Our Values
Blue Sky is a fair-trade company. We make sure everyone at Blue Sky, from our fabric cutters and batik artists in Bali to our sewers in China, is treated ethically, with care and respect.
We specialize in natural fibers, including bamboo, cotton, linen, wool, cashmere and modal. These fabrics are long lasting, feel wonderful on the skin and have a smaller environmental footprint than synthetic fibers.
We design clothes from XXS - 4X, allowing every body to look and feel good.
The Journey
Owner and designer Marilyn Cobban began Blue Sky Clothing Co Ltd. when she saw how hard it was for women to find affordable, made from natural fibres comfortable clothing. She sourced fabrics in Indonesia, where she could buy the fabric in small quantities and design her own prints. Working with local batik artists, she designed patterns on natural fibre rayon, establishing business relationships that continue to benefit all parties today.
Back in Canada, Marilyn started selling the clothing out of her trustworthy Volkswagen van, affectionately nicknamed “Buggie.” Marilyn and Buggie became fixtures at the Balfour ferry landing in the West Kootenays in British Columbia. They also went to local get-togethers, setting up in parking lots and parks for community events, fairs and trade shows.
Hard Work
Marilyn soon opened Blue Sky Clothing’s first storefront at the Balfour ferry landing, which still operates to this day. This success was followed by the opening of another store in the heritage city of Nelson, BC.
Production expanded in 2000, when Marilyn’s niece married a man from Sichuan, China. He took Marilyn to China, introducing her to people he knew in Chengdu. This provided her the opportunity to open a small factory and start producing the beautiful bamboo clothing Blue Sky is known for.
In 2009, Marilyn moved to North Vancouver where she established her headquarters. With the support of her family and her partner, she expanded the business and opened several storefronts around the Vancouver area.
Today, Marilyn still visits her overseas locations every year to connect with her employees there, ensuring the business is going well and her employees are well-supported in their work. She stays busy running Blue Sky Clothing, overseeing ten stores in BC, a thriving web store, and multiple wholesale locations across the continent.
We Care
With the help of her sister Margaret, Marilyn has expanded Blue Sky’s activities into charity, running the “Socks for Literacy” fundraising campaign each year. With the purchase of each pair of merino wool socks, Blue Sky donates one dollar to local literacy programs. And we sell thousands of
socks!
Today
After decades of success, Marilyn still runs Blue Sky Clothing, overseeing ten stores in British Columbia, a thriving web store, and multiple wholesale locations across the continent.