August 18, 2006

Photographed at the new Roots store by Diane Bald

A week in the world of Roots

Issue 52 – August 18, 2006

MAKING IT HAPPEN

This week, Roots Co-Founders Don Green and Michael Budman celebrated the 33rd anniversary of Roots by opening an innovative new store in Toronto just up the street from where they opened their first location in 1973

Issue 52 - August 18, 2006

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I N S I D E I S S U E 52 MOVING FORWARD Roots inaugurates an innovative eco-friendly emporium close to original store on Yonge Street THE NUMBERS # 1 We name names THE HOT LIST A fast look at what’s flying off the shelves at Roots stores SOUND ADVICE Innovative new product for iPods exclusive to Roots for next two months DOING THE RIGHT THING The latest in our series on employees who help others A FLYER TO GO HIGHER New promotion showcases the ‘Roots 73’ fall collection STATIONARY BUT GOING PLACES Roots supports Race For Dignity in fight against AIDS WELL RECEIVED New women’s jeans on target with customers

Departments FRESH INK NEW AND NOTEWORTHY GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN…

SPREADING THE WORD UP FRONT GREEN TIPS HEALTH TIPS STAYING POWER

Publishers Michael Budman, Don Green Editor Robert Sarner Editorial Assistant Paulomi Patel

The Source is published every week by Roots Canada Ltd. We welcome letters from readers for publication. Please address all correspondence to The Source , Letters to the Editor, Roots Canada, 1400 Castlefield Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6B 4CR or by email to rsarner@roots.com Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Each issue of The Source is also available, in an abridged version, on the Roots website at www.roots.com Issue 52 - August 18, 2006

SPECIAL DELIVERY Recent letters from the world of Roots IN AWE IN OSHAWA I’m writing you to say what great staff you have working in your Oshawa Centre Store.

I was there twice in the past three weeks to make purchases and both times the staff made me want to return and shop.

As a female in my early 30s, I’m often in the mall shopping for my family. I find it discouraging to go into stores where the staff are either talking to each other and are too busy to help the customer or they simply just don’t want to be there. This was certainly NOT the case when I visited your Oshawa store. The staff were friendly, willing to help, and always smiling. Unfortunately, in this day and age, people working in stores are often too concerned with themselves to help others.

I know that the only time most people contact Customer Service is to complain. This is simply not the case here. I just wish I had taken the time to know who the women were working on the two occasions that I was in the store so I could have included their names in this letter. Great job by all of them!

I hope this letter makes it

to your Oshawa store so they will hear from a customer about what a great job they are doing. I will now think of Roots as my first place to shop for my family.

Joylene Airey Port Perry, Ontario WALKING FOR A GOOD CAUSE I am writing with regard to the article “In aid of the AIDS fight” that appeared in Issue 52 of The Source. As someone who is passionately committed to the AIDS fight, I was thrilled to read that Roots is fighting right alongside me!

I often do volunteer work for the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia (which is a fantastic organization) and this year I’m organizing a team at my store for the AIDS Walk here in Halifax on September 30. I’ve done the walk by myself, but I’ve never helped put together a team before. Luckily everyone is really enthusiastic and eager to get involved.

I am hoping that our staff could get some of the T-shirts that Roots printed for the AIDS Conference in Toronto.

Anne Theriault Roots store, Halifax, NS HATS OFF TO THE WEST ED TEAM I recently made a trip to Edmonton to spend a few days helping set up the beautiful new Roots store, which opened earlier this month in the West Edmonton Mall. I want to say what an awesome job everyone did, and congratulate them on their hard work.

I was only there for three days, but when I came home I was ready to sleep for a week. I can’t imagine how tired everyone, (especially Samara Snyder), was by the time they finally opened the store, but I’m sure they felt it was worth it on the big day Congratulations on your new store, West Ed! It was so nice meeting all of you.

Lindsay Kern Roots store, Kelowna, BC The Source wants to hear from you. Please send your letters to Robert Sarner at rsarner@roots.com Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

DEPT. OF CLARIFICATION Setting the record straight In Issue 51 of The Source, in the article entitled “Looking Good”, the correct name of the Manager of the Roots store in London, Ontario is Phil Papadopoulos.

