DESIGNED + MADE RIGHT HERE
We are proud to be 100% Canadian owned & manufactured.
Since 2015, we commit to contributing to our local economy while adopting sustainable
eco-friendly practices. Our customers want to know their garment purchases promote
sustainability and community, without sacrificing quality or comfort.
We focus as much on people and planet as we do profit – ensuring that our business decisions
are thoughtful about the impact we are having on our community and on our earth.
A TRUE CANADIAN SUCCESS STORY
Carmina de Young collections are the balance between modern culture and bold, contemporary style.
Each piece is designed to empower women to feel stylish and comfortable while having a taste of colour
and flare which are predominant in every aspect of Carmina’s Mexican heritage.
We primarily use environmentally sustainable fabrics that are luxuriously soft.
Our mission is to continue to grow as a sustainable business that will make a positive impact
within the local community and beyond.
Proudly manufactured in London, Ontario.
MEET CARMINA YOUNG
Carmina leads with her heart.
If you’ve met Carmina then you already know this to be true, her strong core values and desire to give back
to her community was instilled in her by her mother, Maria.
Carmina’s father worked as a welder in Mexico City, 2 hours away from the family home in Puebla, Mexico.
Maria raised the family and made things that she could sell such as breads, foods and clothing. Her father
brought the goods into Mexico City to fulfill orders. Maria taught Carmina how to sew so she could make
clothing as birthday gifts for family and friends.
Carmina’s parents often took people in who needed shelter, feeding them and asking for nothing in return.
Carmina recalls coming home from school to spend long hours washing clothes by hand – including the clothes
of those who they were helping, so that her mother would not have to do it. It was on those long days while doing
laundry that she would dream of living in another country, being successful and making enough to provide a better
life for her parents.
Carmina left Mexico in 1996, starting the journey to find her dream. She moved to Canada in 1999 and started
her own family. She decided to go back to school, considering a business degree until her husband suggested
fashion, knowing how much she loves it! It wasn’t long after enrolling into Fashion Design
her dream was realized – to be a successful designer of a ready to wear line.
After graduating Carmina started her business working from home and within a year she had a list of regular
clients. As her business grew, Carmina’s charisma, passion and eagerness brought her many mentors and
organizations who were eager to help her succeed. Special thanks to Susan, Gloria, Lina and Lynn, the four women
who elevated Carmina as she launched her first ready to wear collection under the ‘Carmina de Young’ label in 2015.
DREAM TEAM - Carmina & Donald
Donald joined the Carmina de Young team in 2017. Donald prides himself on his steadfastness to achieve
excellence in everything he does.
Donald was born and raised in St. Williams, Ontario, to a family of tobacco farmers. Unlike his farming
family, Donald showed a keen interest and talent in drawing and the arts at a very young age. Watching his mother
and grandmother sew Halloween costumes or repair clothes, Donald also took an interest in sewing.
His first sewing project was at age 7, a dress he made for his little sister.
For those who know Donald, there’s no end to his imagination. He dreamed of a bigger, bolder future and knew
his artistic talents would take him there. When he was a teen he discovered the beloved Canadian TV
show: Fashion Television. This show was an eye-opener, igniting his passion to sketch clothes. Soon after
he was making prom dresses for friends and ran his high school’s fashion show.
While studying Fashion Design, Donald dreamt of moving to Europe to work for design houses like Alexander
McQueen, Dior or Chanel. He graduated from the same class as Carmina and soon after realized how important
it was to stay in Canada to represent his home country as a designer.
Donald has gained a wide range of fashion industry experience working in design, product development and garment
manufacturing relating to: trend driven street fashion, high-end bridal and athletic apparel with embedded wearable technology.