Marcus Hill Roots in 2026: Sixty Years of Canadian Heritage, Quietly Reset
Roots opened in Toronto in 1973 and spent fifty years making leather goods, cabin sweatshirts, and the beaver-logo cotton that defined Canadian summer camp. The brand drifted in the 2010s, then sold to a private equity buyer who replaced the leadership in 2024. The 2026 collection is the first since that reset where the construction has returned to where it should be. Here is what to buy and what is still riding the logo.
The Cabin Sweatshirt Is Back to Being the Cabin Sweatshirt
Around CAD $108. The new Heritage cotton/poly fleece is 70/30 cotton instead of the 50/50 the brand drifted to in 2018, and the weight is 320 grams per square metre. It feels like the 1990s version your father wore. Stick to Salt & Pepper grey and Lake Heather; the printed-graphic editions are heavier marketing than heritage.
Leather: The Banff Bag Is the Hidden Gem
Around CAD $498. The Banff weekender in tribe-tanned bovine leather is still made at the Toronto factory on Caledonia Road. It is heavy enough that you will not want to use it for a flight; it is light enough that it works as a gym bag. The leather is treated to develop a patina, not to look perfect from day one. Conditioning every six months keeps it for twenty years.
The Cooper Beaver Crew: Comfort, Not Fashion
Around CAD $98. The Cooper crew is the airport sweatshirt that has not changed in style since 2001. The new biodegradable cotton-spandex blend pills less than the old version. Buy one size down; the cut is cabin-loose, not 2026-loose.
Where the Brand Has Not Caught Up
The kids line is fine but is not the same factory. The activewear is a misstep; lululemon owns that territory. The accessories line in vegan leather is using the Roots name for a product the brand has no real heritage in. The licensed-product footwear is not made by Roots.
Buying Strategy
Roots discounts core fleece 25 to 30 percent in the September pre-school season and again in February. The leather goods rarely discount on the main site but appear in the Roots factory outlet at 40 percent off after one season. The Banff and Tribe lines from Caledonia Road do not appear in outlets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Roots leather goods still made in Canada?
The Tribe and Banff lines are made at the Caledonia Road factory in Toronto. The lower-priced leather bags are made offshore and are labelled accordingly on the website.
Is the Cooper crew the same as the original?
Construction and weight are now closer to the 1990s version after the 2024 reset. Cotton percentage is back to 70 percent in the Heritage line.
Should I buy Roots for value or heritage?
For heritage — the cabin sweatshirts and the Toronto-made leather goods. For value the fleece basics are competitive with Champion or Uniqlo but not cheaper.
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