January 25, 2007 by Roots Canada

A window into the world of Roots

Issue 65 January 25, 2007

THE MALE SIDE OF THE EQUATION

ILICH MEJIA

New menswear collection adds to the success of Roots

Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

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I N S I D E I S S U E 65

MAKING THE GOOD SHEPHERD LOOK GOOD Roots provides jackets for cast and crew of new movie FOR THE BEARS Polar Bear Day at Roots helps raise funds for endangered animals MAKING STYLE SUSTAINABLE Roots participates in earthfriendly fashion event SUPPORT FOR A GREEN CAUSE Roots backs Bobby Kennedy’s efforts to save rivers COLOURS OF ‘ROOTS 73’ New campaign highlights family values at ‘Roots 73’ MUSICAL ROOTS Spotlighting James Brown FUR THE RECORD Setting things straight on the Roots policy JUST ARRIVED Taking stock of new products at the stores

Departments FRESH INK GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN

PHOTO OF MACHU PICCHU, PERU BY DIANE BALD

KEEPING BUSY AT SUNDANCE Roots in the spotlight at annual film fest

SPECIAL DELIVERY A selection of recent letters from the world of Roots FIRST TIME BUT NOT LAST I want to tell what a great experience I had shopping at your outlet store on Kenaston Boulevard in Winnipeg. The staff could not have been nicer. Greg Lebans was very helpful. When he was pulled away, Megan Hemenway gave good service as well. That was the first time I ever shopped in a Roots store. It definitely will not be the last. Laurie Main Winnipeg, MB

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS MOMENTS THAT MATTER GREEN TIPS HEALTH TIPS STAYING POWER

Publishers MICHAEL BUDMAN, DON GREEN Editor ROBERT SARNER Editorial Assistant PAULOMI PATEL Interns CHARLENE CHAE, NICK KANEVSKY

The Source is published every two weeks 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 4C4 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

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CARING FOR THE KIDS Following up on your coverage in recent issues of the community-related initiatives of Roots stores across the country, I wanted to mention what the two Roots stores in Windsor, Ontario did to make the holiday more festive for some people in need. A lot of the credit goes to Kimberly Givlin who works at the Roots Windsor Crossing store. When she began tutoring at the local school, Immaculate Conception, she was shocked by the number of pupils who lived in poverty. The teachers had to frequently send them to the “Clothing Room” because of their lack of proper winter clothing. As well, the school provides food for them from the “Snack Room” once a day. For most of these children, it’s the only guaranteed meal they get. As part of their holiday char-

ity, all Roots employees in Windsor teamed up with Kimberly to donate five dollars each to raise money to give these students a turkey dinner. Kimberly also asked everyone to donate used clothing. Not only did this bring the children warmth but also the feeling that there are people out there who care about them. Serein Makkawi Sales Associate, Windsor, ON DEBBIE DOES IT RIGHT I am writing as a happy, satisfied customer of the Roots Kids store in Vancouver on Robson Street. The store was very clean and inviting. Your employee Debbie Barnes was especially helpful and knowledgeable. She helped me choose sizes, colours and plan some Christmas gifts. Debbie went out of her way to find a certain sweatshirt in a size that the Robson store did not have. She phoned another location and had the sweatshirt put away for me at Park Royal. I greatly appreciated your pre-Christmas sales and the fullservice approach like having boxes for customers to wrap. It’s an example of why I keep coming back to Roots. I’ve shopped at places where I had to purchase boxes or where they are not available at all and that puts me off wanting to shop there again. So, thank you to Debbie for the great service and to Roots for

continuing to keep the quality of product and joy in giving. Please pass this along to the appropriate managers and staff. Christa Clark Vancouver, BC KUDOS FOR DESIGN TEAM The other day, two of us at the Roots (Bayshore) store in Ottawa were discussing one of the new spring products, the Supreme Terry Peacoat. Manager Julie Bray and I were amazed at the design of this item. It seems that only Roots has the ability to be so creative with its combination of a peacoat and a sweatshirt. In every other store, consumers find the same basic sweatshirt, but the Roots design team has created a new twist on this classic sweat material. Well done. I just wanted to mention that our entire store staff is extremely pleased by such innovative designs. We look forward to receiving everything else the design team has in store for Roots in 2007. Alex Geerts Ottawa 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.

