January 18, 2022 —Montréal, Quebec—Rose Buddha, the renowned Montréal eco-friendly clothing brand, is proud to introduce a new financial partnership with the cofounders of Frank And Oak, through funding from the Noble Pace investment fund.
This collaboration coincides with Rose Buddha’s 5th anniversary, a milestone the brand intends to mark with an ambitious growth plan. In the years ahead, the team envisions becoming much more than a clothing company. Over the course of 2022, they will announce several major growth initiatives, including a revamping of Méditations Rose Buddha, one of the most downloaded meditation apps in Quebec.
“We launched Rose Buddha in 2016, with an initial investment of $300. Today, our sales turnover is more than $5 million. We need to work with the best if we want to keep serving our customers and fulfilling our mission,” says Maxime Morin, Rose Buddha cofounder and president.
Ethan Song and Hicham Ratnani—entrepreneurs and Noble Pace partners
Ethan Song and Hicham Ratnani are the Canadian duo behind the well-known brand Frank And Oak. Founded in 2012, Frank And Oak designs conscious, fashionable clothing through sustainable, eco-responsible processes. The B Corp certified company has become popular in both Canada and the United States. In 2020, it was sold to UCG, an American investment fund.
“This will be our first investment with our Noble Pace fund. We created Noble Pace so that we could continue to support businesses that strive to make a positive impact on our planet. Rose Buddha won us over with their team and their values. We believed in the company’s potential to expand its identity and establish itself as more than a clothing brand,” says Hicham Ratnani, now a Rose Buddha partner.
“For us, it’s amazing to have Ethan and Hicham on board. Long before Rose Buddha came to be, we were loyal clients and obsessed with the brand—yes, we loved the clothes, but their values also really spoke to us,” says Rose Buddha cofounder Madeleine Arcand.
A new addition to the Rose Buddha management team
Marie-Ève Lemay, fashion designer and yoga teacher
Marie-Ève joined Rose Buddha as a project manager in March 2021. Her experience in the fashion world includes over five years at Logistik Unicorp Inc., where she worked as a technical designer, garment designer, and product development coordinator. It didn’t take long for her to become a cherished member of the Rose Buddha family. The management team has recently welcomed her as a partner.
“I love being able to count on Marie-Ève’s talent and I’m thrilled to have her on board as a partner. Beyond her flair with fashion, she completely embodies Rose Buddha’s values,” says Maxime Morin.
Lise-Marie Cayer and Stéphane de Sampaio, among Rose Buddha’s first collaborators
Lise-Marie and Stéphane have been part of the Rose Buddha adventure from the beginning. For the past five years, the powerhouse duo has run Fil et Crayon, a Montréal-based company offering a range of à la carte services in the apparel and branding industry. A cherished collaborator, Fil et Crayon was instrumental in several of Rose Buddha’s flagship products. Before founding Fil et Crayon, Lise-Marie was a key player behind the brands Voyou and Blank. So, she’s well versed in the challenges of retail and fashion.
Dominic Gagnon, serial entrepreneur and cofounder of Connect&GO
A prominent entrepreneur in Quebec’s tech world, Dominic Gagnon is known for his role as president at Connect&GO, the global leader in smart bracelets for leisure, sports, and entertainment. The active, well-rounded investor is also a major player at Centech where he works as an Entrepreneur in Residence. On top of that, he serves on the Board of Directors at Zù, a unique and creative not-for-profit founded by Guy Laliberté. You can read Dominic’s blog every week at LesAffaires.com.
“I chose to invest in Rose Buddha because I could see they had a fabulous team with the potential to build a strong brand throughout Quebec, Canada, and internationally,” says Dominic Gagnon, new Rose Buddha partner and board chair.
Leading experts to support dynamic growth
With the arrival of these new partners, Rose Buddha is ready to launch a major growth plan that stays true to the brand’s core values. In the last year alone, the company has grown more than 400% and 2400% over four years.
About Rose Buddha
Rose Buddha is a B Corp certified company that creates long-lasting athletic wear and accessories out of recycled materials and natural, organic fabrics. From idea to shipping, each product is made in Canada, following fair trade, ethical practices that respect the brand’s creators and the planet.
To learn more about Rose Buddha, check out www.myrosebuddha.com
