Champlain returns this season with its fall Estate Collection, the latest chapter in a label built on a clear premise: menswear that closes the gap between the boardroom and the backcountry. The lineup spans four categories — Polos, Cardigans, Sweaters, and Outerwear — each engineered for the shift in seasons and designed to carry a man from a cold morning outdoors straight into whatever the day has planned.
On a recent visit to Harry Rosen at CF Pacific Centre, we experienced the Estate Collection firsthand and connected with Founder and Creative Director Jonathan Richard to talk through the inspiration behind the new line. “This season I was really drawn to British menswear and heritage fabrics,” he said. “You see that through the houndstooth, heavier twills, and richer textures.”
Three Collections, One Philosophy
Champlain‘s first collection in 2025, the Timeless Collection, drew on Ivy League tradition and the old-money codes of the East Coast, introducing refined polos, crisp overshirts, and lightweight outerwear built for movement between morning meetings and evening gatherings.
The label’s follow-up collection that fall turned towards military heritage and the rugged elegance of the British countryside, trading polish for structure and function.
Now in 2026, Richard shifts the focus once more, toward versatility itself, a shift he traces directly to home.
“Vancouver definitely influences how I design for fall,” Richard says. “You can leave the house in one kind of weather and be in something completely different a few hours later, so layering and versatility become really important. I think that naturally leads us toward clothes that feel refined but aren’t precious — pieces you can actually wear through a Vancouver winter and well beyond it.”
An overshirt warms a cold garage morning yet can be carried through to the office later in the day. A layering sweater worn under a fishing jacket at dawn can be worn with trousers for an afternoon at the club.
Textures that Define the Season
The Chevron Polo carries a bold, geometric knit that reads as considered rather than loud, while the Mohair Polo brings a soft, textured warmth to a familiar silhouette.
The Estate Cardigan, open-fronted and polished, is the kind of piece designed to outlast a single season, and its Mohair counterpart takes the opposite approach, using a tiger-inspired pattern as a deliberate statement.
“The Mohair Cardigan came from that same desire to introduce something with more depth and character,” Richard continues. “Our tri-blends polos and sweaters are incredibly practical and comfortable, whereas mohair gives us texture and a more distinctive visual presence. It was a chance to push the collection creatively while keeping it recognizably Champlain.”
The Douglas Sweater, named for the Pacific Northwest itself, and the Broken Stripe Sweater round out the knitwear, each built with a relaxed, lived-in fit that favours durability over polish. Layering pieces, including the Lodge Overshirt, the Soft Flannel Shirt, the Denim Field Overshirt, and the Field Overshirt in olive, complete a lineup meant to work as hard as it looks good doing it.
A Collection with Purpose
For Richard, the collection tells a story of restraint under pressure, a wardrobe suited to stepping into the colder months without losing its footing in heritage.
“It’s about stepping into colder seasons with purpose, rooted in heritage but designed for the modern world,” he says. “It’s a wardrobe that transitions seamlessly from the structure of the office to the ease of a weekend.”
That balance between consistency and change extends to how Richard approaches the brand as a whole. Champlain’s foundation, he explains, does not shift from season to season: it stays anchored in heritage and craftsmanship.
What changes is the interpretation, responding to the mood of the moment without chasing it. The identity underneath stays fixed, even as the design keeps moving forward.
Designed to Layer Together
Richard describes the collection less in terms of any single piece than in how the pieces work together.
“For me, it’s less about one specific piece and more about how the collection layers together. You can start with a tee or polo, add a knit or overshirt, and then a heavier outer layer as the day changes. Everything is designed to work together and take you from one setting to the next without having to rethink what you’re wearing. That’s really the idea behind Always Appropriate — building a wardrobe that adapts to your day and feels right wherever it takes you.”
A Growing Footprint
Champlain’s growth extends well beyond its own studio. The label is now stocked in more than seventy stores across Canada.
The brand has just completed its Spring 2027 wholesale season, a milestone that will expand Champlain’s retail footprint into new partner locations across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Those seeking high-quality, Canadian-designed pieces from the fall Estate Collection can find them now online or locally at retail locations across the country.
Author Profile
- Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Communications & Marketing 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 and luxury lifestyle niches. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read business magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and is an EIC for Hire. Connect with her here: [email protected].
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