Who We Are
FREED is a luxury outerwear brand founded by Marissa Freed, creating distinctive, animal-free and cruelty-free fashion with a commitment to zero-waste design. Each piece reflects the belief that exceptional style, thoughtful craftsmanship and compassion can—and should—coexist.
As the fourth generation to lead her family’s fashion legacy, Marissa brings a modern
perspective to a story that began in 1921, when her great-grandfather, David Freed, established Freed & Freed. Today, she carries that century-long heritage forward, honouring its foundation in craftsmanship and innovation while reimagining luxury through a more conscious lens.
Marissa’s experience as a cancer survivor has further shaped her approach to creativity, leadership and purpose. It has deepened her belief in living and designing with intention, embracing individuality and creating pieces that allow people to feel confident, expressive and entirely themselves.
Marissa Freed inherited her father Stephen’s business instinct, tenacity and inability to be
anything but honest—along with, perhaps, a shared streak of stubbornness. In 2009, when the future direction of the family business was being considered, those qualities brought them together around the principles neither was willing to compromise: exceptional quality, integrity and respect for the people behind every garment.
OUR HISTORY
Over a century ago, parent company Freed & Freed embarked on its journey as a pioneering pants manufacturer, and through the years, transformed into a cornerstone of the Canadian garment industry. Our extensive and expansive history is rooted in a tradition of excellence, marked by highly sought-after expertise and technical prowess in the manufacturing sector.
As time progressed, these capabilities led us into the realm of outerwear design, development, and production. Our dedication to craftsmanship and
quality caught the attention of numerous major domestic and international brands, many of which you proudly wear today, attesting to the lasting impact of our work.
For decades, the company operated as London Fog, a renowned and trusted brand like no other celebrated for its iconic trench coats, which stood as a symbol of timeless elegance and sophistication. However, as the world's needs evolved, so did the vision for the future of Freed & Freed.
Continuing the Legacy
Marissa inherited her father’s business sense, tenacity, and inability to be anything but honest (and somewhat stubborn). You should see them when they get in a room together, like in 2009, when Stephen Freed was deciding where to take the company.
Armed with an MBA and a lifelong passion for fashion and design, Marissa made an unexpected decision. Rather than pursuing a career teaching fashion in California, she
returned to lead the company established by her great-grandfather, David Freed, in 1921.
Drawing upon four generations of outerwear expertise, Marissa later founded FREED—a luxury outerwear brand that reimagines her family’s heritage for a new era. Rooted in
craftsmanship and guided by a commitment to animal-free, cruelty-free and zero-waste design, FREED represents both a continuation of the family legacy and a bold evolution of it.
Today, FREED brings together more than a century of knowledge with a modern vision of conscious luxury. Each collection is designed to be distinctive, expressive and
enduring—demonstrating that exceptional style need not come at the expense of
compassion.
Our mission is to create outerwear that makes an impact when it enters a room,
while making a more thoughtful impact on the world around us.
A note from our founder
"Growing up in the garment industry was something that shaped who I have become. Having children changed my priorities. Adopting a rescue dog taught me to be more conscious of animal welfare. I designed my first piece of clothing at the age of 13. I visited my first fabric market a decade later. I was hooked.
Fast forward many years (more than I choose to share!) I have found what feeds my soul and paired it with my acquired lifetime of knowledge growing up in the shmata business. An outerwear line tuned to the needs of the changing world with a focus on zero waste. It has been 100 years in the making. Choose what speaks to you, what celebrates your individuality, what will elevate you and #beFREED."
XO Marissa