Designing the sleek, black, modern suits Canada’s women’s soccer team don off the pitch has been a dream come true for one Vancouver woman.
“I’m sure once World Cup’s over and I’m sitting back I’ll be like wow – that actually happened?” said Adelle Renaud, co-founder of Vancouver-based Peau de Loup.
She founded the clothing line out of a need for pieces that better reflect her personal style.
“I’m a tomboy. I’ve always hated dresses. And there was just nothing in the market for me,” she said.
Renaud’s business launched in 2012 and months later, she welcomed her business and design partner on board: Team Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
A few months ago, Erin had an idea that she shared with Renaud.
“She was holding a picture of the Italian team men wearing a Dolce and Gabana suit and she said what do you think if we did this for women. Right now we show up in a track suit – which is great – but why can’t we be like the men,” recalled Renaud.
“And I said let’s do it. It was a challenge that I was willing to take on.”
The pair presented the Made-in-Vancouver suits to the national women’s soccer association, who loved the idea.
“We’ve been missing something like this for a really long time,” said Erin McLeod.
“I think it’s a cool commitment from the Canadian soccer association to kind of show their willingness to take our professional soccer team to the next level.”
The team has been wearing the suits at their public appearances for the last several months. McLeod said her teammates love them, and hopes they’ll soon be able to wear them in front of a much larger audience.
“Hopefully when we’re doing a trophy parade…that would be nice – that would be a good time to wear them!”
Comments