Meet Bleusalt, the Sustainable Basics Line Loved by Cindy Crawford and Inspired by Summers in Muskoka

by Maddison Glendinning November 14, 2019

This week, Californian designer Lyndie Benson breezed into town to meet customers at Toronto’s Cabine and introduce her sustainable basics line, Bleusalt. The brand, Benson tells us, is a “beautiful and curated line of sustainable and seasonless basics made from the softest fibres on earth.” The fibre she’s referring to is a modal made from Beechwood, which is just as soft as cashmere but better for the environment and – major bonus – is washable. The purpose of the brand is “to show customers that they can shop luxury and sustainable apparel at an accessible price point,” Benson explains adding that prices range from CAD$25 to $465.

Loved by celebrities including Cindy Crawford and Patrick Dempsey (who designed the whole menswear line), the brand also offers free shipping and no duties to Canadian customers. Here, read what Benson had to say about how the line was inspired by summers spent in Muskoka and how sustainability is at the heart of the brand.

The display at Cabine is the first time Bleusalt has been available on the ground in Canada – why was it important for you to bring the collection here?
Spending most of my summers in Muskoka, I have a deep connection to Canada and thought Toronto was the perfect city for me to introduce Bleusalt to Canada. You have the opportunity to talk to the customers and swap stories about their experiences with the pieces. It’s also an exciting way for me to share what’s coming down the pipeline and gauge interest (through pre-orders).

How has your time in Muskoka influenced your designs?
Since splitting my time between Mailbu and Muskoka, I see so many similarities in the relaxed lifestyle and sense of community in both locations. You want to be comfortable and look your best, without having to jeopardize your personal style – that is what I’ve tried to achieve with this collection. The Boat Coat is the ultimate jacket for après surf or swim and was inspired by my time in Muskoka. While the outer shell is water resistant, the inside is lined with our luxurious white 95% Beechwood fabric and helps you stay cozy, dry and warm after any activity. Our signature wrap is light enough for an afternoon boat ride and warm enough for a crisp night around the firepit.

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@jlo @keke @egt239 slaying the @bleusalt boat coat #hustlersmovie #bleusalt #sustainablefashion

A post shared by B L E U S A L T (@bleusalt) on Jul 22, 2019 at 3:12pm PDT

You have a big focus on sustainability – tell us a little about how the brand is sustainable and why that is important to you?
When I created Bleusalt in 2017, I wanted to put sustainability and fabric at the core of our business. I’m passionate about the environment since I spend most of my time outdoors. From the start, I wanted to be part of the solution, rather than the problem. I was always drawn to cashmere, but found it too hot, sticky and precious to withstand the elements at the beach. I came across a fabric called Lenzing Modal, made from Beechwood (the softest fibres on Earth made from TENCEL). The material is cultivated from the sustainable botanic fibres of the Beechwood tree and is 100% sustainable. We are proudly working towards being fully zero-waste and currently ship using recyclable boxes.

What are the key styles in the collection?
Our signature piece is The Wrap. It is made from three yards of fabric (a mixture of 95% Beechwood and 5% Spandex) and is the most versatile piece in our collection. I also love The Cindy Pant (which was designed by my long-time friend Cindy Crawford), The Jogger (for an elevated luxurious jogger-style pant) and The Classic Shirt, which is our take on the classic button-up with unique details like a double raw edge and elbow patches perfect item to take you from day to night.

Discover some of the pieces from the collection below, and then shop your favourites here.