There are moments when supporting local feels less like a nice idea and more like something truly meaningful.
Right now, many Canadian small businesses are facing that kind of moment. With new U.S. tariffs adding even more pressure for homegrown brands across industries, we’ve been thinking a lot about what community support can really look like in practice — not just in words, but in action.
At Miik, we’ve always believed that getting dressed can be about more than clothing. It can be about comfort, confidence, thoughtful choices, and showing up for the communities we care about. That belief is what inspired us to create the Keep It Canadian Challenge this August.
This initiative is simple: when you shop from another small Canadian brand this month, you can submit your proof of purchase to Miik and receive an exclusive 15% discount on our upcoming Fall Collection. And if you share your local find on Instagram and tag both @miikinc and the brand you supported, you’ll also be entered for a chance to win a $200 Miik gift card.
We know this campaign might seem a little unconventional for a clothing brand. After all, we’re actively encouraging our community to shop elsewhere first. But to us, that’s exactly the point.
Supporting Canadian businesses shouldn’t be a solo effort
Small businesses don’t operate in isolation. We’re part of an ecosystem of makers, shop owners, founders, creatives, and community builders who help shape a more vibrant local economy.
When one Canadian business earns a sale, the impact often extends far beyond that single purchase. It supports jobs, keeps expertise local, helps independent brands keep creating, and makes it more possible for values-driven companies to keep going through uncertain times.
That matters even more right now.
As new U.S. tariffs take effect on August 19, many Canadian businesses are feeling the strain — including brands like ours that have worked hard to build responsibly, manufacture thoughtfully, and grow sustainably. Even when a company has done everything “right,” outside pressures can still have a real effect. And we know we’re far from alone in that.
Why Miik felt called to do something tangible
At Miik, our brand has always been rooted in more than softness, fit, or versatility. Those things matter deeply to us, but so does the idea of building something that reflects our values.
That includes producing close to home, making clothes designed to be reworn for years, and creating pieces that support real life and real bodies. It also includes asking how we can use our platform to support the wider Canadian small business community.
The Keep It Canadian Challenge grew out of that question.
We’ve recently seen an overwhelming response to one of our social videos about the impact of tariffs, with tens of thousands of views and hundreds of comments from people who care deeply about protecting Canadian brands. What stood out most was the shared feeling behind those responses: people want to help, but they also want practical ways to do it.
This challenge is our answer to that.
Not because we think one campaign can solve everything, but because we do believe small actions can create momentum. When customers intentionally support one Canadian brand, then another, and then another, that choice adds up. It keeps more dollars circulating locally. It introduces people to new independent businesses. And it reminds all of us that community care can be built through everyday decisions.
How the Keep It Canadian Challenge works
If you’d like to participate, here’s how it works:
- Shop from any small, independent Canadian brand during August. This can include apparel, beauty, jewellery, home goods, back-to-school items, and more.
- Submit your proof of purchase through our challenge page.
- Once verified, you’ll receive a 15% discount code to use on Miik’s upcoming Fall Collection releases.
Ready to submit? Get started here!
Bonus: enter the giveaway
- Share your purchase on Instagram
- Tag @miikinc and the Canadian brand you supported
You’ll then be entered for a chance to win a $200 Miik gift card.
We love that this challenge makes space for all kinds of Canadian businesses to be celebrated. Maybe you discover a local skincare brand you’ve been curious about, a small jewellery maker, a children’s shop, a home goods company, or an independent clothing label. The category matters less than the choice to support someone building something here.
A more thoughtful way to shop
At Miik, we talk often about buying with intention — choosing pieces you’ll rewear, fabrics that feel good on your skin, and wardrobe staples that support your everyday life.
The same mindset can extend beyond our own closets.
Supporting Canadian brands doesn’t have to mean shopping more. Sometimes it simply means shopping more thoughtfully when you do need something. It can mean choosing a product with a story behind it. It can mean buying from a business whose values you believe in. And it can mean recognizing that every purchase is a chance to help shape the kind of retail landscape we want to keep in Canada.
That’s the spirit behind this challenge.
We hope it helps you discover incredible small businesses. We hope it sparks conversations. And most of all, we hope it makes supporting Canadian entrepreneurs feel tangible, hopeful, and community-driven.
If you’d like to join us, you can learn more through our Keep It Canadian Challenge page. And if you’d like the media version of this announcement, you can also read the full press release here.
Thank you for being part of a community that believes where we spend our dollars matters.
With much love,
Your Miik team 🤍
