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Since its foundation in 2009,  CANTIN  has had a very clear mission: to offer durable bags in every sense of the word.

"Design, synonymous with well-thought-out products, takes precedence over often ephemeral trends," explains Cindy Cantin, referring to her creations. Beyond timeless designs and subtle colors, this philosophy permeates every stage of production. Should they add a double bottom? Should they include a reinforcing stitch? "These details may cost more, but they make all the difference in the lifecycle of a bag," she says. To maximize the longevity of her products, Cindy also provides a repair service to the owners of her bags, all of which are manufactured in Montreal.

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Central to this approach are her two favorite materials from which she crafts all her bags.

The first is 100% natural wool felt, which boasts impressive properties. It provides shock protection, repels water, and is extremely resilient, making it an ideal fabric for transport bags.

The second is cowhide leather, a byproduct of the agri-food industry, a feature that Cindy considers important to emphasize. She purchases her skins from local suppliers who source them from the United States, South America, and Italy, and they come from production lots of major brands, akin to deadstock fabrics in leather form.

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A few years ago, the designer also made a conscious decision to downsize her business, not due to a lack of success, quite the opposite, but because she wanted to find a better balance between her professional and family life. "I used to participate in a lot of trade shows, and it was a tremendous amount of stress, money, and energy," she shares. In the business world, where the motto is "constant growth," Cindy decided to slow down. "It became a question of the life I wanted and my values."

Today, this deceleration translates into smaller productions, almost completely eliminating the problem of unsold inventory while minimizing waste and other leftovers. And since certain colors are available in limited quantities due to the origin of her leather, it creates a sense of exclusivity within her product offering. "It's both a good sales strategy and a constant production challenge," concludes the designer.

The distribution of this article is made possible by the contribution of Détail Québec, the retail sectoral workforce committee.