Mackage

Mackage is a Canadian luxury outerwear brand established in Montreal in 1999 by designer Eran Elfassy. Elisa Dahan joined the business as co-creative director in 2001, forming the design partnership that shaped the label's identity. The founders had known each other since elementary school and shared an early interest in clothing and fashion. Before Mackage became an established brand, they worked on small design projects, including altering sweaters for friends. Their later collaboration developed through APP Group Inc., a leather-industry business associated with Elfassy's family. The label began with a strong emphasis on leather jackets. Elfassy's experience in the leather sector informed the brand's early product development, while Dahan contributed to the creative partnership and design direction. Mackage was conceived partly as a response to what the founders regarded as a gap in the winter apparel market: coats were often practical but oversized, with limited attention to silhouette, proportion, and fashion appeal. The brand sought to combine warmth and technical function with a more fitted, polished appearance. Over time, Mackage expanded beyond leather into wool outerwear, down-filled coats, lighter seasonal jackets, and garments combining several materials, including leather detailing. It remains especially associated with autumn and winter outerwear, but the business also develops spring and summer collections. The seasonal range has included lighter fabrics, brighter colors, and less insulated designs intended for warmer conditions. The founders have described international travel and exposure to different climates and cultures as recurring sources of collection inspiration. Product development is also adjusted for local weather conditions; coats designed for relatively mild winters differ from those intended for cities such as Montreal, Toronto, New York, or London. Mackage has pursued international distribution and a combination of wholesale, digital, and directly operated retail. The brand opened a flagship in New York City's SoHo district, a decision intended to increase visibility among international shoppers and place the label near established fashion businesses. According to the reference material, Mackage operates stores in Canada, the United States, China, Japan, the Netherlands, and France, while its products are distributed in more than 40 countries. Canada and the United States remain important markets, with Europe identified by the founders as a significant area for further recognition and growth. The brand has gained visibility through public figures and entertainment styling. Its garments have been worn by figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Meghan Markle, Eva Mendes, and Blake Lively. The founders have said that some celebrity exposure arose organically, including purchases made independently or garments requested by stylists, rather than exclusively through formal endorsement agreements. Mackage garments have also appeared in television styling, including an episode of Suits. Tanya Golešić became chief executive officer in 2021. A Croatian-Canadian executive who previously served as president of the Americas at Jimmy Choo, Golešić has overseen international expansion and efforts to diversify the brand beyond its traditional outerwear base. Under her tenure, Mackage moved toward additional categories, including footwear. In 2025 and 2026, the company introduced its first footwear collection, including the Luka sneaker, and announced a capsule collaboration with the Croatian Football Federation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These initiatives connected the brand's technical and athletic design language with a broader lifestyle and performance proposition. Mackage continues to present itself as a premium fashion outerwear specialist combining craftsmanship, material quality, cold-weather function, and contemporary urban styling.

Mackage was established in Montreal in 1999 by Eran Elfassy. Elfassy and Elisa Dahan had known each other since elementary school and developed a shared interest in fashion before entering the apparel business. Their early creative work included modifying sweaters and selling the results to friends. The professional partnership became more structured through APP Group Inc., a leather-industry company operated by members of Elfassy's family. Elfassy initially joined that business to develop a contemporary leather collection, and Dahan later became involved in the project. This work evolved into the Mackage label. The brand's original proposition centered on fashionable leather outerwear. Elfassy's background in leather gave the business a material and production foundation, while the founders' design ambitions focused on making winter clothing more visually refined. They believed that much of the outerwear available in the market was oversized and prioritized utility at the expense of silhouette. Mackage therefore pursued coats and jackets with a closer, more sculpted fit and a stronger relationship to seasonal fashion. During its development, Mackage broadened its materials and product architecture. Leather jackets remained an important part of the brand's identity, but the collections expanded into wool coats, leather-trimmed outerwear, down-filled jackets, and other cold-weather garments. The company also developed spring and summer offerings. Elisa Dahan described warm-season design as demanding a different kind of creativity because consumers do not always need substantial outerwear in warmer weather. These collections consequently used lighter materials, brighter colors, and more open or airy constructions. Some products that later became important in the autumn business originated in lighter seasonal collections. The designers have identified travel as an important source of creative input. Exposure to different cultures and climates informed the development of seasonal collections and encouraged the company to distinguish between markets rather than treating winter as a uniform global condition. A coat for a comparatively mild city may require different insulation, construction, and weight from one intended for Montreal or Toronto. This climate-sensitive approach supported the brand's expansion into cities with different seasonal requirements, including New York and London. Mackage's retail expansion included a flagship store in New York City's SoHo neighborhood. The founders regarded New York as an important international shopping destination and had identified a flagship there as a long-term ambition. The location's proximity to established fashion brands was also viewed as useful for visibility and positioning. From its Canadian base, Mackage developed a broader international retail and distribution presence. Reference material identifies directly operated stores in Canada, the United States, China, Japan, the Netherlands, and France, and distribution in more than 40 countries. Public visibility contributed to the brand's recognition. Mackage clothing has been worn by public figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Meghan Markle, Eva Mendes, and Blake Lively. The founders have described this exposure as partly organic: some garments were purchased independently, while others were requested by stylists for appearances or productions. The label also received television exposure when a Mackage jacket appeared in an episode of Suits without the founders' prior knowledge. This pattern helped reinforce the brand's association with celebrity-led urban fashion without establishing that every appearance was a paid endorsement. In 2021, Tanya Golešić became chief executive officer. Her previous experience included serving as president of the Americas at Jimmy Choo. Under her leadership, Mackage continued international expansion and began emphasizing strategic diversification. The business moved into footwear in 2025 and 2026, launching its first footwear collection and introducing the Luka sneaker. It also created a capsule collection with the Croatian Football Federation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These moves extended the brand's design language into footwear, athletic references, and broader lifestyle categories while retaining its premium fashion positioning. Mackage's continuing strategic challenge is to grow beyond its strongest association with winter coats without weakening its authority in outerwear. The founders have discussed expansion into accessories and handbags, and have identified Europe as an important growth region. The brand therefore combines a specialist heritage in leather and cold-weather clothing with an ongoing effort to become a more broadly recognized international fashion label.