EXTRA! EXTRA! In keeping with our fortnightly publishing schedule, the next issue of The Source will appear on Friday, Feb 9. Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

THE MALE SIDE

OF THE EQUATION Menswear is an important ingredient in the recipe of Roots success

Matthew Budman is the new Roots man wearing items from the spring ’07 menswear collection. Photographed by Illich Mejia.

wear staff begin a multi-staged Roots man has been to create olding up half the sky, new menswear collection for collaborative process on the the perfect sweatshirt and men are a vital part of spring started arriving in second floor of the Head Ofsweatpants. The Cooper Pant the Roots world. Walk stores. Promoted under the fice. It begins with Rita is a prime example, particuinto any Roots store and you’ll banner “The Future Looks larly the upcoming vintage salt Shulman, Senior Designer, see the pride of place afforded Bright” (see previous issue of who creates a storyboard menswear. Roots has always The Source), it features vibrant and pepper version. That purwhich features a colour palette suit of excellence is a guiding been highly popular with men colours and in many cases infor the upcoming season. From principle for everyone in the dating back to the first store in cludes socially progressive there, designs are drawn up menswear department. 1973 and the negative heel messages. with inspiration from a wide Long before the clothes shoes. Over the past year, part of variety of sources ranging arrive in the stores, the mensAs customers, men certhe design mission for the from travel, art, tainly are not simple. sample shopping, They’re more chalRoots customers, lenging than women movies, magazines, when it comes to history, runway fashion and catering shows, international to their idiosyncratic fashion forecasting ways. Those in the services and a large Menswear Departamount of people ment (designers, techwatching. nicians, graphic art“Designing ists, buyers) are menswear is very keenly aware of the challenging at any differences between company,” says the male consumer Rita, who studied at and his female counRyerson in Toronto terpart. For example, and worked at difas a general rule, men ferent fashion are less prolific shophouses including pers. And a lot of Club Monaco and menswear is actually Bluenotes before purchased by women coming to Roots in for their husbands, boyfriends and sons. Back: (left to right) Shehza Behrainwala, Dylan Anderson, Caroline Brentnall, Olive Brown. Front: (left 2005. “Men are to right) Martha Galora, Margaret Marcysiak, Rita Shulman, Tracy Klem and Karen Bryan-Kirkham This month, the Continued on next page Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

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Continued from previous page

very particular. The product can’t be too ordinary or too fashion forward. The fit has to be right. It must be comfortable. The weather has to cooperate. For example, most men won’t buy a parka until it’s 40 below and snowing! And to boot, most men don’t like shopping.” For Rita, the Roots man prefers casual and functional style. “What I really like about Roots menswear is who wears it,” says Rita. “It’s really fun to see completely different types of people wearing the clothes in completely different environments, from a teenager to a middle aged man, from a cottage to a hipster bar downtown. As a designer, I appreciate that for Don and Michael, quality is very important which many brands pass up in order to achieve lower price points.” Helping Rita in the design process is Dylan Anderson, Associate Designer in the Menswear Department. “Defining the ‘Roots man’ is extremely difficult,” says Dylan, 32, who joined Roots in 2005 after moving to Toronto from Vancouver where he worked in fashion for ten years. “In my opinion, the Roots man is an active guy who wants to look good without working too hard at it. He ranges in age from 13 to 65. He takes pride in his Canadian heritage, enjoys his family and spends time in the outdoors.” Like for other menswear and womenswear designers at Roots, the company’s heritage and culture are a source of inspiration and pride for Dylan when creating new products. “I see our menswear, and Roots as a whole, as a true leader and purveyor of the Canadian lifestyle and also Canadian fashion,” says Dylan. “We’ve very lucky to have a deeply rooted Canadian heritage that the majority of our competitors have no way of reproducing or emulating. Simply put, it’s all in the beaver.” For all its importance in the look of the product, the design is only part of the overall proc4

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The Roots man is an active guy who wants to look good without trying too hard.

ess in having successful merchandise in the stores. Once the designs are drawn including the graphics (which for menswear is done by graphic artist Tracy Klem) and detailed, the technicians (Margaret Marcysiak, Senior Technician) and Caroline Brentnall, Technician) take them and create an in-depth technical package outlining all the features and embellishments of the garment. Given all the variables involved, the technicians have to be masters of detail. “In my eyes, what makes the Roots style for men distinct is the attention to detail,” says Caroline. “The care and thought that go into each and every product. From the selection of a contrast thread colour that is only visible on the inside of a garment to the refinement of a logo. Every aspect of the garment is carefully considered.”

