N.B. Clothing Company Releases Product in Collaboration With Indigenous Youth
REXTON – One New Brunswick clothing company started with two cousins proud of where they’re from. Now, Country Liberty has introduced a new design in collaboration with Indigenous youths who are proud of where they’re from too.
“It really just meant a lot to me to be able to give back in the sense of, you know, a charitable donation,” said owner Sawyer Hannay. “But also, in the sense of highlighting these kids and highlighting the ability for kids to make a difference.”
Ten percent of profits are going back to an Indigenous youth charity.
The hoodies are currently completely sold out after the first drop at the Great Canadian Dollar Store in Rexton. But, the next drop of products will be available on their website as well.
“The more support that these products receive, the more we’re able to donate to the cause. We’re very excited about that,” Hannay said.
Country Liberty was started by Hannay and his cousin Tye Hannay in 2014. Hannay travelled around as a professional hockey player from the time he was 16 and he became aware of how much home and the country meant to him.
The idea for the new launch came after DJ Joseph approached Hannay and asked him if he’d be interested in working with a group of Indigenous youth on a new project.
“I was impressed because they [the youth] could have been busy focusing on kid stuff, but instead they wanted to execute this project,” Hannay said.
“I was really impressed by their ambition and also I felt very encouraged.”
The design includes elements like the medicine wheel and the eagle because that’s what the youths said were things that were important to them and their communities.
One of the youths who worked on the project said they wanted to create a design that represents Elsipogtog and other Indigenous communities.
Hannay said he had meetings with the youth group pre-Covid-19. He would give them little bits of homework to see how serious they were about the project and they always came back with designs, ideas, and symbols to share with the group.
“Then we would all discuss the ideas and then by popular vote, just decide what was very, very important to keep and what we could kind of let go as we evaluated the designs,” said Hannay.
After the group decided on a design, Hannay sent it to the designer, and they began production.
Now that the first round of products sold out, Hannay has to wait for more product to arrive since they sold out a lot faster than predicted.
“We have a lot more product coming,” Hannay said.
“I’ve been in talks with multiple other stores. Although nothing’s confirmed yet, I’m guessing that a handful of other stores are going to be getting on board with and supporting the project.”