by Heidi Craig
When the cold weather rears its frosty head, it can be tempting to forego fashion and opt for a carelessly mismatched pile of wool, down and Gore Tex. Only the superlatively stylish (or perennially homeless) can pull off this look; the rest of us would be well advised to keep Mackage in mind. The Canadian outerwear label combines fashion and function with chic-yet-warm leather bombers, fur-trimmed parkas, wool coats and accessories. Started in Montreal by childhood friends Eran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan in 1999, Mackage has garnered plenty of international acclaim, appearing on the backs of such celebs as Will.I.Am, Britney Spears and La Lohan.

Mackage’s outerwear collection was recently displayed in a runway show at Who’s Next, a biannual trade fair that showcases up-and-coming international designers. This year’s Paris show (there’s also a Dubai version), also featured Montreal eco-furrier Harricana, proving that Canadian fashion offers more than mere protection from the cold. Check out the Youtube clips from the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdDA0dPy8ys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5eCjRXD52s
http://mackage.com/
http://www.whosnext.com/
http://www.harricana.qc.ca/