It is then sent to the manufacturer to make a sample or prototype within a few weeks. That is then fitted and reviewed at the Head Office where Co-Founders Don Green and Michael Budman play an important role in evaluating each product and contributing to its design. Product Coordinator Syd Beder is also a key member of the team. Once an item is judged as being up to the standards of Roots quality and aesthetics, it’s sent to be actually manufactured. Although not officially involved in the design of the product, all the members of the menswear team work closely together and often offer their feedback and ideas to the designers. “I like the detail that goes into Roots menswear garments,” says Olive Brown, Product Developer. “I like that our garments can look clean on the outside with classic style

lines. I like that there’s also always some great hidden bonus, such as an inside ipod pocket, two-way zippers, or printed lining. All these details, plus the combination of classic casual with a stylish, modern twist and great graphics, and the highlighting and promoting of Canadian culture, are what make the Roots product unique.” Essential to the success of the menswear collection is the role of the buyers who are responsible for deciding the relevant quantities to order for each product. Under the direction of Jarar Kazai, Director, Merchandise Purchasing and Flow, Martha Galora looks after the actual buying of menswear products. “Regardless of the season, the biggest challenge with buying is always trying to combine all the elements that make up the assortment that the stores eventually see on their sales floor,” says Martha, Merchandising Manager. “The people who are directly involved in the Menswear team who put it all together work very hard to ensure that each season starts off with the best possible assortment. We carefully choose suppliers, and not every piece will make it as a Roots product if it’s not up to our standards.” As Sourcing Coordinator for menswear, Karen BryanKirkham is instrumental in helping select the appropriate suppliers for each product. Team spirit is an indispensable component in the Menswear Department. “Since there are so many different members of the team involved at different stages, right from development to production and distribution, one of the biggest challenges is to ensure that everyone works together to ensure that the right product reach the stores at the right time,” says Shehza Behrainwala, Manager, Merchandising Planning. “Each and everyone of us in our department does our own little bit and in the end we hope that our efforts translate into a successful assortment at the store level.” - R.S. Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

KEEPING BUSY AT SUNDANCE Roots in the spotlight at annual film fest in Park City

Megan Park

film world. Much of the official merchandise for the event was designed and made by Roots. It included more than 9,000 long and short sleeves tees and some 2,500 hoodies for men and women. Coordinated by Mary Jane Saliba of the Business-to-Business Department, the tees and hoodies, along with some 1,200 unisex toques were shipped to Utah in December. This year, Roots added a new element to its participation at Sundance. It arranged for various celebrities to come to the store in

Park City by appointment in order to acquaint themselves with Roots merchandise. They included actors Megan Park from Charlie Bartlett, Tyler Hilton of One Tree Hill and Walk the Line; Jerry Penacoli of Extra Reporter; Molly Shannon from Saturday Night Live; Chris Mulkey; Gary Coleman; and singer/songwriter Simon Townshend. Roots also outfitted actors Michael Douglas, Justin Timberlake, Cuba Gooding Jr, director John Singleton, U2 leader Bono, and hip hop/R&B singer Akon. Meanwhile, one of the

films premiering at Sundance had a Roots connection. Producers of Chapter 17, which stars Jared Leto and Lindsay Lohan, asked Roots to make all the official promotional apparel for the cast and crew. Held annually in Park City, Sundance is the premiere showcase for new work from American and international independent filmmakers, and has helped launch the careers of directors such as Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh.

or the fifth straight year, Roots was front and center at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, which wraps up this weekend. Wendy Goodman, Los Angelesbased Roots salesperson, and Raymond Perkins, Director of Public Relations, represented Roots at Sundance, including at numerous parties, further strengthening the connection between Roots and the

Justin Timberlake

Tyler Hilton

Bono

Molly Shannon

MAKING THE GOOD SHEPHERD LOOK GOOD Roots provides jackets for cast and crew of new movie

he already warm relationship between Roots and Hollywood continues to progress as Los Angeles-based Wendy Goodman strikes more deals in connection with new movies. In the latest such collaboration, the producers of the current film The Good Sheppard placed a major order for Roots apparel, which was given to the cast, crew, produc-

Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

tion team and media upon the film’s release. In total, Roots provided some 900 black and charcoal polyester jackets, all of which feature the Roots and The Good Shepherd logos. The order was executed by the ever reliable Mary Jane Saliba, from the Business-toBusiness Department at the Roots head office in Toronto. MJ coordinates the production

and delivery aspects for Wendy’s many merchandising projects, most of which are in the entertainment industry. Released last month, The Good Shepherd is directed by Robert De Niro and stars Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon and Alec Baldwin. The Good Shepherd tells the story of the tumultuous early history of the Central Intelligence Agency

viewed through the prism of one man’s life.

