Learn all about the brand and its latest collection!

Welcome to the world of Kuwalla Tee (pronounced QUA-LI-TY). The Canadian streetwear brand is known for its premium quality and sustainable essentials and prides itself on being eco-friendly while minimizing waste. Producing two collection launches per year, the latest drop from the brand feature must-haves items for any fall/winter wardrobe. 

Today, HOLR is chatting with Kuwalla Tee’s co-founder and co-owner, Yaniv Abecassis, to discuss the brand’s journey, its mission, and what to check out from the latest collection! If you’re wondering where to buy Kuwalla Tee in Canada, just check out their website here. 

Tell us about how you founded Kuwalla Tee. 

My father worked in local denim manufacturing for almost 40 years and I grew up in the clothing industry since birth. In my early 20’s, I was eager to launch my own brand and I was lucky enough to have my father who was on his way to retirement but taught me and my brothers everything we now know about denim and helped us get started. We founded Kuwalla Tee in 2012 (myself and my two brothers, Oren and Dan) when we noticed there was a gap in the market when it came to finding the perfect basics and essentials that were high quality, functional and stylish. At the time, I was buying a lot of 3-pack tees as they barely lasted (diminished quality after a few washes, etc). We decided to launch our own premium 3-pack cotton tees and we quite literally went door-to-door to sell them. They instantly became a fan favourite and our brand evolved from there! We also expanded into streetwear right when it was becoming a huge trend and that really propelled us onto another level. 

Can you share some details on the latest FW21 collection, “Reflection?” What type of pieces can we expect to shop from the newest line? 

Our FW21 collection highlights our fan-favourites with some new twists. Our men’s collection features upgraded premium materials such as; Heavyweight Cotton, Knitted Hoodies, and Stretch Corduroy in our Utility Pants – all in earthy tones such as; Camel, Navy, Charcoal, Espresso, Chocolate, and Pelican. We’ve also introduced outerwear and released our second installment of Organic Standards in new essential colors such as Charcoal and Chocolate, with a new crew neck sweatshirt silhouette. Our FW21 women’s collection features core pieces in plush fabrics, such as our brushed thermal waffle sets and reversed brushed fleece, as well as plush tanks, cardigans, and lounge pants all in the same earth-tone varieties. 

With fall in full swing and winter around the corner, what are some must-haves items from the brand’s collection that we need to add to our wardrobes ASAP?

My personal favorites in the men’s collection are the pile sets in polar fleece available in hoodies, crews, and sweatpants in 3 colourways – navy, green, and charcoal! We’ve also elevated our hoodies with heavyweight 100% cotton knitwear. 

With our women’s collection, I would have to say the plush sets, which are super cozy, and the perfect loungewear piece for those working from home! 

How does the brand incorporate sustainability measures into its practices? 

At the core of Kuwalla Tee is a commitment to responsible production and shopping. It’s no coincidence that our mascot is a koala (KU-WA-LLA) which stems from our love and respect for Mother Nature. All our products are designed in Montreal, ensuring the highest form of quality control, and abiding by fair labour policies. We visit our factories overseas at least twice a year (covid has paused that) for quality control. Furthermore, many of our products are made and packaged with recycled & biodegradable materials, where we seek to minimize waste as much as possible. We are also a member of the 1% for the Planet project – an organization that provides a window for small & large brands to make a difference in their own way by donating 1% of sales to an environmental cause. 

How/where can we shop Kuwalla Tee? 

You can find us online at kuwalltee.com and at over 400 retailers across North America including Below the Belt, The Hudson’s Bay, Foot Locker, Bikini Village for our swimwear line, and many other local boutiques. 

Published by HOLR Magazine.