Canadian Brands We Love for Wellness, Sustainability + Community

As we step into 2026, I'm intentionally shifting my focus back to something that has always been at the heart of The High-End Hippie: culture and community building.

What we buy, support, and invite into our homes is a direct reflection of our values. Every dollar we spend is a vote for the businesses, practices, and impact we want to see more of in the world.

Building a business rooted in energetic alignment—and honoring my Reflector Human Design—means I'm continually redefining my role within the company. I'm intentionally building a team that supports the areas outside my zone of genius, allowing me to focus my energy where it will have the most impact.

One of those areas is culture and community building: cultivating spaces rooted in connection, shared values, and integrity, and creating opportunities to uplift and share other aligned brands we love.

Small businesses make up 97% of Canada's economy and quietly shape our communities. When we support brands that share our values, we help reshape entire industries and create change, both locally and globally.

So, as a way of starting 2026 with intention, I wanted to highlight a few Canadian brands we love. Our appreciation for these businesses goes beyond their products. Each one is an independent, founder-led brand built by visionary humans who care deeply about impact, quality, and doing business differently.

These are the brands that fill my home, support my family's wellness, and inspire me as a founder. Not just because of what they sell—but because of how they show up.

 

Table of Contents

• Nada
• Elate Beauty
• Eversio Wellness
• Living Alchemy
• Helena Lane Organic Skincare
• The Market Bags
• Back to Earth
  
• Poppy Barley
• OKGN Lifestyle Apparel
• Why Conscious Business Matters
• Frequently Asked Questions

 

Nada Toothbrush

I can't tell you how many bamboo toothbrushes we went through before discovering Nada Toothbrush. Bamboo sounds great in theory, but the reality? Splintering, molding, and bristles that felt like scrubbing with wire. Not exactly ideal.

I had the pleasure of meeting founder Simon Cooper at The Kind Matter's grand opening in Mississauga, and we hit it off right away. Simon shares my desire for collaboration and using our platform to help other impact-focused brands grow.

Simon grew up camping and skiing in remote parts of Canada with his dad, which instilled in him a deep connection to nature and a hatred of plastic waste. This respect for nature resonates with me—I grew up on a hobby farm in rural Nova Scotia where being mindful of our resources was a way of life, and that same care for the land is woven into everything we do at The High-End Hippie.

One night while brushing his teeth, Simon had a realization: his brush head was worn, but the handle was perfectly fine. Why throw away the entire thing? So he created Nada (Spanish for "nothing")—a reusable aluminum handle and minimalist replacement brush heads that customers return to be recycled into plastic pellets through TerraCycle.

As a 2/4 Generator in Human Design, Simon brings a natural edge to his business. Generators have great focus and will continuously work at perfecting a skill or product—which is exactly what he's done with Nada's design and functionality. His background as a graphic designer combined with his 2/4 profile serves him particularly well, since 2/4s are naturally gifted when it comes to evoking a feeling through images, style, and aesthetics. He's done an amazing job with Nada's branding and website layout, creating a user-friendly customer experience.

His toothbrushes are a game-changer—incredibly soft bristles that don't splinter or mold, and honestly just work better than anything else we've tried.

Elate Beauty

I could talk about Elate's incredible vegan, cruelty-free products all day. But what makes this brand truly special is founder Melodie Reynolds.

After spending 20+ years in the beauty industry, Melodie became disheartened by traditional beauty industry practices—unethical and wasteful packaging, shame-based marketing, and a culture that prioritized profit over people and planet. In 2014, she launched Elate Beauty with a clear vision: to create a brand rooted in kindness, ethical ingredients, sustainable packaging, and inclusive beauty that feels intentional and empowering. Today, Elate Beauty is a Certified B Corp, holding themselves accountable to the highest standards of social and environmental performance.

Elate's guiding philosophy: "Less, but better" aligns with our own value of "Quality Over Quantity" at The High-End Hippie. It's about ending the disappointment of cabinets full of products that don't work and instead investing in products that exceed expectations.

But beyond beautiful makeup and aligned values, what makes Melodie truly exceptional is how she shows up for other founders. I met Melodie through a mastermind we were both part of, and over the year I witnessed firsthand how she actively supported me and other founders—whether it's making an introduction, helping them find solutions to challenges they're facing in their business, or co-launching a beauty collective.