- Please address any corrections, relevant updates and revisions to rsarner@roots.com 2

Moving Forward On the 33rd anniversary of the company’s founding, Roots inaugurates a new innovative eco-friendly emporium in Toronto close to the original store on Yonge Street

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his week in Toronto, on the very day that Roots celebrated its 33rd anniversary, Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green were busy overseeing the finishing touches on their latest achievement on the retail front. On August 15, Roots Rosedale — Toronto’s first environmentally friendly combined fashion and home design store and yoga studio — opened for business, heralding a bold new step forward for the company.

Fittingly, it is situated on Yonge Street just a block north of where the original Roots store opened in 1973.

The store may be innovative but it’s also true to the heritage of Roots, and not just due to its proximity to the original Roots store. The just-built store at 1073 Yonge Street reflects the core values of Roots — personal well being, a healthy lifestyle, athleticism, and respect and appreciation for nature, the community, and great aesthetics — and translates them into a lively, engaging and socially responsible retail space.

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Designed by architect Diane Bald, Founder and Creative Director of Roots Home Design, who worked closely with Pauline Landriault, Director of Visual Planning and Store Development, Roots Rosedale mixes Roots essentials with fresh ingredients to offer a new shopping experience for the eco-conscious consumer. To that end, the store was built with environmental sensitivity.

Michael and Don have always believed that offering products suited to a healthy lifestyle and reflecting an environmental sensibility is important to the Roots customer. More so today than ever.

“This new store is a natural extension for Roots,” says Michael. “It represents where we want Roots to be as we move forward but it is also perfectly in keeping with our past. Roots has always been connected to nature and the outdoors, promoting an active, healthy lifestyle and being socially aware. In addition to showcasing and selling our products, we also see this store as sending a positive

message to our customers about how being green is not a sacrifice but is about change and evolution and a way of thinking.”

Housed in a warm and intimate environment, Roots Rosedale offers a wide range of Roots products such as Roots Organic apparel made from organic cotton or hemp, and organic cotton baby clothing.

Another highlight is the Roots Yoga clothing line for men and women. It was created by Denyse Green, wife of Don Green, and a long-time yoga practitioner with 10 years of teaching experience, who oversees the collection. She works closely with a team of designers who, like herself, are veteran practitioners of yoga.

For yogis of all levels, Roots is opening its first Yoga Studio just upstairs from the store. Under the direction of Denyse, the new studio will offer classes in Classical, Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyassa Yoga as well as mat Pilates. Twice a week, the Roots Yoga Studio will also offer free classes to Roots employees.

Continued on next page

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The right stuff

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oots Rosedale is designed and built in a way that is both welcoming to people and friendly to the environment. For example, the following materials were used in creating this retail space.

All the wood products purchased for the store come from forests that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council that promotes forests that meet a stringent set of social and environmental standards.

Woodstalk fiberboard has been used as the base-building material for the store’s floor, wall fixtures and cabinets. An alternative to medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard, Woodstalk fiberboard is made from Canadian wheat straw that would have otherwise found its way A winning mix of ingredients from the world of Roots showcased in a progressive, eco-friendly setting into the waste stream.

All the floors in Roots In addition to Roots Yoga, ues to become intrinsically ping environment.

Roots Rosedale carries classic personal with time and use.

Adding to the visual experi- Rosedale and Yoga Studio are Roots apparel and accessories Roots Rosedale also features ence of Roots Rosedale are the made of solid bamboo that has received the EcoLogo such as Roots authentic athletic Roots Home products including eye-catching, framed photocertification by the Environwear for athletes of all levels, furniture upholstered with graphs taken by Senior Art mental Choice Program. and traditional Roots Genuine vegetable-tanned leather, tables Director Ilich Mejia and Diane Bamboo grows naturally, reLeather products, featuring built from reclaimed wood, and Bald in addition to artwork by generates much faster than vegetable-tanned leather. organic cotton sheets and towels celebrated photographer and lumber trees, requires no reVegetable tanning, which uses as well as linens made from outdoorsman Don Stanfield, planting and very little fertilinatural vegetable extracts from bamboo fibers. exhibited throughout the store. zation or pesticides. chestnuts and Argentinean In addition to products for It all adds up to an exciting, Multibond is a water-based quebracho trees, gives all of the home and body, Roots progressive new retail experiassembly glue that has been Roots Genuine Leather bags, Rosedale also has oversized ence in the already impressive used to secure the store’s accessories and furniture dressing rooms, ergonomically Roots retail network. It would bamboo flooring to the sub distinctive characteristics, and designed display fixtures, a be hard to find a better way for floor. Using water-based adis able to transform even the planned juice bar, and books Roots to kick off its 34th year hesives reduces the amount slightest imperfection into about health and wellness, all in than with the opening of Roots of volatile organic compounds something beautiful that contin- a welcoming and warm shopand/or hazardous air pollutRosedale. ants.