• 2026

  Mackage launched a Croatian Football Federation capsule

  [1]Mackageen.wikipedia.org

  The collaboration connected Mackage with Croatian football and the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

• 2025

  Mackage entered footwear

  [1]Mackageen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced its first footwear collection, including the Luka sneaker.

• 2021

  Tanya Golešić became chief executive officer

  [1]Mackageen.wikipedia.org

  Golešić took over the chief executive role and oversaw international expansion and category diversification.

• 2001

  Elisa Dahan joined the creative leadership

  [1]Mackageen.wikipedia.org

  Dahan joined the business as co-creative director, formalizing the design partnership with Elfassy.

• 1999

  Mackage was founded in Montreal

  [1]Mackageen.wikipedia.org

  Eran Elfassy established Mackage as a fashion outerwear brand with an initial emphasis on contemporary leather jackets.

• Mackage opened a SoHo flagship in New York

  [1]Mackageen.wikipedia.org

  The New York flagship supported international visibility and placed the brand in a prominent fashion-shopping district.

Premium and luxury-oriented urban outerwear combining leather craftsmanship, winter protection, tailored silhouettes, and contemporary fashion design.

• Leather outerwear · 1999

  Leather jackets

  Leather jackets were central to Mackage's founding proposition and remain one of its signature categories. The brand's early experience in the leather industry influenced its focus on material quality, close silhouettes, and fashion-oriented construction. Later designs combined leather with other materials and detailing, allowing the category to remain connected to the label's origins while evolving with seasonal collections.

• Insulated outerwear

  Down coats and parkas

  Down coats and parkas represent Mackage's best-known cold-weather offering. They combine insulation and weather protection with a more tailored, fashion-led shape than the oversized winter coats the founders originally sought to challenge. Designs are adapted for different climates, with variations in weight, construction, and materials for markets ranging from severe Canadian winters to milder urban conditions.

• Wool outerwear

  Wool coats

  Mackage expanded from leather into wool outerwear, including coats that may use leather detailing or contrasting materials. These products extend the brand's emphasis on silhouette and polished urban styling into less technical forms of winter dressing. Wool coats also allow the label to serve customers seeking fashion outerwear for moderate climates or formal everyday use.

• Spring and summer outerwear

  Seasonal lightweight jackets

  The brand produces lighter spring and summer jackets in addition to its winter collections. These garments use lighter materials, brighter colors, and less insulating constructions. The category helps Mackage reduce dependence on the autumn and winter selling season and demonstrates how its design language can be applied when warmth is not the primary requirement.

• Footwear · 2025

  Luka sneaker

  The Luka sneaker is part of Mackage's first footwear collection. It is named after Croatian footballer Luka Modrić and reflects the brand's move toward athletic-inspired lifestyle products. The launch represents a category extension beyond jackets and coats while retaining a connection to performance, movement, and contemporary fashion.

• Fashion accessories

  Accessories

  Accessories form part of Mackage's broader diversification direction. Reference material identifies accessories and handbags as areas the founders intended to expand into, although the available material does not specify a complete product list or launch chronology.

• 2026Croatian Football Federation capsule

  International · Croatia

  Mackage collaborated with the Croatian Football Federation on a capsule collection ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Members of the Croatian men's national team were featured, linking the brand's design language with football and technical performance.

  Outcome. The capsule broadened Mackage's visibility into sports-related fashion and supported its diversification beyond traditional outerwear.

  Source
• Celebrity and editorial styling

  International

  Mackage gained visibility through wear by public figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Meghan Markle, Eva Mendes, and Blake Lively. The founders indicated that some appearances resulted from organic purchases or stylist requests rather than formal endorsement arrangements.

  Outcome. The exposure strengthened Mackage's association with premium, celebrity-visible urban outerwear.

  Source
• Mackage television styling in Suits

  International

  A Mackage jacket appeared in an episode of the television series Suits. The founders said they were not aware of the appearance in advance.

  Outcome. The placement provided unsolicited entertainment exposure for the brand.

  Source

• 2026

  Mackage connected product diversification with footballStrategy

  Background

  The company pursued athletic-inspired design and promotional visibility around the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

  Action taken

  Mackage launched a capsule with the Croatian Football Federation and featured members of the Croatian men's national team.

  Aftermath

  The collaboration expanded the brand's presence into sports-linked fashion while supporting its broader category diversification.

  Source

• 2025

  Mackage entered footwearProduct launch

  Background

  The brand sought to diversify beyond its established leather and insulated outerwear categories.

  Action taken

  Mackage introduced its first footwear collection, including the Luka sneaker.

  Aftermath

  The move extended the brand's premium design proposition into lifestyle footwear.

  Source

• Mackage prioritized international retail expansionStrategy

  Background

  The founders sought recognition beyond Canada and the United States and identified Europe as an important growth region.

  Action taken

  The company expanded distribution, operated stores in multiple countries, and opened a flagship in New York's SoHo district.

  Aftermath

  Reference material describes directly operated stores in Canada, the United States, China, Japan, the Netherlands, and France, with distribution in more than 40 countries.

  Source

1. 1Mackageen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mackage official websitemackage.com