She's always made space to help me navigate my growth journey, and I've watched her do the same for countless others. As a 1/3 Generator in Human Design, Melodie becomes an expert at anything she touches—she goes deep, whether it's beauty industry practices, sustainability, or the operational aspects of running a business. That depth of knowledge combined with her generous spirit makes her an invaluable resource to the entire conscious business community. She's someone who genuinely wants to see the beauty industry change, and that spirit is woven into everything she stands behind.

 

Eversio Wellness

I met Craig Garden, co-founder of Eversio Wellness at a wellness event and was immediately impressed by how openly he shared both the highs and lows of building a fast-growing business. I connected with many of his perspectives, particularly around thoughtfully structuring the company and attracting the right talent.

It's no wonder I found myself fully soaking in everything he shared. As a 2/4 Projector in Human Design, Craig brings a unique gift to the business. Projectors excel at seeing the bigger picture and have a natural knack for bringing efficiency into any organization. It was exciting to connect with another founder who uses Human Design as a tool for self-awareness and for leveraging team strengths like we do at The High-End Hippie.

Eversio was founded in 2020 by Craig and his wife, Brandi Garden, and was born from Brandi's personal healing journey. After years as a teacher living with psoriatic arthritis—at one point unable to walk while caring for their newborn—Brandi turned to functional mushrooms and experienced full remission. That transformational experience led them to co-found Eversio, a family-owned Canadian company dedicated to sharing the healing potential of mushrooms.

One of the things that drew me to this brand was listening to their podcast where Brandi shares how integrity is a core pillar of the business and why Eversio has rigorous third-party lab testing and clear communication around potency and sourcing.

I personally use their Reishi to support sleep—something that's been more challenging since becoming a mother, especially after having Finn. Knowing these supplements are made with intention and backed by a real commitment to wellness makes all the difference.

 

Living Alchemy

Founded in 2016 in Richmond, British Columbia, Living Alchemy. Began with a desire to create supplements that don't just alleviate symptoms, but address the root cause of long-term health concerns. They shifted paradigms by combining ancient fermentation wisdom with modern research—leveraging diverse strains of beneficial bacteria, yeasts, and mycelia in a proprietary process called Symbio®. Their supplements are fermented and freeze-dried for better bioavailability, activating nutrients so they work in harmony with your body's natural intelligence.

My connection to Living Alchemy deepened through Whitney Douglas, their Sales Director. Whitney is a 4/6 Manifestor in Human Design—we share the 4/6 profile, so making friends was pretty easy. Her Manifestor edge makes her a force when it comes to leading the sales team and helping elevate the brand to new levels. We've developed a friendship over the past couple years, and she's always available for a chat or to brainstorm ideas for growth opportunities for The High-End Hippie.

Honestly, I've never been great at being consistent at taking supplements daily. Then one of our retail partners, naturopath Dr. Taylor Bean at TaylorMade Wellness in Salmon Arm, explained that pulse dosing is actually the way to go—which made me feel better about supplementing.

I take Living Alchemy's Women's Daily Whole Body Optimizer and I actually feel the difference.

 

Helena Lane Organic Skincare

I'm obsessed with Helena Lane Frankincense & Bakuchi Restorative Balm. Their products are minimalistic yet make my skin feel so good.

Founder Helena Lane spent 20 years working with world leaders in natural and organic products—including Neal's Yard Remedies and Whole Foods Market. When she moved to Canada in 2009, she realized there was a lack of Canadian brands she'd trust on her own skin. As a believer in buying local, she decided to create her own.

Based in Vernon, BC, Helena hand-crafts all her products in small batches using organic ingredients—just like we do at The High-End Hippie. Like us, Helena sources botanicals from BC to wildcraft in their products. We share a deep respect for nature's potency and the same philosophy of "less is more" and quality over quantity—which is exactly why Helena Lane is one of our retail partners, carrying The High-End Hippie bars in her Vernon studio and shop.

Beyond being a retail partner, Helena has become a trusted ally as we navigate issues that come with running a small business. As a Canadian organic skincare brand, Helena Lane embodies the same values we hold —clean formulations, sustainable sourcing, and a commitment to transparency. Supporting each other's vision of clean, effective, high-quality products feels like the perfect embodiment of community over competition.

 

The Market Bags

We've been collaborating with Julia Mathers, founder of The Market Bags, for the past 6 years. Her team makes our zero-waste shampoo bags. She has been a support to me and The High-End Hippie in many ways over the years—from regular IG shout-outs to helping me find our amazing Head Maker who hand-crafts all our bars.