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FOR THE BEARS Polar Bear Day at Roots helps raise funds for endangered animals

he recent Roots initiative in support of the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) and its efforts to save polar bears was well received by customers. Last month, several stores in Toronto (Bloor Street; Central; and The Lodge) along with Centreville in Montreal and Robson Kids in Vancouver held a special event called Polar Bear Day. People from CWF visited

the stores and handed out information pamphlets to customers, and answered questions about their work and ways to support their cause. At the Robson Kids store, Remy Rodden, a CWF musician, performed a variety of nature-related songs with his guitar as families sang along and did different moves to the music. “The performance engaged the children and their parents in a fun way. Even people outside the store stopped at the windows to look,” says Store Manager Debbie Barnes. “We are glad we had the opportunity to educate our customers about all of the environmental issues in a positive way.”

In Toronto, Jody Gienow, cohost of TV’s Hinterland Who’s Who, added to the event by bringing in a live sub-arctic grey owl to the delight of customers. The Centreville store also featured a colouring station for children and Louis-Rene Senechal, fellow co-host of Hinterland Who’s Who, brought a polar bear skin and a skull to demonstrate. As part of the Polar Bear Day, Timothy’s World Coffee set up a booth in the stores to provide hot chocolate for thirsty customers. During the month of December, the Bloor St. store also hosted a holiday kitchen that served soups and snacks. Proceeds from the Polar Bear Day and from the holiday kitchen were donated to the CWF’s climate program. Polar bears in Canada’s far north are currently endangered due to the effects of global warming which are altering their natural habitat.

MAKING STYLE SUSTAINABLE Roots participates in earth-friendly fashion event.

n its latest initiative to promote environmental respon sibility, Roots will take part in an eco-conscious fashion show in Toronto next week. Billed as an evening of sustainable style, the show will be hosted by CBC TV’s Gill Deacon of The Gill Deacon Show and George Stroumboulopoulos of The Hour. The event targets the city’s hip urban individuals, directing them to green practices by integrating environmental issues in their daily lifestyle.

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As part of this, sustainable Roots clothing, especially items made from earth-friendly materials like organic cotton and organically processed leather will be modeled by celebrities including Kim D’Eon, Melanie Doane, Wendy Mesley, Sarah Richardson, Sarah Slean, and others. The Roots Rosedale store, known for its green attributes, will provide the apparel to be shown on the runway. Roots

will also provide gift bags and discount cards to be given to guests during the evening. The show is organized by The Green Carpet Series, an organization started by young professionals supporting ecofriendly causes. Proceeds from the show will go to the Canadian chapter of the World Wildlife Fund. • Date: Tuesday, January 30. Tickets for the event are available online at www.greencarpetseries .com for $40. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m.

MOMENTS THAT MATTER Big developments in the life of Roots staff

Kristi Lee, Store Manager, St. Catharines, ON, gave birth to a baby girl named Noelle Renee Lee last month. • Please send us details of similar good news and we’ll be happy to publish it in The Source (email: rsarner@roots.com)

THE NUMBERS Going with the flow

To keep Roots stores replenished with fresh products, there is a constant flow of new merchandise coming into the Distribution Centre (DC) in Toronto before being quickly dispatched to retail locations throughout North America and Asia. In particular, three times a day just-made products from the Roots leather goods factory are delivered three times a day to the DC en route to stores. Three is also the number of pick-ups that Purolator Courier Ltd. makes every day at the DC for shipments to stores throughout Canada.

ON THE MOVE New appointments and promotions at Roots • Jeff Ingram promoted to Assistant Manager, Orfus Road, To-

Hosts Gill Deacon and George Stroumboulopoulos

ronto • Nick Massaro promoted to Assistant Manager, Woodside, Markham, ON Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

SUPPORT FOR A GREEN CAUSE

FRESH INK A selection of coverage of Roots in the media

Roots backs Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to save rivers

s part of its on-going support for Robert Kennedy Jr.’s environmental work, Roots co-sponsored the just-concluded Waterkeeper Alliance fundraising event in Banff, Alberta. This year’s event was part of The Fairmont Banff Springs Celebrity Sports Invitational held last week on the slopes of the ski town. Lending his support, Roots Co-Founder Michael Budman, who is on the Waterkeeper Board of Directors, was present at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and the famed Sunshine Village Ski Resort along with many high profile guests. They included Alec Baldwin, star of NBC’s new hit comedy 30 Rock and one of this fall’s top movies The Departed, and Academy Award winning actress Marcia Gay Harden, both of whom formed the host committee of the event. About 750 people including many celebrities attended the event including Kelsey Grammer, and Tim Robbins who made a late appearance. Roots donated some 75

leather bags (Village Bags and Village Packs) and 100 Roots Glacier Jackets with silver embroidered Roots and Waterkeeper’s logos. Coordinated by David Jackson of the Business-to-Business Department at Roots, the bags and the jackets were provided to the VIPs attending the event. The extravaganza, produced by Marjoe Gortner, featured a dinner and silent auction that included items like a walk-on role on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, two days in Cape Cod with the Kennedy family; and a 10-day trek through Bhutan with Kennedy

