Heather Lynn Cashmere, based in Vancouver, BC, is renowned for its exceptional cashmere products that embody timeless elegance and superior craftsmanship. Founded by Heather Dawson, a school teacher turned entrepreneur with a passion for high-end textiles, the brand was born from her desire to create luxurious yet ethically crafted cashmere pieces. Specializing in meticulously designed apparel, Heather Lynn Cashmere offers a refined collection of outerwear, and stylish accessories, all created with an emphasis on comfort, quality, and sustainability.
The collection features standout pieces such as the Sloan Pure Cashmere Midi Wrap Coat, a wrap-style design with kimono sleeves; the Elle Collarless Cashmere Coat, a minimalist open-front silhouette; and the Quinn Six-Buttoned Cashmere Car Coat, a tailored double-breasted style. Each garment is meticulously hand-sewn, reflecting the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship and longevity.
Complementing their statement coats, Heather Lynn Cashmere also offers a selection of accessories, including fringed and checked scarves, reinforcing their commitment to understated luxury and effortless style.
With a deep understanding of fabric and fashion, Heather’s vision is rooted in providing clients with timeless, high-quality cashmere pieces that transcend fleeting trends, ensuring elegance and comfort for years to come. Her collection of designs seamlessly blend classic sophistication with modern versatility, ensuring effortless transitions between occasions.
IN HER WORDS
“I did not realize my love for business early on, though I always had an interest in math and admired my dad, who was entrepreneurial. It was not until my twenties that I discovered I had a real knack for sales. I worked as a server at Earls Kitchen + Bar, where I loved the fast-paced environment, the people, and leaving with a pocket of cash. From there, I worked at Joneve, a shoe store on South Granville, which was a great fit given my love for fashion. I had to learn the steps of the sales process, but what I remember most is just enjoying helping people feel good.
“I was genuinely enthusiastic about the pieces we had, and I loved seeing customers excited about their purchases. I have always been driven, and hitting sales targets felt like a fun challenge. They even had me work at other Sterling Shoes locations to see if my enthusiasm and sales approach could inspire the team. That said, selling my products? It was much harder but also much more rewarding.
“I was incredibly committed to school and all kinds of extracurricular activities—swimming and basketball were huge parts of my life, along with choir and musicals. I was on a mission to either become a doctor or an actor, and I would often choose to do things simply because they were hard. I have since stopped ascribing value to something just because it is challenging.
“After spending my last year of high school in England, I dreamed of becoming a theatre actress in London. However, I was encouraged to make a more sensible choice and follow through with my planned science degree because, initially, I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. I have always loved working with children, and through teaching science workshops, I unexpectedly fell in love with teaching. My next plan was to become a child psychologist, and I was encouraged to get a B.Ed. as a stepping stone.
“With all that, there was also working with the Kid Safe Project, assisting a pediatric ophthalmologist, and later working in fashion retail for DKNY—where I discovered just how powerful a great outfit can be. There is nothing quite like helping someone feel amazing in what they are wearing.
“Then, somewhere along the way, I realized I loved the classroom. When not building Heather Lynn Cashmere, I teach grade one, and there is something deeply rewarding about connecting with little minds, helping them uncover where they are stuck, and guiding them through the puzzle of learning new things. So, as you can see my path to where I am today has been anything but linear! The type-A part of me has struggled with that, but in hindsight, I feel lucky to have experienced so many different things. When it comes to business, I am still a neophyte, and I am learning all the time!
“One of the first lessons I had to learn was the same one that took me a while to grasp in my personal life—the basic rule of money: spend less than you make. In the early days, I was much better at the “shopping” part of business than the productive side.
“I was so focused on making sure everything looked as high-end as our product that I ended up wasting time on things that were not moving the needle. Instead of testing products with real people or getting feedback on features that mattered, I was stuck asking for opinions on six different versions of a visual. It took me a while to realize that the core of our growth was in figuring out what truly resonated with people.
“Heather Lynn’s evolution was a mix of fortuitous chance and personal connections. My mom and I have always shared a bond over fashion—she taught me how to spot quality fabrics and craftsmanship and instilled in me the importance of investing in timeless, classic pieces. She always encouraged me to spend wisely on trends and prioritize clean lines. My mom is a bit like Martha Stewart—head of an independent school, with a deep love for sewing. She even sewed her wedding dress!
“At the time, she had connected with a talented tailor, whose work had impressed her—a major endorsement considering my mom’s discerning eye for detail.
“I had been searching for the perfect coat, something along the lines of a classic, unlined double-faced style, but I could not wear wool. What I wanted was a cashmere coat that was well beyond my budget. Between my mom, Stephanie, and me, we designed a coat (now the Sloan coat) that I began wearing.
“During the pandemic, when we were mostly seeing people outside, I wore that coat everywhere. And everywhere I went, people asked where I got it. That is when the idea of creating great, affordable cashmere coats for others began to grow organically. It was the perfect confluence of timing, need, and inspiration.
