Fragrance house

Roots

Founded in Toronto in 1973 by Michael Budman and Don Green, Roots began with the Sport Root Shoe, a negative-heel design introduced on August 15, before opening its first Yonge Street store. It grew from footwear into a lifestyle brand spanning apparel, leather goods, footwear and accessories, with an identity tied to Canadian heritage, nature, community, authenticity and craftsmanship. The 1979 Varsity Jacket became a recurring brand emblem, and Roots’ leather jackets continue to be designed and handcrafted in Canada. Roots supplied uniforms to Canada’s Olympic team from 1998 and held exclusive rights to produce Team USA’s parade and podium outfits at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Searchlight Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in 2015, while Roots completed an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2017. In 2023, Roots marked its 50th anniversary with archival-inspired collections, collaborations and a Roots Stories series. On August 20, 2026, it announced a proposed go-private acquisition led by Marquee Brands with JM&A, subject to approvals.