Roots Glacier jacket

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN Taking attendance of special guests at Roots stores Celebrities have long made a point of shopping at Roots. Here are the latest sightings of prominent figures from the world of entertainment, sports and politics who visited Roots stores recently: · BCE Place, Toronto – Actor and TV show host Mike Bullard, visited and shopped at Mike Bullard the Roots store. Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

and actor Dan Aykroyd; and a hockey tournament in February at Budman Gardens with former players of the Edmonton Oilers. In total, the three days of activities raised more than $1 million this year for the Waterkeepers Alliance, a landmark environmental organization committed to protecting water sources in North and Central America. This year the majority of the funding raised will remain with the Canadian chapter of Waterkeepers. A long-time supporter of the environment, Roots has donated to Waterkeepers for several years. In November, Roots supported the organization’s fundraiser in Park City, Utah where Michael Budman joined celebrities Glenn Close, Larry David, Laurie David, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Buzz Aldrin, Stanley Tucci, and James Blunt to help raise funds for the ecoconscious organization. The invitational event paired former Olympic ski legends with television and film celebrities for three days of skiing and live music.

CONGRATULATIONS This week, longtime friend of Roots Mark Wahlberg was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Departed. A few days earlier, he was photographed wearing his custom-made Roots leather jacket at HBO’s Golden Globe Awards party in Hollywood. He designed the jacket for the cast and crew of the hit film Four Brothers in 2005.

Here are some recent sightings of Roots in the pages of newspapers and magazines: • Etalk Daily, Jan. 22. Canadian singer Matt Dusk was interviewed on the set of the Canadian Living photo shoot for an upcoming issue of the magazine. During the Enews segment, Matt was wearing the navy blue and white zip-up with the Roots crest logo on the chest from the men’s spring collection. • National Post, Jan 20. Retail Therapy editor Nathalie Atkinson took Steven Sabados and Chris Hyndman (formerly TV’s Designer Guys) on a shopping excursion at the Eaton Centre. First stop was the Roots store where the guys picked some favourite Roots items, including women’s fashion pieces and white leather bags. • The Toronto Star, Jan. 18. Article entitled, “NHL Makeover: Hockey’s snug new look?” mentioning the new NHL jersey is the direction of the future. Michael and Matthew Budman are quoted. • Where Toronto, Jan. issue: Mentions the Roots Yoga Studio. • The Leduc Representative (Leduc, AB), Dec. 15. Mentions the Roots Yoga fashions featured in the “Find the perfect gift for her” section. • 7 Jours magazine, Dec. 9. Spotlight on Roots Spirit for men fragrance featured in the “Pour Elle” section. • The Vancouver Sun, Dec.: Mentions Roots rustic coffee tables being made from reclaimed maple featured in “The look of 2007 looks good” section. • Canadian Living, Dec. issue: Mentions browsing the Roots leather bags and Roots sweats online featured in the “Online Gift Shop” section. • Where Toronto, Dec. issue: Featured the new Roots Rosedale store that brings reclaimed wood, bamboo fibre and organic cotton to its home products. Also, mentions the company’s leisurewear is made from organic cotton and hemp. • Today’s Parent, Dec. issue: Spotlight on the Roots hat featured in the “Hats They’ll Actually Wear” section. - Compiled by Carmela Ledo The Source 7

COLOURS OF ‘ROOTS 73’ New campaign highlights family values at ‘Roots 73’ this spring

he ‘Roots 73’ family is all set to launch its new look. The fresh spring designs are ready to hit stores with the support of a new ad campaign called Colours of Spring. With a family-oriented theme, the visuals focus on children and their parents sporting All in the family: Everyone is all smiles in ‘Roots 73’ Roots apparel. The first installment of the and people dressed in ‘Roots ‘Colours of Spring’ will reach 73’ items. This will be folstores in early February and will lowed in March by a second include posters featuring framed series of pictures spotlighting snapshots of Roots products polo tees created by the ‘Roots

73’ design team for customers of all ages. Overseen by Executive Director, Outlets, Shyrose Kasam, the Colours of Spring campaign was shot by Art Director Ilich Mejia. It was styled by Senior Visual Coordinator Peter Paquette along with Merchandise Flow Analysts Christine Kudzman and Carmen Nunez. The campaign will appear as window posters and spring “uppers” to be used in all ‘Roots 73’ outlet stores.

