Who We Are

Since day one, our mission has always been to create thoughtfully designed apparel and spaces in the spirit of the Canadian wilderness. I'm originally from Toronto, but my heart has always been in the mountains and forests of the west coast. Gran Manitou was started to inspire us to enjoy and protect all places wild, and we hope we'll be able to do so in our small way. With every sale of our clothing, we donate 10% of our profits to The Ancient Forest Alliance to protect our ancient forests. We are a proud member of 1% for the Planet, and routinely organize volunteer trips in parks in British Columbia.

If you want to learn more about what we do and why we do it, or to schedule an introductory call for our interior design services, you’re always welcome to reach out to us at info[at]granmanitou.com.

With love,

Dylan DiLecce

Meaning of the Brand

Gran Manitou, derived from the centuries-old Quebecois term “Grand Manitou”, means 'head honcho', or the 'big boss'. When separated from its European meaning, 'Manitou' in the Anishinaabe language holds strong spiritual meaning, as “an object or spirit of reverence.”

The 'big boss' that bears its likeness in our logo is Big Lonely Doug. Canada's second-tallest Douglas Fir tree, Big Lonely Doug is one of the last of its kind. Taller than a twenty-story skyscraper, Big Lonely Doug is the sole surviving tree in a vast stand of ancient old-growth forest that was leveled in 2011. The 1,000 year-old tree towers above the clear-cut fields near Port Renfrew, BC. While he appears lonely, he is a unifying symbol in our resolve to protect the ancient wilds that remain.

Big Lonely Doug casts a long shadow by day, reminding us of the irreplaceable forests we've lost. But by night, softly illuminated by the silver of the waning moon, we're reminded of what magic we still have deep in the forests and the valleys of the world.