There is nothing cooler than a company that strives to not only produce great products, but to keep things local. There is something to be said about an organization that cares enough to realize the unique proposition a locally made product has over its competitors.

Blank, a Canadian company that sells blank T-shirts and clothing made entirely in Quebec. Unbranded and sweatshop-free, just like that of American Apparel.

Founded in 2005, Blank sells a range of clothing items and accessories for men, women and children with the goal of creating Quebec jobs and promoting local talent. Everything from fabric manufacture to dyeing, cutting and sewing is performed in Quebec, and through Blank’s wholesale services retailers can even customize items with the colours, fabrics and formats of their choice. The company operates two stores in Montreal, both of which also serve as locales of production — an interior architecture that includes large windows toward the rear of the store allows for customers to see the clothes being made. Brilliant.

Whereas almost 18,000 garment jobs were lost between 2003 and 2004 in Quebec, according to the province’s Institut de la Statistique, Blank’s sales doubled in 2006, allowing it to open its second store. Which just goes to show that the opportunities still abound for locally made goods. It’s not just still made locally—it also manages to remain profitable.