Squamish businesswoman supports women and the planet with her organic clothing line

“Being a successful woman in business means being proud and confident in my abilities,” says Yana Roney, owner of Highly Spirited Apparel.

“It also means supporting other female entrepreneurs. I go out of my way to seek out women vendors and work with my fellow women-owned businesses.”

As a businessperson, mom, and co-owner (with her husband) of Squamish Rafting Company as well, to say Roney is a bit busy is an understatement. But instead of sounding stressed when she spoke to us, she was friendly, down-to-earth, and highly spirited, like the name of her company.

Roney’s sustainable, ethically-made, tie-dyed garments are made with organic bamboo, and the collection includes colourful, one-of-a-kind comfy, casual pieces for men, women, and children. The clothing is available for purchase on the website, at the rafting company, and TMC Freeriderz in Whistler. The collection consists of hoodies, sweatpants, tees, toques and beanies. Fun, new spring styles will also be added to the clothing line soon.

Using food-based, vegan dyes, “plus a lot of reverse dyed pieces, which means even if you wash it 100 times, it won’t fade,” the hyper-local line is sewn in Vancouver and finished in Squamish. “Each piece is unique, like a work of art,” Roney says.

“I work with other women-owned businesses, from the woman who sources my fabrics to the woman who does my business cards,” she says. The brand launched in April of 2021 with a campaign featuring vibrant, inspirational global influencers from around Squamish as models for the clothing.

Presently, the Feather Collection is set up so that a portion of sales goes towards supporting an organization that aids in raptor rehabilitation in B.C., called the OWL (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation) Society. Next in the plan for 20222 is a Mountain Collection, which will support the Valhalla Mountains.

When it came to coming up with the name, it was truly a light bulb moment for Roney. “I said to my mom, you know tie-dye is a really big thing right now, and I need to find a name for my brand,” she says. “Mom told me I was always highly spirited, even as a little girl, and she was sure I would come up with something. And that’s when I thought, that’s it!” she laughs.

To shop Highly Spirited Apparel, visit the website at www.highly-spirited.ca.