“A major turning point came in my first year of teaching. My life was all mapped out—I was planning to become a school psychologist, rediscovering my love of music, singing in a choir, and fully immersed in my newfound passion for kundalini yoga. Then, I had my first three strokes. I went from 100 to 0. My world, which had always been driven by ambition, movement, and productivity, suddenly required stillness. I had to sit in a dark room with no stimulus—a lot—so my brain could heal. It was brutal. My intellect and athleticism had always been fundamental to my identity, and now I had to figure out who I was without them.
“But in the end, what felt like a raw deal became my greatest gift. I had to learn to be okay with stillness, to ask for help—and more importantly, to actually accept it. It flipped my thinking on its head. If I had been wrong about what ‘success’ looked like, what else might I be wrong about? That open-mindedness is what ultimately led me to launch Heather Lynn. Business has been a crash course in constant learning, which is often uncomfortable.”
“But at the end of the day, the best decisions come when I return to my intuition and truth. I may not always know the next move, but I have learned to trust that my gut will not lead me too far astray. And when I stick to the clean lines and classic style I originally envisioned, the pieces resonate with others. That has been my guiding light.
“I think back to my early twenties and realize I was vainer and more materialistic than I would like to admit—very much focused on form over substance.
“My biggest internal block with Heather Lynn has been not wanting to feed that side of myself. However, over time, I have learned that you can be authentic and evolved, and still love beautiful things.
“I also used to see business as something masculine and cutthroat. Everything changed when I realized how different it could be.
“Through a series of fortunate events (and a willingness to say yes), I found myself at a beautiful light meditation at Sky Studios with another entrepreneur—a truly inspiring soul who showed me what women supporting women really looks like. We talked about business, personal growth, and the tools that fuel both. It was not until afterward that I realized that was business, too. And probably networking—just with a much better intention.
“Meeting Katherine Evans, founder of Tallu Co., was another aha moment. She has been such a gift, and through her, I saw business in a new way. That was when I knew: I can do this.
“I can be true to my heart, push myself to grow, tap into my scientific, mathematical mind that loves solving puzzles, connect with people, and share my love of fashion and helping others feel good. If I lead with this intention—the drive to succeed, build something meaningful, and wear beautiful things along the way—business aligns perfectly with who I truly am.
“We originally launched under my nickname—Molly Moth—finding irony in it being ‘the only moth you would want in your cashmere.’ It turns out, irony, bugs, and luxury do not mix.
“At the time, I wanted to keep the coats separate from my teaching, but in reality, I was hiding behind the name. I had been encouraged to change it before and seriously considered it, but I just could not land on something that felt right.
“Rebecca Bree, the first boutique owner to carry our pieces, made the name change a condition of stocking them. When I told Rebecca I was at a loss, she simply suggested using my own name. Lynn is my middle name, so it is not exactly my full name, but stepping out from behind the nickname felt both terrifying and empowering.
“That rebrand is what I consider the true beginning. I had made some huge personal changes not long before and was in a ‘bring it’ mindset—ready to fully step into what I was building. And from that moment on, it has only gone up.
“I cannot thank Rebecca enough. Before she took us on, I had seriously considered closing the company, thinking I had failed. She gave us our name, a place on her shelf in her beautiful store, and introduced us to her wonderful friends and customers—plus, she is just an incredible person to be around.
“Maija Savics, who founded Shop This City, has been just as instrumental. She supported us from our early Heather Lynn days, gathered feedback on our coats, created social content, and introduced me to Rebecca in the first place.
“My dearest, oldest friend Al has also been a massive help. Drawing on her marketing background, she helped shape our brand messaging and vision, showed up for weekend-long events, helped me pitch to Toronto stores, and provided endless moral support and encouragement.
“Stylist Michelle Addison, for example, lent her expert advice, helped me prepare for store meetings, provided key messaging to highlight product features, and even reminded me to step out of my own way and let things happen.
“More than just outerwear, our coats elevate the way you carry yourself, allowing women to step into the most confident, elevated version of themselves—feeling amazing, effortlessly. In 2024, we launched our Cashmere Bliss Socks and love collaborating with companies to co-brand them.
“It is important to be out meeting potential customers, so over the past couple of years have been involved with elevated events like at The Vancouver Club and the West Coast Wedding Show, cross-promoted with Style Studio, Tallu, Jouviance, various lifestyle brands, and explored livestream shopping with local media icon Dawn Chubai. Heather Lynn Cashmere has garnered mentions in the Vancouver Guardian, Vita Daily, Montecristo, and The Breeze 104.3 (Simone Grewal).
“In 2025, we are excited to take on new partnerships, including working with foundations and causes close to our hearts. Most recently, we have started designing custom socks for bridal parties—the perfect way to get ready, with matching robes and cozy keepsake socks for everyone involved. We cannot wait to see these take off this spring, alongside our lightweight trench coats, which have already sold out twice.
“There is so much in motion already! Last week was our biggest yet, and we know it is just the beginning. 2025 is shaping up to be a milestone year—with exciting new styles for Fall, incredible new stockists in Toronto and the USA, and brand partnerships that will allow us to share this feeling of effortless luxury with even more people. A year can bring unexpected opportunities, but everything points to another 10X year ahead. I could not be more proud or more grateful.”
Author Profile
- Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Post-pandemic, she has worked with many small to mid-sized plant-based/vegan brands to build their digital foundations and strategize content creation and business development. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at helen@ecoluxluv.com.
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