In pictures: Stonz Wear products in the making
Take a tour of the Vancouver-based maker of infants' and children's outerwear
Lisa Will, founder and chief executive officer of Stonz Wear Inc., an infants' and children's outerwear company, holds a bootie at the company's warehouse in Vancouver.Rafal Gerszak/The Globe and Mail
Stonz Wear founder Lisa Will hikes with infant son Lachlan, wearing Stonz booties. The booties were first developed in 2003, after Ms. Will couldn't find a good way to keep her son's feet warm while carrying him on her back during hiking trips.
The early days: Stonz Wear founder Lisa Will’s husband, Mark, adds toggles to booties working out of their home. The company, founded in 2004, now produces booties, boot liners, hats and mittens, and will soon offer rain boots and winter boots for older children.
In the early days, Stonz Wear founder Lisa Will adds eyelets to booties.
The early days: Finished booties stored in Stonz Wear CEO Lisa Will’s basement
Early days: Containers of finished booties ready for shipping.
Early days: Stonz Wear founder Lisa Will tries to spread the word at a trade show. The company now sells its wares in more than 400 stores.
The company moved its production to a Vancouver factory in 2008. Here, fabric is ready for cutting.
Workers create booties at Stonz Wear factory in Vancouver.
Bags of finished product at Stonz Wear factory in Vancouver.
Some manufacturing moved to Asia this year. Here, rolls of black upper nylon parts are ready to be made into full boots.
Workers assemble bootie liners in a factory in China.
At the company's warehouse in Vancouver, workers sew hats and check the quality of boots assembled in China.
Lisa Will, left, founder of Stonz Wear, and business analyst Iza Sailor look over a pair of booties at the Stonz Wear warehouse in Vancouver.Rafal Gerszak/The Globe and Mail
Stonz Wear founder and CEO Lisa Will with Stonz Wear booties at the company's warehouse in Vancouver, Wednesday, August 29, 2012.Rafal Gerszak/The Globe and Mail
Stonz Wear founder Lisa Will's daughter, Mikayla, wearing mitts made by the company.
Stonz Wear founder Lisa Will with children Mikayla, 7, and Lachlan, 9, who are wearing Stonz Wear hats.DEREK MAH