Our story
A bit of history... Jacinthe Bergeron, a member of the Wendat community, literally grew up in the world of footwear, as her father worked in it his entire life. He started as a bootmaker in 1947 and became a renowned designer in the mid-1950s. In 1997, while Roger Bergeron was involved in a company producing high-quality boots very similar to those of Saute-Mouton, his daughter Jacinthe (mother of 3 school-age daughters at the time) imagined a new project to occupy her days: waterproof winter boots lined with wool for children. Supported by her father, Jacinthe's "4th baby" was born, with the first collection in stores in fall 1998. The company's first logo, a little sheep on a quilted background, was the perfect representation of this. Over the years, boots for women and men were in high demand, and the company decided to discontinue its children's collection in 2001.
It was in Wendake that Saute-Mouton's very first steps came to life with the installation of its first rented factory. When it became too small to support the company's growth and no space was available on the reserve at that time, a move became necessary just a few kilometers away.
In 2014, it became urgent to refresh the company's image in order to move away from its child-oriented origins. At the same time, the company's new models, while never forgetting its roots, now target increasingly younger adults. Our new logo embraces this minimalist trend, meeting a new generation.
Barely a month before celebrating our company's quarter-century of existence, a fire completely destroyed our factory acquired in 2010, forcing us to quickly find a new production site. In the heart of this ordeal, an unexpected opportunity presented itself: a neighboring factory was ceasing its operations, allowing us to rent its facilities and equipment. This solution enabled us to resume our production without interruption.
This unfortunate situation also opened the door to acquiring a complete collection of Mukluks, including styles, designs, patterns, soles as well as exclusive rights to produce and market the iconic models created by Barbo more than five decades ago. These renowned mukluks, recognized for their exceptional comfort and excellent artisanal craftsmanship, now continue their story under the Saute-Mouton banner.
The name
It is important to us that our name makes reference to the sheep, that provides the material used for our boots lining. This is what distinguishes us from most other boots on the market, which feature synthetic lining. Also, «saute-mouton» is the French name of the popular children’s game leapfrog, quite fitting for the original lineup of our company.
The people
Saute-Mouton is the work of people passionate about shoes : 30 craftspeople share the tasks of cutting, preparing, assembling, finishing and shipping our boots. Two administrative employees and two salespeople complete the team.
The values
The values of our company are first and foremost human : trust and respect are the foundations of our business relationships. Each person around us is an essential piece of our evolution and we cherish this reciprocity. As for our products, each of our craftspeople is motivated by the satisfaction of a job well done.
What sets us apart
While our consumers are privileged to be able to chose from a vast quantity of products, our unique, traditional signature, our high quality boots and our customized production are what set us apart. Each retailer can build its own specific lineup, matching leathers, colours, shapes and outsoles. This constitutes a tremendous market advantage, as needs and tastes vary from one region — and one store — from the other.
The most important thing setting us apart is certainly the fact that our boots are entirely made in Canada. Other manufacturers may assemble boots with outsoles here in Canada while all the prior steps, from cutting to sewing, are outsourced. According to Canadian law, these other manufacturers can advertise their products as made in Canada. We, Saute-Mouton, don’t play with words : «Fabriqué ici!» («Made here!») has been our motto for years and years.
Multiculturalism is a tremendous force guiding Canadian fashion. We are especially proud of our origins, and of our products entirely made in Canada. «Fabriqué ici!» («Made here!») is our motto.
Our pride
Perseverance over time, maintaining high quality standards, and growth are three things that make us proud, especially since local manufacturing is a growing challenge justified by costs and the scarcity of labor. This makes us appreciate even more the fact that we remain in business year after year and maintain a growing place in our customers' hearts. From our humble beginnings in Wendake to our current company, Jacinthe Bergeron's cultural heritage remains at the heart of our identity.
Innovation is what drives us daily
The urge to create is a powerful driver and we are stimulated by the will to improve constantly. But shoemaking is in our DNA. Our ambition for the years to come? Keep this passion alive, communicate our love for shoes, prepare the next generation and create a community… why not?