The expanding Roots Yoga line figures prominently at the new store Reclaimed wood has been used in the construction of Roots Home tables and accessories available in the store. These are non-virgin, non-forest products salvaged from a number of sources and therefore removed from the waste stream. Roots is also working with the Torontobased Zerofootprint environmental organization to help neutralize the negative environmental impact of the store’s electricity use through a program called Zerofootprint Electricity Offsets.

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MOMENTS THAT MATTER Big developments in the life of Roots staff Alex Purich, Assistant Manager of the Roots store in Pickering, Ontario and his wife Christina Purich just announced that they are expecting their second child in April 2007.

- Please send us details of any such good news and we’ll be happy to publish it in The Source (email: rsarner@roots.com)

1309 T THE NUMBERS # 1 We name names

SOUND ADVICE Innovative new product for iPods exclusive to Roots for the next two months

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his weekend, building on the success earlier this summer of the Eton FR300 crank radio, Roots will be introducing the Eton Sound 50 iPod docking station to select stores in Canada.

For the next two months, it will be available only at Roots.

Eton products are known worldwide for their original features and their partnership with Grundig. The Sound 50 docking station is the latest Eton creation to hit the market. With its sleek-styled speaker system, it has a built-in iPod dock that simultaneously recharges the iPod while you listen, as well an adapter tray that allows various iPod models to fit the Sound 50. The system offers full control over your iPod with its small remote.

“We are extremely pleased to be launching our products at Roots,” says Shannon Laurin, Canadian Sales Man-

ager for Eton Electronics in Canada.

“Roots has such a significant retail and brand presence making it ideal for Eton.”

Coordinated at Roots by Jarar Kazmi, Director, Merchandise Purchasing and Flow, and Jennifer Taylor Weeks, Merchandise Planning Manager for Leather and Accessories, the introduction of the Sound 50 at Roots is part of a new initiative to offer select other brand products at Roots. “We’re excited to bring unique, innovative, quality items to the Roots environment,” says Jarar. “The popularity of Eton’s crank radio at Roots in recent months led us to introduce the Sound 50 at Roots. It’s not only a quality product but it compliments nicely the iPod phenomenon which continues to grow.”

Eton Sound 50 iPod Docking Station: Available in white and black. Retail price $150

Crank it up

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irst introduced in early June, the Eton FR300 crank radio has proven highly popular with Roots customers.

Environmentally friendly, it is equipped with a hand-crank power generator that provides unlimited power for the AM/FM radio, eliminating the need for batteries or electricity. It also features a host of other accessories including a built-in flashlight, making it ideal for travel, camping, and emergencies.

Available in select Roots stores, the crank radio comes in silver, red, black, orange, blue, green, yellow and camouflage.

The camo model is sold exclusively at Roots. Retail price: $60 Issue 52 - August 18, 2006

he Source is big on names.

Readers know that we like nothing better than to spotlight people at Roots who are doing things. We may not put their names in bright lights but we do the next best thing, putting them in boldface type.

Over the past year, we published a total of 1,309 Roots employee names (including those mentioned more than once) over the course of 51 issues. That’s an average of just over 25 names cited in each issue. Do something worth mentioning, and you can be sure we’ll name you.

