Ennismore entrepreneur Erin Shannon-Hill has always harboured a love for the place she has lived, worked, and played in since she was a teenager. Her appreciation has only grown since the Kawarthas have helped her navigate her ongoing health battles, and now she is living out her dream and sharing her passion for the region through the launch of her new clothing brand, Kawartha Apparel.
At the age of 35, Shannon-Hill was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and, after being unable to work for more than a few years, she has spent the last 10 years focused only on the day–to-day management of her symptoms while raising her two sons. But now, Shannon-Hill has abandoned the disease-modifying drugs which caused a slew of side effects, only medicates with a healthy lifestyle and exercise, and is able to think ahead into her future.
“Living here for the last 10 years has been such a blessing.” she says, noting she’s out on the lake on her paddleboard every day with a camera in hand. “It’s really, really helped me heal.”
It’s there on Chemong Lake where Shannon-Hill has planned Kawartha Apparel — a long-time dream of hers. Finally able to take her future into her own hands with the flexibility required to maintain her health, Shannon-Hill is celebrating her 45th birthday with the launch of the lake-based quality apparel brand.
Everything about the small business is proudly from the Kawarthas, right down to the logo designed by Peterborough illustrator Jason Wilkins and the use of a local printing press. Even Shannon-Hill’s ideas come while she’s paddling along Chemong Lake — hence the Kawartha Apparel tagline “Designed on the Dock.”
While Shannon-Hill is already hard at work planning her next product drop, Kawartha Apparel is kicking off with three items, each showing off Wilkins’ water-inspired sharp and colourful logo. The Kawartha Caps come in black, caramel, and grey, while the Signature Tees are available in black, green, and eggplant. With the tagline also written along the sleeve, the Founder’s Edition hoodies are available in cottage white and black.
To browse the collection and place an order, visit www.kawarthaapparel.ca and follow Kawartha Apparel on Instagram and Facebook.
Know Your Locals™ is a branded editorial feature about locally owned independent businesses and locally operated organizations, and supported by them. If your business or organization is interested in being featured in a future “Know Your Locals” branded editorial, contact Jeannine Taylor at 705-742-6404 or jt@kawarthanow.com or visit our Advertise with kawarthaNOW page.
