When William Samuel Henderson of Londonderry, Ireland, landed at Quebec City in 1834 with a small assortment of caps and hats, he could not have known the effect he would have on the face of Canadian retailing.

Henderson launched his first retail venture in 1835—a partnership under the name of Ashton and Company. By 1837 he had bought the company’s controlling share, renamed the firm after himself and opened what was to become the first Holt Renfrew store on fashionable rue Buade.

His collections sold briskly, and soon he was trying to expand his market. By 1849, Henderson had turned to the fur business on which the company’s reputation would be built. It was also around this time that G.R. Renfrew and John Holt began working for the firm, became partners and eventually bought Henderson out.

The Holt Renfrew Canadian Heritage Scarf: The symbols of the Canadian provinces and territories are united by intertwining gold tassels.

Holt’s long-standing association with the Royal Family began in 1886 when the firm was named Furrier in Ordinary to Queen Victoria, an honour repeated by three other Monarchs. In 1948, Holt’s was asked to create a Labrador wild mink coat as the country’s wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth, a task the firm undertook with great pride.

Success brought the need to expand. In 1889, under the new name Holt, Renfrew and Company, a second store opened at Toronto’s Yonge and Adelaide Streets. The firm soon opened stores in other provinces and Ontario cities and, as the chain grew, the focus shifted from furs to clothing and accessories. The Holt’s shopper had become increasingly sophisticated and, to meet her needs, the company secured exclusive representation for Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino and other leading design houses. During the ’50s, Holt Renfrew patrons in Toronto were treated to the opening of a new store at 144 Bloor Street West.

An era of American retail affiliation began when Holt’s was purchased by the C.I.T. Financial Corp. of New York in 1965 and subsequently by the Carter Hawley Hale Stores Inc., then owners of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Expansion continued under their direction as “satellite stores” were opened to introduce the company to suburban markets. In 1979, the 144 Bloor Street West location was closed to make room for a new flagship store at 50 Bloor Street West.

The company returned to its Canadian roots in 1986 when it was purchased by Wittington Investments Ltd. under the chairmanship of W. Galen Weston. Mr. Weston and his wife Hilary, Holt Renfrew’s vice-chairman, immediately initiated bold changes to reposition the business in the areas of merchandise, store layout and design.

Renovations began at a number of locations to recreate the intimacy of small boutiques, with changes to the flagship stores made under the watchful eye of renowned interior designer, Naomi Leff. The result is an exciting and elegant showcase for the world’s finest fashions.

During its 154 years, much has changed at Holt’s, but the values on which it was founded have not been altered. The same can be said about Ontario and, indeed, about our entire nation. In order to celebrate our diversity and yet give thanks for the things that bind us together, Holt’s has created the Holt Renfrew Canadian Heritage Scarf, both an elegant accessory and a unique heirloom.

Holt Renfrew’s greatest strengths lie in its reputation for both tradition and innovation. And just as fashion is a mirror of our society, Holt’s is an accurate reflection of the people it serves: the people of the Province of Ontario, Canada and the world.