THE HOT LIST A fast look at what’s flying off the shelves at Roots stores Based on the latest sales figures from all Roots stores in Canada and the United States, here are the 20 top-selling products: 1. Men’s Elk Island Polo 2. Women’s Printed Thermal Kanga T-shirt 3. Women’s Lily Tunic Shirt 4. Men’s World crew-neck T-shirt 5. Men’s Jakeman Zip Hoody 6. Women’s Classic Fleece Zip Hoody 7. Women’s Long Sleeves Vintage Canada Tee 8. Women’s Natural Graphic Tee 9. Women’s Classic Fleece Kanga Hoody 10. Girls Flared Sweatpant 11. Girls Beaver Short Sleeves T-shirt 12. Baby’s Yaz Colour Block T-shirt 13. Baby’s Warm Up Hoody 14. Baby’s Phys Ed Pant 15. Roots Eco-Bag 16. Havaiana Flip Flops 17. Roots Bottled Water 355 ml 18. Crocs Beach Clogs 19. Village Pack Tribe Leather Bag 20. Village Pack Prince Leather Bag

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contest.

Sales Associate Jonathan Gauthier achieved the highest units per transaction (UPTs) and top average sale per transaction in dollars (ASPTs) for the quarter and tied with Joey for achieving the highest number of ‘Personal Sales Goals’ for the past few weeks.

The team is also involved in revamping the store’s motivational area with a “Beaver Log” that keeps track of the daily progress of the store’s ‘Goal of the Week’.

DOING THE RIGHT THING The latest in our series on Roots employees who help others

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oots employees just can’t seem to do enough for their communities. In the latest example, the team at the Roots store in South Keys, Ottawa is organizing a charity basketball tournament to support the Weekend to End Breast Cancer campaign.

Inspired by Paul Rogers, Manager of the Winnipeg outlet (who

organized a similar event), Susan Van Dalen, Manager of the South Keys outlet store in Ottawa, and her staff will hold a three-on-three basketball tournament early next month.

As part of the event, the staff has invited other Roots stores in the Ottawa area along with other businesses in the South Keys neighbourhood to participate in the event. The tournament will also include special

activities like face painting for children organized by recently promoted Assistant Manager Joey Tanga. All participants will be provided with refreshments at a BBQ held by the staff.

Besides this, the South Keys team is involved in other internal contests and activities.

Keyholder Matthiew Brazeau won a $50 Roots Gift Card when he scored the maximum points in the ‘Item of the Week’

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN… Taking attendance of special guests at Roots stores

(Above) Susan Van Dalen, Manager of the South Keys store (Above left) Sales Associates Jonathan Gauthier, Paul Oneid, Courtney Wade and Keyholder Matthiew Brazeau

STAYING POWER

Saluting those who go the distance

T (From left to right) Chris O’Donnell, Donovan Bailey, Kirk Muller, Amanda Bynes and Ethan Zohn

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elebrities have long made a point of shopping at Roots. Here are the latest sightings of prominent figures from the world of entertainment and sports who visited Roots stores recently: · Toronto (100 Bloor Street) - American actress Amanda Bynes (who is starring in the upcoming movie Hairspray, and is a former show host on Nickelodeon TV), shopped at the flagship store. Chris O’Donnell from the show Grey’s Anatomy and star of the movies Batman and Robin and Batman Returns visited the store with his kids. Ethan Zohn winner of the television series Survivor, Africa visited the store. · Pointe-Claire (Quebec) - Kirk Muller, new Assistant Coach of the Montreal Canadiens and former NHL player, dropped into the store this week. While he was there, he signed autographs for several fans. · Oakville (Ontario) - Canadian athlete and former Olympic Gold Medalist Donovan Bailey purchased the Roots Kids campus hoody and girls Madison sweatpants for his daughter.

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his month, various employees marked major anniversaries of their time at Roots. By ‘major’, we mean benchmark achievements as in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years spent at Roots. We invite anyone celebrating such an anniversary to send the relevant information to The Source.

Congratulations to Siegmar Pischkitl, Forklift Operator, Distribution Centre, on completing 15 years at Roots and Nina Rodrigues, Special Orders, Leather Factory, on completing five years at Roots.

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SPREADING THE WORD Guide to new ads appearing this week and next

A FLYER TO GO HIGHER New print promotion showcases the ‘Roots 73’ fall collection

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oday represents a bold step forward for the Roots outlet stores.

