FINE DESIGN, GOOD CAUSE

Roots leather jacket in honour of Wayne Gretzky raises thousands for CNIB

Earlier this month, Roots donated a one-of-a- kind leather jacket to be auctioned at the Walter Gretzky Charity Golf Tournament just outside Toronto. By the time bidding ended, the jacket reached the price of $5,000, all of which will go to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Roots Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green, along with Senior Designer, Special Projects, David Young, first presented the jacket to Walter’s son, Wayne, at Lobby, a restaurant in downtown Toronto. He loved its distinct look, as it was different from the usual designs of NHL apparel and paraphernalia. Wayne signed the jacket just before it was put on auction.

Designed by David along with Director of Leather, Karl Kowalewski, the custom-made jacket was inspired by "Wayne’s roots" - his days as a youth in the minor hockey system in his hometown of Brantford, Ontario where he played for the Nadrofsky Steelers. The jacket sleeve features a large ‘9’, the number The Great One first wore (in honour of his childhood idol Gordie Howe) and the letter ‘B’ for Brantford.

David, who also hails from Brantford, says: “It was an extremely rewarding experience designing a jacket for Wayne, to be given to his father Waltera and used for a good cause.”

Made from black vintage leather with red knit fabric used for details, the jacket features chenille direct embroidery, felt appliqués and a double lining of vintage white silk.