Empire Canvas Works Logo     Traditional textiles. Timeless performance. Winter traveller wearing and Arctic Anorak.
     Hand crafted in Northern Minnesota.
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   Shell Layers Insulation:            Sewn right in Duluth, MN.
Arctic Anorak Wool has protected our species from the elements for over 12,000 years. You can bend a single strand over 20,000 times, and stretch up to 40% of it's original length. The scaled surface of each fiber grabs on to its neighbors, which ensures the longevity of loft that traps warm air. Wool fibers absorb up to 30% of their weight in water into their hollow cores without feeling clammy. Excess moisture wrings out with slight pressure. Since water retains an amazing amount of energy, wearing a garment that has equalized with your body's environment will actually shield you from sudden drops or increases in the temperature. The Keratin proteins of wool are naturally flame resistant, a bonus for wilderness cooking.

Many manufacturers have shied away from wool because they perceive synthetic fibers as easier to clean. When you consider that wool doesn't support the growth of odor causing bacteria, and it sheds the dirt and oils that necessitate cleaning, you're likely to launder it less anyway. Oddly enough, washing actually improves the loft that makes our Wool Blanket Shirt, Jackpine Vest, and Camp Coat the natural choices for your our outdoor adventures.

We buy wool blended blankets (80% reprocessed wool, 20% nylon fibers) direct from the mill, then take over the local Laundromat for hours. Each one gets a full wash on hot, then a roasting in the dryer. This process, known as 'fulling', creates extra loft and increases the density of  the fabric (and makes mounds of lint). It also removes much of the linear shrinkage common in natural fibers. We use a blended textile because 100% wool is subject to a loss of strength when wet, and has a somewhat rough texture. Our fabric is soft enough to contact bare skin, and strong enough to keep it's shape, even if you're scrambling back into a canoe.

Each coat, vest, or shirt will gain character with age, and retain its original performance. All of our grommets and snaps are set in reinforced nylon webbing, and our cord locks and draw cords can be serviced in the field. Our separating zippers have a reinforced snap at the hem to protect the vulnerable pin and box, but they will wear out eventually. We'll repair or replace them for a nominal fee.   Everything is washable.

          
Permafrost Parka
Permafrost Pants
Designed for use with proper highland attire. Storm Cape

Field Coat

 Designed for use with proper highland attire. Heritage Shirt
 
   Insulation
Designed for use with proper highland attire. Wool Blanket Shirt  
Jackpine Vest
Camp Coat

 

   Handwear

 True North Mittens

The Big Mitt
 
   Footwear  

   True North Boots

Baby Booties
 

   Clearance

 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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