Known as ‘Roots 73’, the 21 locations across Canada have been a huge success in recent years, stocked largely with their own Roots product lines separate from the more upmarket Roots company stores.

For the first time in the history of ‘Roots 73’, a fullcolour flyer featuring the new collection was produced and inserted in major newspapers today in Ontario and eastern Canada taking the outlet operation to a new level.

Shyrose Kassam, Director of Merchandising for the outlet stores, conceived the 4page brochure to increase awareness of the ‘Roots 73’ stores and merchandise. “The

Issue 52 - August 18, 2006

‘Roots 73’ flyer is a perfect vehicle to let our customers see our great new product as well as the fantastic value and superb styling that we offer in our outlet stores,” says Shyrose. “This is the first in a series of flyers that will keep our customers informed about our new product and special promotional offers.”

The flyer includes a redemption coupon, offering customers $10 off when they spend $50 or more, which provides a way of tracking how many people the flyer brings into the store.

Styled by Field Visual Merchant Emily Rumble and Merchandise Flow Analysts Christine Kudzman and Carmen Nunez, with photographs taken by Senior Art Director Ilich Mejia, the flyer showcases the fall ‘Roots 73’clothing and accessory collection including the newly introduced ‘Roots 73’ yoga line and ‘Roots 73’ leather goods now available.

Since the introduction of ‘Roots 73’ merchandise in 2000, sales have grown consistently every year to the point where the stores now generate more than three times the revenue they did six years ago.

Thurs., August 17 - Now magazine had a full-page colour ad on the back cover featuring “The Anatomy of a Great Sweat”.

Sat., August 19 - The Globe and Mail will run a half-page vertical black and white ad in the Style section featuring “The Roots Flats” bag collection including The Village Pack, Village Bag, small and large Venetian Bags, Large and the Venetian Village Bag. Sat., August 19 - The National Post will run a full-page colour ad on the outside back cover of the Toronto section featuring “The Anatomy of a Great Sweat”.

Mon., August 21 - A new ad campaign using ‘outdoor transit’ kicks off in several cities. It will feature “The Anatomy of a Great Sweat” ad. In Toronto, the ads will appear in the subway, on streetcars, buses and bus shelters. In Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, the ads will appear on bus shelters.

The campaign will run for five weeks.

Sat., August 26 - The National Post will run a full-page colour ad on the outside back cover of the Toronto supplement featuring current Roots Products.

FRESH INK

ON THE MOVE

A selection of recent coverage of Roots in the media

New appointments and promotions at Roots

Le Journal de Montreal, August 12. Spotlight on Roots Maple Lamp, Leather Buffalo Basket, Leather Nesting Boxes, Leather Photo Album Storage Box and Leather Pillow available at the Roots Home store.

Now magazine (Toronto), August 10. Mentions the new Roots Rosedale store and Yoga Studio on Yonge Street near Roxborough. Also, spotlights special yoga-mat bag created for Roots by local yoga line Dear Lil’Devas.

Lou Lou magazine, August.

Spotlight on Roots swimsuit featured in the “Toronto Shops” section.

Dennis Ibarra, appointed Store Manager, Eglinton Outlet, Toronto.

Ashleigh Medd appointed Store Manager at Roots Rosedale, Toronto.

Urvashi Mehta promoted to Senior Manager, Sourcing, Roots Head Office, Toronto.

Joseph Meissner promoted to Store Manager, St. Vital Centre, Winnipeg, MB. Bernadette O’Beid appointed Senior Manager, Windsor Crossing, ON Amanda Peroulakis appointed Store Manager, Roots Bayview, Toronto

(in alphabetical order)

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Our weekly spotlight on new positions at Roots

