[6] The logo features a beaver, the national animal of Canada, on top of tree branches.

In 1973, Michael Budman and Don Green founded Roots, initially a footwear company that sold negative-heel shoes, before expanding their products.

In August 1973, Roots opened its first store on Yonge St. near the Rosedale subway station in Toronto.

A couple of months later, Roots bought the Upin and Ipin Company and opened their own leather factory.

[10] Experts express varying opinions on whether negative-heel shoes are good or bad for one's feet.

This line started with leather jackets that were produced in a small building in Port Credit, Mississauga.

In 2001, the company was involved with the creation of a new Canadian discount airline, Roots Air, which operated Airbus A320 and Boeing 727-200 jetliners in scheduled passenger service.

[19] In 1988, Roots provided Jamaica's Olympic bobsled team with custom made jackets.

[20] The story was made famous by the 1993 hit movie Cool Runnings starring John Candy, who wore a Roots jacket.

In 1998, Roots began its formal Olympic involvement, outfitting the Canadian team at the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

[21] Roots at one point sold 100,000 of these berets a day at US$19.95 apiece, eventually selling over half a million caps.

Other notable locations include Rosedale in Toronto, and Chinook and West Edmonton Mall in Alberta.

In September 2017, the company filed for an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange.