledges 50% will be from certified, responsible, regenerative, or recycled sources by end 2025) to the factories in which the garments a produced, each stage of the manufacturing process is carefully considered for its impact on the planet.
Animal welfare policies, including the use of materials like leather, shearling, and wool, are also constantly being refined and improved. In fact, most animal-derived materials used by Moose Knuckles are sourced as by-products from the food industry, and can be proven through rigorous standards, third-party verifications, and transparent and traceable supply chains.