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ere is a list of current job openings at Roots stores along with the appropriate contact person. For more information, please refer to the separate email notices sent out recently about each position: Store Manager, Pickering, ON (Gold level store). E-mail your resume to the attention of Heidi Botis at hbotis@roots.com mailto:hbotis@roots.com Deadline: Saturday, Aug. 26. · All Positions, new ‘Roots 73’ store, Fanshaw, London, ON. Email your resume to the attention of Rosemary Eisenhut at eisenhut@roots.com Deadline: Saturday, August 19. · Yoga Instructor, for Roots Yoga Studio at new Roots Rosedale store in Toronto. Email your resume to the attention of Laura Clark at hr@roots.com Deadline: Wednesday, August 30. · Editorial Intern, for The Source at the Head Office in Toronto. Full or part-time, unpaid internship working on the Roots weekly newsletter. Ideal for someone interested in communication, journalism and publishing. Good writing skills required. Email your resume to Robert Sarner at rsarner@roots.com 7

STATIONARY BUT GOING PLACES Roots supports Race For Dignity in fight against AIDS

Scott Simpson on his bike

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ince last weekend, Roots was actively involved in the 16th International AIDS Conference that wrapped up today in Toronto. Besides being a sponsor of the event and the official outfitter for volunteers

and delegates, Roots donated products to the Race For Dignity bike-athon, organized in conjunction with the Conference by Dignitas International. The Toronto-based Dignitas International foundation is a humanitarian organization fighting the global AIDS pandemic.

As part of this initiative, Roots supplied some 250 items including T-shirts, baseball caps and Eco-Bags for the event. The items were used as giveaways for the volunteers who helped organize a 65-hour stationary bike-athon at Dundas Square to raise funds for Dignitas’ work. The bike tournament was held during the first four days of the weeklong AIDS conference.

Race for Dignity was established by an HIV positive Canadian, Scott Simpson,

with the aim of cycling across Africa to raise awareness of the life-threatening disease.

Simpson, who could not complete his bike trip due to bad health, also wanted to raise funds for access to Antiretroviral (ARV) medication for those afflicted with AIDS. The goal of the current Race for Dignity campaign is to continue Scott’s race by having cyclists complete 13,000 km (the distance the distance across Africa) on stationary bikes

Roots in the gift bag In addition to being a sponsor and official outfitter at this week’s AIDS Conference in Toronto, Roots also contributed to gift bags for a special group of 50 women at the Conference.

The delegation was comprised of sex workers from around the world who were brought to the event to talk about safe sex and AIDS. Roots gave each of these women a bottle of the Roots Spirit fragrance and a Roots Yoga tank top.

WELL RECEIVED New women’s jeans right on target with customers

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eatured in The Source last week, the new styles in women’s denims are proving to be a big success with customers. Designed by Senior Designer Jules Power, and coordinated by Merchandise Manager Julie O’Neill of the Women’s Wear Department, the Aphrodite, Athena and Venus Jeans that arrived in stores earlier this month seem to be hitting the mark based on initial feedback and sales reports.

For example, at two main Roots stores in Toronto - the flagship location on Bloor Street and Roots Central in the Eaton Centre - some of the styles were already almost sold out.

The Athena jean targeting the traditional customer comes with a slightly higher rise, flared leg and a dark wash with heavy topstitching detail. The Venus jeans have a straight leg, low rise and a medium wash.

They include top-stitching details too. (A version of this style in black is expected to arrive in stores in November). The Aphrodite jeans are for the more fashion forward customer with a slim fit, narrow cigarette legs and a dark wash with a low rise. Made from cotton/spandex, all three styles are high on comfort and wearability, and suit the tastes of a variety of customers due to their versatility.

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PERFECT WITH JEANS

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n ideal coordinate to go with these a jeans is the Stretch Rugby Polo, part of the back-to-school package. Made from soft cotton-spandex stretch jersey fabric, the top features a white cotton canvas

collar and placket, which comes with a worn-in look, a beaver patch on the chest and embroidery under the back collar.

Available in varsity stripe colours, the warm honey/port and Torfino/walnut colour combinations are available at all Roots stores while the Peacoat/grass colour combination is available in select stores only. Retail price: $56

GREEN TIP #18 The latest in our series of easy ways to help the environment T i r e Inflation: Tires have a b i g g e r impact on the environment than you might think. Did you know 50 to 80 percent of tires are underinflated? Underinflated tires waste up to 5 percent of a car’s fuel. How much fuel would we save if we properly inflated our tires? Up to 2 billion gallons a year!

