Pajar Canada, known for its cold-weather boots, apparel and accessories, is on a good-will mission.
The Montreal-based family-owned business, is investing in a new boot-manufacturing facility in Quebec City that will employ 100 special-needs workers.
According to President Jacques Golbert, Pajar was recently part of a cooperative program, employing special-needs workers to manufacture boot liners. Golbert said his company saw an opportunity to continue these efforts, retaining employees to ramp up its children’s business.
To that end, Pajar is currently retrofitting its facility with equipment for the production of its high-end cold-weather boots.
Pajar will also be using this initiative to help support Canada’s women’s hockey team.
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The company has created a limited-edition girl’s winter boot in collaboration with the players, part of the proceeds of which will go toward sponsoring athletes and a youth hockey camps for girls. The company also plans to bring on Caroline Ouellette, a member of the team that brought in the gold medal at the 2014 Olympic games, as its new brand ambassador.
The new manufacturing facility is expected to turn out 50,000 pairs in the first year for worldwide distribution.
Since footwear coming into the U.S. from Canada is duty-free, the boots will be more affordably priced at $70 to $110 retail, Golbert noted.
Delivery is slated for fall ’15.
Currently, all children’s product is produced overseas.
