Striped Bay blankets evoke almost as much patriotic pride as the flag. It may sound silly, but this department store is more than twice as old as Canada. Founded in 1670, North America’s oldest company far predates confederation. Back then, the British fur-trading company dealt primarily in pelts, not ladieswear and summer sales. In 1881, the Bay opened its first department store, and has since become an iconic Canadian retailer with 90 locations scattered about the country. The Bay has also been generating news in fashion circles with its reinvention from conservative to cutting-edge. Celebrity fashion editors and designers come to visit and endorse the collections of frocks and more.