DENIM DELIGHTS

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Our fortnightly spotlight on new positions at Roots

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, Sherway Gardens, Toronto (Platinum level store). E-mail your resume to the attention of Sanjiv Khanna at skhanna@roots.com Deadline: Friday, February 2.

SPREADING THE WORD Guide to new ads appearing this week and next • Sat., Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 National Post (Toronto): Fullpage ad featuring “The Future Looks Bright.”

Worth checking out at ‘Roots 73’ stores

s part of the spring collection, a new range of denim jackets for men, women and children are now available in ‘Roots 73’ outlet stores all over the country. They include the following:

Women’s Denim Jacket A must-have for any wardrobe. This tinted washed denim jacket comes with four front patch pockets that give it a cargo look combining vintage style with modern utility. The jacket has been enzyme-washed to give it a supple, soft hand feel and is made from stretch denim fabric for ease of movement. Available in sizes XS-XL in all ‘Roots 73’ outlet stores across Canada. Retail price: $42.99

Men’s Denim Jacket This jacket features classic styling with button front closure and patch pockets. It’s lightly tinted and washed down to give it an authentic vintage worn-in look. The fit has been updated to be closer to the body to give a leaner silhouette. The jacket looks great when layered with a T-shirt and any of the latest men’s long sleeve striped shirts. Available in sizes S-XXL in all ‘Roots 73’ outlet stores across Canada. Retail price: $42.99

Baby/Toddler Girls and Boys Denim Jackets with Fleece Hoody Designed for little ones, this jacket includes baby-oriented, easy-to-wear details like easy snap closures and an attached layered fleece hoody. The jacket also features four pockets for toys and trinkets and comes in a medium wash with hand sanding at the elbows and front to give a cool vintage look. In addition to this, the girls jacket has pink embroidery detail and the boys jacket has distressed pinching with three id snaps, (made up of Roots branded snap button detail), a signature feature in baby and kids wear this spring. Available in sizes S-5T in all ‘Roots 73’ outlet stores across Canada. Retail price: $29.99

Kids Denim Jackets with Fleece Hoody This jacket comes with the cool new feature of an attached hoody. This gives the garment the fashionable layered look without the bulkiness and without having to buy two separate pieces. Additionally, the style is also cozy and the hood keeps the wearer warm. Both boys and girls styles feature a mix of different washes, tints and hand-sanding. Other details include embroidery on the girls jacket while the boys jacket feature three id snaps, (made up of Roots branded snap button detail), which will be a signature feature in kidswear this spring. Available in sizes S-XXL (5-12 years) in all ‘Roots 73’ outlet stores across Canada. Retail price: $39.99

The Source

STAYING POWER

Saluting those who go the distance

his month, many Roots employees marked major anniversaries of their time at the company. 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 at Roots to send the relevant information to The Source. Congratulations to the following employees for their huge contribution and enduring loyalty to Roots: (listed by seniority at Roots)

• Maria Ramos, Stitcher, Leather Factory, Toronto, 25 years • Erin Cormier, Assistant Manager, Moncton, NB, 5 years • Zulfi Khan, Team Leader, Distribution Centre, Toronto, 5 years • Sarojinie Manohar, Picker Packer, Distribution Centre, Toronto, 5 years • Nelia Pedro, Administration, Distribution Centre, Toronto, 5 years Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

MUSICAL ROOTS This month, we spotlight James Brown, ‘the godfather of soul’, who recently passed away

uch was the stature of James Brown, that he was known by more than just his name. “The godfather of soul,” “The hardest working man in showbiz”, “Mr. Dynamite”, “Soul Brother #1”. These are just a few of the qualifiers often used in reference to Brown. He is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in the history of popular music. As a prolific singer, songwriter, performer, and record producer, Brown was a driving force in the evolution of gospel and R&B into soul and funk. Brown, who died last month, began his music career in 1953. He quickly attained stardom on the strength of his thrilling live performances and hit songs. Renowned for his shouting vocals, feverish dancing and unique rhythmic style, he scored hits in every decade through to the 1980s. He was also a strong presence in U.S. political affairs, advocating on behalf of African Americans and the poor. Born in South Carolina, Brown spent his childhood picking cotton and shining shoes. He also tried brief stints as a boxer and baseball pitcher before focusing on music. He formed an R&B group named James Brown & The Famous Flames and scored a few hits,

