6 Canadian Designers That Understand the Allure of Shadows
Collections steeped in structure, sensuality and shadows to keep you warm on a snowy night.
By: The Lace Ledger Staff
These Canadian designers don’t just design clothing; they conjure uniforms for the moody, the magnetic, the melancholically divine.
From structured silhouettes to gothic glamour with a modern edge, here are six Canadian designers who understand that darkness isn’t dull—it’s desire, distilled.
1. Lucian Matis
Photo Credit: @lucianmatis
Vibe: Gilded Victorian drama meets modern monarch.
Known For: Dressing royalty, Lucian Matis designs with an unapologetic devotion to opulence. Expect baroque textures, moody florals, sculpted sleeves and silhouettes that command attention.
Goth Girl Fit: Floor-length lace gowns, high collars, dramatic sheers—Matis doesn’t design, he summons.
2. Smythe
Photo Credit: @smythebrand
Vibe: Corporate goth in a corner office, sipping espresso with red nails.
Known For: Exquisitely tailored blazers and razor-sharp coats, Smythe is a masterclass in chic structure with a dark heart. Their pieces hold power without trying too hard—like a whispered threat in a quiet boardroom.
Goth Girl Fit: Think: a fitted black blazer over fishnets and lace. A trench coat cinched like a secret. Undone but deliberate.
3. Mackage
Photo Credit: @mackage
Vibe: Cold girl aesthetic but make it emotionally unavailable.
Known For: Sleek outerwear with razor-sharp tailoring, leather detailing and minimalist edge. Mackage is the uniform for winter nights when style will not be sacrificed for the storm.
Goth Girl Fit: A sweeping wool trench in midnight black, leather belted at the waist. Hoods up, boots on – the look that warns not to approach while commanding the room.
4. Hilary MacMillan
Photo Credit: @hilarymacmillan
Vibe: Feminist fashion with a dark sensual twist.
Known For: Inclusive sizing and bold tailoring, MacMillan knows how to make power feel wearable with classic silhouettes and unexpected details—vegan leather, deep hues and corsetry-inspired cuts.
Goth Girl Fit: A corset-style midi dress in oxblood. A leather suit for when you want to own the room and haunt it later.
5. Rudsak
Photo Credit: Rudsak
Vibe: Rock’n’roll leather meets Montréal minimalism.
Known For: Iconic leather jackets, edgy outerwear and sleek accessories that fuse rebellion with polish. Rudsak is where biker cool collides with runway restraint.
Goth Girl Fit: A cropped moto jacket over a lace slip dress, or floor-length leather trench that looks equally at home at a concert or late-night grocery run.
6. Woodpecker Canada
Photo Credit: @woodpeckercanada
Vibe: Sustainable warmth with a dark, urban bite.
Known For: Vegan, cruelty-free outerwear built for Canadian winters – puffer coats, parkas and statement outerwear that proves ethical doesn’t mean boring.
Goth Girl Fit: A liquid black vegan puffer with oversized hood, layered over fishnets and combat boots. Cozy enough for the blizzard, severe enough for the afterparty.
Fashion doesn’t have to scream to be felt. These designers give voice to the subtler seductions—the chill of silk on skin, the sharpness of structure, the intimacy of a black garment worn like armour.
Because sometimes, the deepest power lives in the shadows.
