The remaining dozen or so I am taking to Out Of The Cold,  a charity in Toronto that shelters and provides food and warm clothing for the homeless. I hope they take them, and pass them out to a few folk who would probably really appreciate them.

Winter just hit Toronto a few days ago, and it’s funny as Canadians how we seem to forget what it feels like. Personally, I’m still adjusting. Brrrrrr. Where’s my Caninja?

Hiyaah!

I dug out my stock of Caninjas from storage in order to send a few to some prairie folk who really need them.  (If you’re sitting in front of your computer right now saying ”Where the fun is my Caninja???” It’s been mailed!)

I’ve decided to put the rest of them up for sale right here on this blog. Never say never, but I predict I will not make these again. Here is your chance to own a piece of history!

I’ve taken some pictures of all my stock, these are the remaining Caninjas after making and selling hundreds of them over a few years.  Hopefully the pictures aren’t too terrible, and you can see the colour and pattern. Each Caninja is numbered left to right according to the numbers below the picture. To see more pictures of a particular #, please email me at info@butikofer.com. 

Regular price for Caninjas was $35-$55. These Last Chance Caninjas are priced like so- most are $20. The kids Caninjas are $15, and there are a few Caninjas that have hand sewn snaps and these are $10. Shipping or delivery will be an additional charge, according to location. Payment will be through Paypal, I will send you an e-bill when I receive an email indicating which Caninja you would like to purchase. info@butikofer.com

For more information about Caninja and what it’s all about- read this post. This sale will go on for a few weeks, and the pictures will be updated when something has been sold.  Hope you find something that appeals to your inner Canadian Climate Fighter!

$20 each- 1 - 2 - sold - 4 - 5

$20 each- 6 - 7 - sold - sold - sold

$20 each- 16 - sold - sold - sold - 20

$20 each- 21 - sold - 23 - sold - sold

$20 each- sold - sold - sold - 29 - 30

Kids Caninjas size 4-8 (app.) Too big for babies!

Kids $15 each- 31 - 32 - sold - sold - 35

Kids $15 each- 36 - 37 - 38 - 39

Kids $15 each- 40 - 41 - sold - 43

Kids $15 each- sold - 45 - 46 - 47

Kids Caninja-$15 each - with snaps and hand printed fabric - 48 - sold - 50

Adult Size with Hand Sewn Snaps- $10 each - 51 - sold - sold

Adult Size with Hand Sewn Snaps- $10 each - sold - sold - 56 - sold - sold

Adult Size with Hand Sewn Snaps- $10 each- sold - sold - sold - 62 - sold

Adult Size with Hand Sewn Snaps- $10 each- sold - sold - sold - 67 - sold

There it is- #6, the beautiful scarf made of recycled materials. 

What the H-E double hockeysticks is a Caninja? People ask this question all the time.  I suppose it’s not that self explanatory- since I invented it and then made up the name.

Voila- a tutorial on the history of Caninja.

Caninja is the Canadian Ninja, a superhero of sorts who is also known as the  Canadian Climate Fighter.

The original Caninja is best described as a hooded-scarf-hat. I know! It’s everything in one. I made the very first in the winter of 2003-2004, but I don’t remember where the idea came from.  It was an exceptionally snowy winter that year, and I had a pretty long walk to my job at a belt factory. The Caninja was the answer to all my prayers- it transforms to the point where just your eyes are showing, it’s very, very warm, and it’s an irresponsible humans dream- less to lose because it’s a many-in-one.  I actually like winter, but only if I am dressed for it- I think that’s the Winnipeg in me. I rocked that head sock all winter, and it became obvious I was on to something. People liked it.  So the next winter I made a few more, and the rest was history.