Julia's story began in the summer of 2018 during a trip to a local farmers' market in Kelowna. A friend had some reusable bags from Amazon, and they began talking about how they could be made better. An hour later, the first Market Bags were created.

Determined to create a better solution than the overseas polyester mesh bags flooding the market, she started creating Canadian-made reusable bags using upcycled materials and organic fabrics—working alongside local seamstresses in the Okanagan.

This past year, she's been getting creative, making cool, trending one-off crossbody bags from upcycled fabrics—proof that sustainability and style aren't mutually exclusive.

Supporting Julia means supporting a local maker who's constantly innovating and finding new ways to reduce waste while creating beautiful, functional products.

Back to Earth

My massage therapist introduced me to Back to Earth Pain Be Gone rub, and I haven't looked back. I can't remember how I met founder Kiley Routley, but I'm grateful our paths crossed.

Founded in 2007 in the Okanagan Valley, Back to Earth was born from a mother of three asking an important question: "What harsh chemicals are we bringing into our homes and putting on our bodies?" Like us, Kiley started in her kitchen—testing, mixing, and developing products. Fascinated by aromatherapy, herbalism, and the art of soap making, she became hooked by the alchemy of the process. With a team of Naturopaths, Biochemists, Herbalists, and Aromatherapists, she mastered the art of infusion—blending pure essential oils with local and wildcrafted plants from the Okanagan Valley.

Over the years, Kiley has helped The High-End Hippie out a few times when we've run into supply chain issues and has introduced us to other people along the way to support our growth. What inspires me most is Kiley's journey—from her kitchen to farmers markets to building a brand with wide reach across North America. Forbes reports that less than 2% of women-owned businesses ever surpass $1 million in annual revenue. Kiley's story is proof that with persistence, quality, and staying true to your values, it's possible to break through those statistics and scale beyond what most thought possible.

 

Poppy Barley

Poppy Barley's sustainable shoes and leather bags are worth every penny. These are high-quality, classic pieces that are chic, stylish, comfortable, and made to last.

Sisters Justine and Kendall Barber launched Poppy Barley in 2012 after a light bulb moment at a handcrafted boot shop in Bali. The Edmonton-based sisters traveled to León, Mexico in search of family-owned leather factories that prioritized their people and could offer small-batch manufacturing.

Their vision was simple: design shoes for kick-ass people who don't have time for sore feet. They wanted customers to feel great both in their shoes and about who made them. Today, Poppy Barley is a Certified B Corp, working with factories screened for fair wages, workers' rights, and safe conditions.

I get compliments on my Poppy Barley shoes every time I wear them. I love their shoes and wallet, and a purse will be next on my list.

 

OKGN Lifestyle Apparel

And last, but certainly not least, there's—OKGN Lifestyle Apparel—a brand that's so much more than high-quality clothing. It's a cultural representation of Okanagan living.

Founder Jaclyn Robertson didn't develop her business sense in a boardroom. It was shaped around a kitchen table, listening to her dad share stories about building community—quite literally. He was a builder of roads, homes, schools, and churches. Jaclyn often describes herself as a communitarian, which feels perfectly fitting for her 4/6 Manifestor design. 4's are here to bring heart back into business and to shift how people connect with one another through community building.

Jaclyn has shared before that the vision was never centered on clothing itself. The apparel became the vehicle for her philanthropic and human connectivity work in the community. 

Through OKGN work with Third Space Charity, Jaclyn has helped create 'Open Space', a quarterly event platform for meaningful conversation and wellbeing. To date, it has generated $86,000 for youth clinical counselling sessions locally. The brand has also supported neonatal and maternal healthcare initiatives, helped raise over $3 million for families in need, and continues to donate to local athletes, leaders, and causes that uplift our community.

I always love running into Jaclyn; I leave every interaction feeling elevated. She's introduced me to experiences that have been deeply transformative to me and The High-End Hippie, and I'm forever grateful.

OKGN Lifestyle isn't just the official brand of the Okanagan—it's a values-driven community movement rooted in connection and conscious business.

 

Why This Matters

These aren't just brands I love. They're proof that there's a better way of doing business.

A way that prioritizes people over profit margins. That values quality over quantity. That believes in collaboration over competition. That understands success isn't just about hitting revenue targets—it's about who you lift up along the way.

As we move into 2026, I'm committed to celebrating these kinds of businesses more intentionally. And create opportunities where we can connect, share, and support each other.

When we support brands like these, we're not just buying products. We're investing in a future where business is a force for good—where founders lead with heart, and where community truly comes first.

Here's to building that future together.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

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