Nooks Design began with a visit to a Kelowna, BC thrift store on a cold December day. Wool sweaters were found laying in a pile, ready to be discarded due to moth holes and stains; it seemed like a perfect opportunity to take the wool and make it into something new and beautiful.
The founders' daughter Anouk was about to turn one and take her first steps, and they needed a pair of warm and slip-resistant boots to help her gain the confidence she needed to explore on her own. The combination of the soft and breathable wool from the upcycled sweaters and a leather sole made from an repurposed leather purse provided the perfect solution. And thus, Nooks (short for Anouk’s booties) was born.
The demand for their unique and sustainable footwear grew organically as parents recognized them as the solution they had been looking for. One year after starting our adventure at the local farmers's market and craft shows, they expanded their product line to include a range of children’s clothing, starting with custom dresses and skirts made from vintage and upcycled materials. This diversification led them to rebrand from Nooks Footwear to Nooks Design in mid-2014.
Today, their small Kelowna, BC-based team works tirelessly to create fresh and innovative patterns and products every season, always with the goal of using timeless designs and natural materials. To keep up with the demand for their products, they partnered with a Fair Trade-certified team based in Nepal in 2017 to help cut and sew their footwear. In 2018, their line-up was expanded even further to include hand embroidery as well as a full line of hand-knit garments and headwear.