namely Please, Please, Please in 1956 and Try Me in 1958. Brown then began recording without the Flames, heavily inspired by Ray Charles and Little Richard, who Brown called his idol. The mid1960s was the period of Brown’s greatest success. His two signature songs, Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag and I Got You (I Feel Good) were his first Top 10 hits. As the 60s came to a close Brown’s ‘singing’ increasingly became more rhythmic and rarely featured pitch or melody. Brown’s music influenced artists such as Sly & The Family Stone, Booker T & The MGs along with soul shouters Edwin Starr, David Ruffin and

a young Michael Jackson who took Brown’s shouts and dancing into the pop mainstream as lead singer of The Jackson 5. Brown remains the most sampled recording artist of all time. In 1970, with a new backing band (the JBs), Brown recorded Get Up (I Feel L i k e Being A Sex Machine which was a huge success. The early 1970s marked the first real awareness of Brown’s achievements. Brown’s star status began to fade in the mid-70s with the emergence of the disco era.. The 1980s saw a bit of a resurgence for Brown as he crossed over into a more mainstream audience with appearances in films such as The Blues Brothers, Doctor Detroit and Rocky IV. He won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1987 for his song Living In America that featured prominently in Rocky IV. Since 1990, Brown suffered various setbacks and le-

FUR THE RECORD Setting things straight on the Roots policy

ver the past month, several people have written to Roots concerned that the faux fur used in a couple of our winter coats is not what we say it is. They referred to several recent cases in the United States in which retailers were advertising and selling outerwear listed as featuring faux fur that turned out to be real fur. In their letters, a few individuals automatically assumed Roots was doing the same thing and accused us of deliberately misleading our customers. Such an allegation was highly disturbing as it was not only totally untrue but in sharp contrast to the way Roots does business.

Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

As a matter of policy, Roots does not use real fur in its apparel. (A few years ago, a jacket containing real fur trim was part of a collection made by a designer who is no longer at the company. It was a mistake and Roots Co-Founders Michael

gal troubles. He was repeatedly arrested for drugs and domestic abuse but continued to perform and record. He appeared in Blues Brothers 2000 alongside Dan Aykroyd, a close friend of Roots. In 2004, Brown was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which was successfully treated. He performed at various festivals in recent years and recorded with Joss Stone. Last month, Brown was hospitalized in Atlanta, Georgia due to pneumonia. He died the next day on Christmas from heart failure. He was 73. Moments before he died, he reportedly said: “I’m going away tonight,” took three long, quiet breaths and closed his eyes. – Davin Bujalski

THE TOP 10 A guide to the current sounds of Roots 1. Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, James Brown 2. Hotel California, The Eagles 3. She Moves In Mysterious Ways, U2 4. Roots Woman, Jimmy Cliff 5. Where Are We Going, Marvin Gaye 6. Sunday Morning, K-os 7. Irreplaceable, Beyonce 8. It’s A Man’s Man’s World, James Brown 9. Talk Of The Town, Jack Johnson 10. My Love, Justin Timberlake • Compiled by Davin Bujalski

Budman and Don Green issued a statement at the time saying it was an aberration that went against the values of Roots.) Sometimes faux fur looks incredibly real. At Roots, the fur used in apparel is completely synthetic, consisting of either 100% polyester or 100% nylon. In addition, we also lab-test our apparel, verifying the fiber content of any materials used in a garment. In late December, the Humane Society of the United States revealed that a Sean John jacket being sold at Macy’s in New York was actually made from raccoon dog fur and not false fur as indicated in advertisements. That revelation came only days after other fur garments were falsely advertised as faux at the Burlington Coat Factory and Loehmann’s. The Source 9

GREEN TIP #30 Easy ways to help the environment

STARTING LINEUP Introducing the people who make it happen at Roots stores

s part of our continuing series of team pictures of all the stores in the Roots retail family, this issue of The Source is shining the spotlight on the store in Winnipeg Outlet, Winnipeg. Top (left to right): Greg Lebans, Paul Rogers, Maggie Joleun, Megan Hemenway. Front Row (left to right): Melissa Beger, Stacy Moore, Leanne Harris, Lindsay Harris, Paulo Docouto.

