About

History of the brand

Ethical, one-of-a-kind creations

Since 1993, our expertise allows us to communicate emotions from generation to generation by recycling high-quality fashion apparel. By recycling old furs, we have saved the lives of more than 600,000 animals over the past 15 years. It has also enabled us to extend the life of more than 60,000 coats, silk scarves, cashmere scarves and wedding gowns, which would never have been worn if they had not been remod-elled. We give gorgeous materials a second life and transform them into unique pieces, proving that fashion can also be sustainable.

Since we are very concerned about ecology, we make it a point of integrity to produce all of our crea-tions in Canada under ethical manufacturing conditions.

Our Mission

HARRICANA PAR MARIOUCHE has only one goal: to turn fine materials into the finest fashion.

Life is a river

The Harricana River is over 500 km long. The first fur exchanges took place on its shores. Its original name is Nanikana, meaning “main road” in Algonquin, but was eventually altered by settlers.

Local power

Almost 90% of the fur Harricana uses comes from Quebec. It’s a well known fact that racoon, otter and beaver fur is so solid and durable, it can last up to 100 years. A clever combination of fur and other materials can breathe new life into your clothing, and turn them into modern treasures. We often recycle the following types of fur: fox, fisher, ermine, weasel, skunk, hare, rabbit, squirrel, coypu, marten, chinchilla, wolf, lynx, beaver, otter, racoon, muskrat, badger, coyote, mink and sable.

Profile

1971 Mariouche Gagné is born in the First Nations village of Loretteville. Years later, her hometown becomes the manufacturing hub for half of the Harricana collection, including moccasins, mittens and knits. 1988_ 1989 Mariouche plants some — 200,000 trees — before enrolling at the Lasalle College fashion design program. 1990 Inspired by polar bears and Inuit legend, Mariouche designs a white coat that earns the top prize at the Jeunes créateurs de mode (tr. Young fashion designers), hosted by Maison Cartier and Air France in Paris. Following her victory, she completes an internship at Printemps Haussmann. 1992 The Fondation de la mode de Montréal supports Mariouche’s work to the tune of a $17,000 grant. 1993 Mariouche undergoes training at Denmark’s Saga Furs of Scandinavia, the world’s top mink and fox provider. 1993 While doing her master’s in design management at Milan’s Domus Academy, Mariouche participates in the Fur Council of Canada’s Fur Design Student Contest, entering a reversible ski outfit. Lacking some required materials, she uses her mother’s old fur coat to add the finishing touches. She wins the second prize, (an experience she’ll repeat 1997). Yet it’s the recycled fur that becomes the basis of Mariouche’s creations at Harricana, which means (long road” in Algonquin). 1994 At Japan’s international Gifu Fashion Contest, the young designer represents Milan’s Domus Academy and makes it all the way to the finals. 1997 At 25, Mariouche creates a sizable collection of clothing from recycled fur. She single-handedly founds her company with funds she acquires as the first-time recipient of the Fondation du maire de Montréal grant. 2000 Exports to Europe begin. Today, international sales make up half of Harricana’s revenue and include 18 countries, — such as Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Greece, Japan, Russia, Australia, — and more. 2001 After 10 years of collecting silk fragments and recycling coat liners, Mariouche designs a summer collection for a new company, called On & On ecolo chic. 2002 Mariouche visits Kuujjuaq in Nunavik, where the local Inuit women make clothing using traditional methods. Mariouche teaches them how to sew and repair sewing machines. The same year, she converts an old bank into the current boutique-workshop on Saint-Antoine Street, in Montreal. 2006 Former Hermès workshop director Maxence Camille takes Mariouche’s designs to the next level. 2007 Since 1994, Mariouche has recycled over 50,000 coats and turned them into new branded creations, adding up to nearly 400 metric tons of refurbished fur. It’s estimated that close to half a million animals’ lives were saved.