Jul 9, 2025 3 min read Exclusive

How a luxury resortwear label is blooming and booming in Canada

Chantal Levesque, founder of Canadian luxury label SHAN, shares her creative and retail philosophy.

Chantal Levesque and models at SHAN's Spring 2026 runway show (Courtesy of SHAN)

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By Marcy Medina | for The SKUpe

When Chantal Levesque founded Canadian luxury label SHAN 40 years ago, no one thought designing resort wear in snowy Montreal was a natural thing to do. Today, the company has an international wholesale network of more than 850 stores in 35 countries and seven of its own stores in the U.S. and Canada. Levesque, president and head designer, shares her creative and retail philosophy along with how SHAN is handling tariffs.

What’s it like designing resort wear in a cold-weather city?

Resort wear and swimwear have been at the heart of our brand since day one. We initially started out focused almost exclusively on swimwear, which allowed us to develop a deep expertise in fabric, fit and function specific to that category. It wasn’t until 2019 that we began creating full ready-to-wear collections.

There’s definitely a challenge in designing for warmth and leisure when you’re surrounded by snow boots and parkas, but it also makes the creative process feel a bit magical. We’re not just designing clothes; we’re transporting ourselves to another place entirely. That ability to mentally “escape” into a collection is a skill we’ve honed, and I believe it gives our pieces a certain depth and intention.When the collection is finalized and we finally get to travel for the campaign photoshoot, usually somewhere sunny and lush. It’s like the work comes full circle.

What kind of experience do you try to create in your retail stores?

While our wholesale business represents the majority of our revenue, our own retail stores are incredibly important. They’re more than just points of sale—they’re immersive spaces where customers can truly connect with the SHAN philosophy.

We’ve always had a strong affinity with East Coast resort destinations, which is why we opened our own retail stores in Miami Beach, Palm Beach and East Hampton. These cities are year-round communities filled with women who appreciate understated luxury, high-quality materials and effortless dressing.

Every detail in our stores is carefully considered. From the minimalist design and architecture to the curated music and the personalized customer service, everything is designed to create a serene, luxurious and memorable shopping experience. When someone walks into a SHAN store, we want them to feel a sense of calm, elegance and discovery.

While many claim “retail is dead,” I believe the opposite—retail is evolving. Customers no longer go to stores just to buy product; they go for the experience, the storytelling and the connection. It’s an opportunity to showcase the craftsmanship, values and personality behind the brand in a way that no online platform can replicate.

How are tariffs affecting business?

When the new tariff policies were first introduced, like many other entrepreneurs, we were concerned. The uncertainty was unsettling, and we began to assess the potential financial and logistical impacts on our U.S. clients. We spent a lot of time analyzing the situation and planning for ways to mitigate any negative effects.

However, once the details became clearer, we realized we were actually in a relatively strong position. Many of our competitors manufacture in Asia or countries where labor is cheaper—but those countries were hit with significantly higher tariffs. In contrast, all of our products are proudly made in Canada, in our own manufacturing facilities. We control the production process from start to finish and also manage the logistics and shipping internally.

As a result, we weren’t subject to the same steep tariff increases, which gave us a significant competitive advantage. In fact, it’s the first time since our inception that manufacturing in Canada has positioned us ahead in terms of cost efficiency. Over the past few months, we’ve actually seen an increase in U.S. orders, as more retailers are looking for suppliers who can deliver high-quality products without the added tariff burden.