Provided by Zerofootprint, an innovative Toronto-based organization that helps companies and organizations reduce their environmental impact. See www.zerofootprint. net.

HEALTH TIP # 15 The latest in our series of easy ways to help you stay healthy Maximize your mood and energy with optimal digestion: Two thirds of o u r neurotransmitters (the brain chemicals which affect our mood, concentration, and drive) are made in our intestines as a byproduct of the food we digest.

Over 90% of our serotonin (the calming neurotransmitter) is made in our gut. The bottom line is if you want to feel your best, eat the highest quality foods for your metabolic type slowly, in a relaxed atmosphere and chew thoroughly. Consider taking probiotic supplements if your digestion is poor. These are the healthy bacteria that inhabit our gut and help us to properly digest our food.

Provided by Jeff Hirst, a professional trainer, co-owner of Training Zone, and a former Olympic diver. Jeff is an acclaimed sports instructor (who was the captain of the University of Toronto swim team) and is highly knowledgeable about health and fitness. He can be reached at trainingzone @ hotmail.com

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NEW & NOTEWORTHY A guide to just-launched Roots products

LIMITED EDITION For men who are looking for exclusivity Inspired by the association between Roots and the great outdoors, the style comes with details like a three-piece hood, two-way zippers and a multilayered winged screen-print. It also includes a contrast two-patch feature stitched on the inside back allowing the stitch-pattern to be viewed from outside.

Available in black, the Winged Hoody is made in Canada for select Roots Canadian stores. All the 300 pieces come with numbered hangtags.

Sizes: XS-XXL. Retail price: $98

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ome people don’t just want to be the first wearing a certain style, they also want to be the only ones with a certain look. They want exclusivity.

Targeting such customers, Menswear Designer Dylan Anderson has introduced the limited edition men’s Winged Hoody. Only 300 pieces were made in this style to ensure its special exclusive status.

“Limited edition product is a way of offering our customers a chance to buy a unique garment,” says Dylan, who designed the hoody along with Graphic Artist Tracy Klem.

Winged Hoody for men

FOR BABIES

ROOTS EQUIPMENT

Different ways to make the fall friendlier

Making it easier to integrate your accessories

Designed by Senior Designer for Babies, Elsa DeSouza, the Lakeland Sherpa Hoody is derived from the concept of cocooning through fabrics.

Made from 75% cotton and 25% polyester fleece with Sherpa, the unisex hoody comes in a Nordic Fleece Shell with Sherpa lining for warmth and comfort and includes a Split Hood.

Coordinated by Marisa Battaglia, Merchandise Manager, Babies and Kids, the Hoody is set to hit stores in Canada and the US next week followed by additional colours arriving in September. Available in sizes S-5T for babies. Retail price: $39.95

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Issue 52 - August 18, 2006

The upcoming cooler months will be a lot friendlier to kids wearing the new sturdy and flexible Roots Wheaton Boots.

Coordinated by Associate Designer, Sarah Skinner, and Merchandise Manager Marisa Battaglia from the Baby’s Department, the boots are set to arrive in stores in Canada next week.

Made from 100% Poly microfiber with rubber soles for a good grip, the boots come with additional details like easy, child-friendly, Velcro closure for comfort and classic Roots embroidery.

Available in sizes 4-8 for babies. Retail price: $19.95

he Roots Universal Premium Leather Pouch is made from good quality pure leather with a simple, classic design that fits a variety of phones. Other details include a security flap and a leather-covered swivel belt.

Arriving in stores this weekend, the pouch will be available in select Roots locations in Canada and the US. Retail price: $30

MP3 Player case (above); Leather Mobile Pouch (on the right)

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he Roots Universal Premium Leather Pouch is made from good quality pure leather with a simple, classic design that fits a variety of phones. Other details include a security flap and a leather-covered swivel belt.

Arriving in stores this weekend, the pouch will be available in select Roots locations in Canada and the US. Retail price: $30 9

Roots Rosedale opens for business

On August 15, in the latest addition to its already impressive retail network, Roots opened a new concept store in Toronto at 1073 Yonge Street. Known as Roots Rosedale due to its location, it is the city’s first environmentally friendly combined fashion and home design store and yoga studio. See cover story on Page 3.

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