Vancouver’s Adhere To Studios one of six Canadian designers spotlighted by Amazon

Vancouverite Alexandra Dean launched Adhere To Studios just over a year ago, and while her outwear biz has grown significantly since launch, she says that one of the biggest obstacles she’s facing is brand recognition. “It’s an ongoing mission, building brand awareness,” she says. After all, how do you compete with the Super Puffs of the world? Perhaps through forming a relationship with an even more super brand: Amazon. Adhere To was selected as one of six companies in Amazon’s Canadian designer spotlight this year.

“Recognition through series like these is pretty meaningful for small brands,” says Dean, who shares that her goal for Adhere To was to “focus on a really low impact supply chain for outerwear pieces and ensure that I was following something that was sustainable.”

This attitude may not be in line with the general public perception of Amazon, but the spotlight does provide Adhere To with a meaningful opportunity that otherwise would have been out of reach: the ability to give back.

Through the partnership with Amazon, Adhere To has been able to donate $5000 to the charity of Dean’s choice. She chose the non-profit Fashion Takes Action. “They’re focused on advancing sustainability ethics and circularity in the entire fashion system,” says Dean. “It really resonates with my brand ethos.”

Of course, that extra boost of brand awareness doesn’t hurt, either—Adhere To is featured on Amazon and the subject of a biographical video on the site.