Heritage Day 2000 Main Page

The First Steps

Well, it didn't take long for the boys to land on their feet, so to speak. Don and Michael Kowalewski tossed around their different ideas. Although they imagined far out product concepts like Roots yogurt and Roots waterbeds, Don and Michael saw the potential in a "Funny-looking shoe" they spotted it on one of their friends. After securing - and almost simultaneously losing - the rights to distribute that same shoe in Toronto, the guys decided to go on it alone. They found the "Boat Shoe Company". The Kowalewski Family promised to not only make the Negative heel shoe, but, to make it better!

And so began the Roots first step - in their own shoes - so to speak. The name came out of a biology textbook. "It just seemed to make sense," says Don Green. "After all, your feet are your roots ". Their friends, Heather Copper and Robert Burns, designed the Roots Beaver logo. They went into production with the Kowalewski's. On August 15,1973, the first Roots store, on Younge street in Toronto, opened. They sold seven pairs of shoes that day. Two weeks later, Roots customers lined up around the block to get the Roots shoes. A fashion phenomenon was born. The shoes were going down in history.

Roots Beaver Athletics

Even thought the first line of Roots shoes was a run away success, Don and Michael Kowalewski knew that fads don't last forever. By 1975, they realized they had to branch out and sell other stuff. This time, they got their inspiration from US college sports teams and the Phys. Ed. uniforms worn by the students at Toronto's Upper Canada College. They look liked - crested and printed sweatshirts and T shirts - and the idea behind the look- team sprit, belonging, tradition and fun. So, they started manufacturing and selling Roots sweatshirts, the beaver logo and the sporty attitude.

The pubic quickly caught on to Michael and Don's vision just in time for the launch for the now-famous Roots Beaver Athletic (RBA) sweatshirts and T'shirts. Soon, people everywhere were RBA sweatshirts and loving them. It was perfect for the trends of the health and the exercise that obese people of all ages. The craftsmanship and durability of the clothing satisfied those seeking the highest quality. By then, it was clear that Roots had arrived and was quickly gathering steam.

Going For the Gold

Even in the early days, Michael and Don recognized the important business connection between fashions and celebrities. Over the years, everyone from Richard Gear in America Gigolo, Season Preset, Princes Edward, Princes Harry and William, skater Elves Stojko and hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky has be seen in Roots gear.

The next real business opportunity came with the Olympics and Team Canada. Team Canada athletes wore Roots designed uniforms at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. That's where the world feel in love with the Roots "poorboy hat" ... you know that red fleece backwards cap that everyone around the world's been wearing since 1998. One of Michael's children suggested the "poorboy hat" would be the perfect addition to the Olympic wardrobe. Wow, were they right!

Roots was awarded the contract to design and supply the summer and winter Team Canada Olympic uniforms for:

25 years Later

As they headed off in the new millennium, the Roots team led by Michael and Don, is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, they keep moving on to bigger and better things.

Like other Roots stores designed by an architectural team lead by Dane Bald, a 3048 meter - three level Roots Central store opened at Toronto's Eatons Centre in November, 1998. As the 130^th location in Canada, Roots Central is the flagship store and provides customers with the ultimate Roots shopping experience.

The opening of Roots Central in Toronto and the launch of Roots in Manhattan, New York City, marked a series of festivals celebrating the 25^th anniversary of Don and Michael's business partnership. This is a partnership that flows beyond the boundaries of business and into the territories of family, friendship and fun!