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apparel collection Muttonhead while in the fashion design program at Ryerson University in Toronto in 2008. In the beginning, both had part time jobs but eventually started working on the line full-time in about 2012. "Operating a family business is great because it allows us to grow on so many levels that perhaps you could not do working for a large corporation. We get to decide what styles we move forward with and always get to test new product categories which is always fun!" said Meg. Textiles play a "HUGE" part in the design process, she added. "We do go sourcing numerous times a year, when you find an amazing textile, it can totally create a new style on its own." Textile development has allowed the duo to create more product categories while also staying true to its Made in Canada roots. Popular products include a Waterproof 3-Way Pant that can be worn cinched, cuffed or straight; and a cozy fleece Camping Hoodie, both manufactured in a sweatshop-free factory in Toronto. Sheehan Associates Donna and Jim Sheehan started Sheehan Associates 26 years ago, both having spent their entire careers in the industry (Jim in leather, Donna in textiles). Jim currently is CEO of the firm, while Donna is president and son Mike is VP of sales. Mike is one of seven children in the Sheehan family. Sheehan Associates has carved out a niche providing performance textiles that give customers an edge in their respective markets. "It's an evolutionary marketplace with constantly shifting manufacturing locations, advances in material, quicker lead times from our customers – all of which require you to operate smarter and be nimbler to be successful," said Donna. Constant communication and stellar customer service are hallmark to the firm. "Most important to me is the ability to make rapid decisions as well as to make changes that respond to our customers' needs without going through bureaucratic machinations that seem to hamper large companies," the exec said. "I'm old school here, if we have to stay late to wait for a delayed trucker or personally deliver a sample to UPS because our customer needs it out, we always go the extra measure," explained Donna. One of her biggest challenges is staying small enough to know customers, but large enough to serve them, she noted. O Donna and Mike Sheehan Looks from Muttonhead Marc Joseph NY style for women and men HELPING YOU ACHIEVE MORE SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES. Independent. Global. Transparent. C O N F I D E N C E I N T E X T I L E S March/April 2018 ~ Textile Insight • 31 textileinsight.com