SPEAK TO MY AGENT The littlest customers show their Roots

Air Fresheners Commercial air fresheners work by masking smells and coating the nasal passages with chemicals which diminish the sense of smell by deadening the nerves. Avoid these products. Instead, try the all-natural air purifiers — house plants. Or try these natural recipes to diminish odour and add a fragrant smell to your house: · Use baking soda in your garbage or refrigerator to help reduce odours at their source. · Dissolve 1 tsp (5 ml) of baking soda in 2 cups (500 ml) of hot water, add 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray as you would an air freshener. · Place a few slices of a citrus fruit, cloves or cinnamon in a pot with enough water to simmer gently for an hour or two. • Source: www.greenpeace.org

HEALTH TIP #27 Easy ways to help you stay healthy.

Brianna May Alberts, 14 months, Toronto

Pawlu Saliba, 7 years and Jack Corvi , 4 years, Egypt

Lukas Singson, 12 months, Toronto 10 The Source

ou’re never too young to look good in Roots. Many people obviously agree, based on the mail we receive at the Head Office. Both customers and staff often send in photos of their children, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, friends or neighbours wearing Roots, asking if they could appear in a future ad campaign for Roots. We can’t promise about that but starting with the previous issue of The Source, we are now publishing a selection of such pictures on a regular basis. Everyone is welcome to submit their favourite shots. Please send your photos to photogallery @roots.com Be sure to include the name and age of each child in the photo, and a sentence stating that you agree for the photos to be used in The Source.

Move More: Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it’s a stress buster. Think ‘move’ in small increments of time. It doesn’t have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that’s great when you’re up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it! • Source: www.health-fitnesstips.com Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

NEW & NOTEWORTHY A guide to just-launched Roots products

HOODED STYLE Smart new spring-hoodies for boys and girls

oordinated by Marisa Battaglia, Merchandise Manager for Babies and Karen Fernes, Manager, Technicians, the girls favourite full-zip hoody style is part of the new ‘Future Looks Bright’ collection. It comes in lotus pink, honey peach and white greymix colours, which are part of the ‘Bright’ themed colour palette. The boys City full-zip hoody comes in dusk, burnt ochre and foliage green colours and features a relaxed fit. Made from 80% cotton and 20% polyester fleece fabric, the garments feature the traditional full-zip hoody style and come with a double-lined hood. Currently available in stores across Canada, the hoodies come in sizes: S-XL. Retail price: $49.95

KEEP YOUR BABIES WARM WITH STYLE

JUST ARRIVED

Comfortable outerwear for little ones

Taking stock of new products at the stores Over the past two weeks, an impressive array of freshly minted Roots items for late winter/early spring ‘07 have landed in stores in Canada and the United States. Here’s a selection of what to look for:

he latest outerwear coming from the Babies Department includes the hooded jacket, the hooded sweater and the Zach sweater. Designed by Senior Designer for Babies Elsa DeSouza, and coordinated by Merchandise Manager for Babies and Kids Marisa Battaglia, the styles are currently available in stores. The babies hooded jacket is made from nylon/micro-Nordic fleece. It comes in ice (blue), camp green and pelican grey colours and is available in select stores in Canada only. The babies hooded sweater is made from 100% cotton knit fabric and is available in select stores in Canada and the US. It comes in baby peach and pebble mix colours. The Zach sweater is made from 100% cotton fleece fabric. It is available in select stores in Canada and the US and is made in dusk/burnt ochre and white/creekblue colour combinations. • Hooded jacket: Sizes: M-5T; Retail price: $34.95 • Hooded sweater: Sizes: S-5T; Retail price: $32.95 • Zach sweater: Sizes: S-5T; Retail price: $32.95 Issue 65 - January 25, 2007

• Men’s Deer Island Jacket • Men’s North Cape Henley • Men’s Chester Cardigan • Men’s East Point Cargo Pant • Women’s Supreme Terry Peacoat • Women’s Lydia VNeck Cardigan Tiny Tote • Baby Zach Sweater • Women’s Moto Zip Jacket • Women’s Moto Zip Sweatpants • Kids Girls Softie Valentines Tee • Kids Girls Heart BB Cap • Kids Boys City Full Zip Hoody • Kids Boys City Full Zip Pant • Baby Hooded Jacket • Baby Hooded Sweater • Baby Valentines Tee • Adult Wickaway Runner BB Cap • Adult Glen Che Cap • Yoga Sling Bag • Yoga Duffle Bag • Small Venetian - China Red, Yellow, Pacific Blue • Tiny Tote • Small Café Bag • Village Bag - China Red, Yellow, Pacific Blue The Source 11

The Source

Issue 65 - January 25, 2007