Caninjas are made with cut up sweaters on the outside, and lined with polar fleece. I used sweaters because knitted fabric is really hard to find, and the variety of unwanted sweaters out there is amaaazing. I am often into things that are a little on the ugly side, and thrift stores were filled with enormous possibilites- Cosby sweaters, Gem sweaters, etc, etc. Back then, being green was not the phenomenon it is today, but it certainly wasn’t a bad thing! Using recycled materials is more time consuming than people think, and was far more work than using a new fabric would be. I would wash each sweater, ’strategically’ cut it in order to use the sweaters pattern in an interesting way, and then I would shave all the cut pieces with a handheld electric shaver to remove the pills. The shaving was the icing on the cake- it made the sweaters look brand new, but was incredibly time consuming. Dom can attest to that as he has shaved more than a few Caninjas, as have many other kind friends.

My old roommate Andy Belanger drew the logo above and also these little how to’s below.  Dom and I happened to run into him yesterday after not seeing him for a long time, and he just got a year long contract drawing for DC Comics! Seriously! He works super hard at what he does, and he’s got mad skills. Way to go Andy! He deserves all his success.

So- as an official Canadian Climate Fighting Ninja, you’ve got three ways to battle old man winter-

Wear the Caninja around your neck to keep toasty. Great for snowy errands, and balmy winter days.  Keep it on indoors to fight the chill.

Wear the Caninja the same way you would a hood- over your jacket or under, both will ward off the cold.

Undo the zippers (to create extra length) and snap up the snaps.

Now you’re a serious Canadian Climate Fighting Ninja!

 Caninja was sold for a few winters mainly at Magic Pony, also at a few other Toronto stores, and in Montreal and Winnipeg. It had a small loyal fanbase, and enjoyed moderate success. It’s first press was in Maclean’s in the winter of 2005- that’s my Dad in his Caninja after an hour long walk to the mail box in -30 degrees.  No complaints from him!

I threw a couple Caninja parties, and recruited members for ‘Team Caninja’. Here are a few old pictures of Canadian Climate Fighters  in their one of a kind finery.

The brand evolved, and I developed a few more climate fighting ‘inventions’.

The Caninja Gypsy- so called because, “She’s all over the place!”

The Gypsy is a looped scarf with a permanent bow slider that transforms it into a multitude of different variations. She’s the prettiest member of the Climate Fighting Team.

The Finninja- The Finnish Ninja

My Nana is Finnish, and this Caninja is based on the traditional Finnish Laplander bonnet- shown below. The Finninja is similar in that it is a hood with a ‘bun/ponytail sack’ on the back. I almost always wear my hear up- and having a big bulge at the back of your head when you wear a hood is pretty annoying. Those smart Finns have got it all figured out. It was my Nana’s 80th birthday this past January, and her and all her daughters and daughters-in-law are going to Finland next month to celebrate. She hasn’t been back since 1955 or something like that. Lucky ladies! I am thinking that maybe if I play my cards right someone will bring me an authentic Laplander bonnet as a souvenir. Just a thought. (Maybe my Mom is reading this. Mom??)

 The Caninja Mini- for kids!

I initially thought that the snaps and zipper contraptions of the Caninja Original was beyond a 5 year old, so I used a soft jersey insert to cover the face instead. It could be easily tucked under the chin. The next season I decided to lose the insert and added snaps like the grown up version- since most five year olds are generally accompanied by adults who make all the decisions on warmth for them anyhow.

HIYAHH!!

Caninja Mitts- Cuffed elbow length mittens, lined with fleece.

 A few others on the roster are the “Caninja Performance’ which is a windproof/wicking  Caninja that is thin enough to wear under a helmet,  and the ‘Caninja Cloche’, a more delicate version of the Caninja Original.

So what happened to Caninja? Well, the women’s wear part of my designing  kind of took over, and I haven’t had any time to devote to Caninja for a couple seasons. I need a business partner. Or a Joseph Mimran. I think as a brand- Caninja still has a lot of potential! I love it for it’s funny-punny taglines, smart multifunctional designs, and how it doesn’t take itself too seriously. A good friend to have in an occasionally brutal winter climate.  It isn’t dead- just temporarily on the back burner. You can still buy a few Caninja products on my webstore.  The Canadian winter is just a short 6 months away!  Haha. Might as well embrace it with preparation.

 Love, The Caninja Mistress