Connect With Authenticity

This blog excerpt was taken from our store: Moccasins Canada. To read the entire article please click here.

I’m going to start by saying that Sheepskin Moccasin Bootie Slippers by Bastien basically represent everything I want to see more of in this world.

I know that might sound a little flippant or maybe even dramatic, but hear me out.

In a world of harsh edges, couldn’t we all use softer spaces in our lives... moments of comfort, where we feel at ease instead of stressed?

How much do we yearn to honour and connect with the values of authenticity, instead of fast fashion and mass production?

And how good would it feel to know that the goods we purchase will not only reward us with longevity, but support important heritage and local business?

Hard to believe all of this can be accomplished with single pair of sheepskin booties, but all Bastien footwear truly does embody all of these characteristics.

Let’s start with the company itself.

Authenticity

Bastien Industries is an Indigenous-owned enterprise, with roots going back to 1878. It was founded in Wendake, Quebec by Maurice Bastien, who eventually became Grand Chief of the Wendat Nation. The company evolved through three generations of family until 2022, when it was acquired by Jason Picard-Binet, a proud member of the Huron-Wendat nation. You can order Bastien’s Sheepskin Moccasin Slippers through Moccasins Canada, a division of The Brown Bear. The Brown Bear is another family-owned small business, located in the village of Westport, in Eastern Ontario.

By purchasing a pair of uniquely beautiful Indigenous-made moccasin booties, you are supporting two companies with Canadian heritage, one ancient, one contemporary.

Premium Artisanship & Materials

These bootie slippers are crafted with velvety reverse-sheepskin suede, bursting at the seams with genuine shearling. The Bastien company is renowned for their exceptional quality and design, employing local artisans who stitch, lace, and sew beadwork by hand using time- honoured techniques.

Hides, suedes, and leathers are consciously and responsibly sourced in North America. This is accomplished in keeping with Indigenous circular thought to use every part of the animal’s harvest when their life has been surrendered.

Quality & Comfort

Sheepskin Moccasin Booties are tailored with a leather outsole, and deep, plush sheepskin to keep feet cozy and warm, even on the coldest, snowstormy nights. It’s a soft, tactile material that provides exactly the kind of nest-feathering sense of comfort when you need it most.
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