When it comes to Canadian fashion, fleece probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But there is one brand that is quietly building a global reputation for turning a classic hoodie into a premium must-have. And it’s all happening right here in Ontario.
House of Blanks
House of Blanks is reimaginging fleece as a timeless wardrobe staple. Sometimes all you need to complete a fit is a minimal, versatile and blank piece to make it pop. The goal is essentially to create products that are so well-made, they become the perfect canvas for personal style.
Unlike other brands ditching Canada and heading overseas, House of Blanks is keeping it all close to home. From knitting and dyeing to cutting and sewing, every piece is fully made in the GTA.
But what makes House of Blanks maintain its reputation and ensure quality is Roopa Knitting Mill, its secret power. The family-owned textile factory has decades of experience producing fabrics for some of the world’s top brands.
Roopa Knitting Mill
Roopa Knitting Mill began with founder Nat Thakkar, who started out in Montreal as a fabric converter before acquiring his own machinery and producing fabrics for major clients like the NHL in the early 1990s. In 2001, Nat and his son Amit relocated to Bolton, Ont. Here is where they opened their first fully equipped knitting mill, establishing Roopa Knitting Mill Inc.
By 2008, seeing a gap in the North American market for locally made, vertically integrated apparel, Roopa expanded into full custom solutions for private labels and launched its own in-house brand, House of Blanks, catering to both B2B and promotional markets.
And through the years, Roopa has continued to grow. The company moved into a larger facility in 2010, introduced advanced knitting technologies and in 2018 launched CTS, a full-service dyeing and finishing house in Brampton.
Most recently, in 2022, Roopa expanded again, adding six more knitting machines and bringing its operations even closer together, just 100 metres between its mill and dyehouse.
Today, Roopa stands as a vertical apparel manufacturer in North America, handling everything from yarn procurement and knitting to dyeing, finishing and custom apparel production.
But their vision doesn’t end there.
What’s next for House of Blanks and Roopa?
HOB has already teamed up with a few local Toronto makers, who, as they put it, are “an extension of who we are as makers ourselves.” The beloved go-to pizza spot, Badiali’s and Sam James Coffee are two names that make up its Maker Series.
Looking ahead, the brand will introduce lightweight pieces made from recycled and BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) cotton, available in various colours and sizes.
When you focus on the quality of a product, you don’t need flashy designs or oversized logos to make it stand out. Sometimes it’s the smallest details that turn something simple into something essential.
House of Blanks has kept things simple, consistent and, of course, well-made. And sometimes that’s all you need to make a fashion statement.
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Karen Doradea
Senior Staff Writer, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Crave, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.
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