Manitoba farm family recognized a need and started a company to make work clothing designed by and made for women
While sitting around the table drinking coffee one day, Tomina Jackson and other female family members realized they all wore men’s workwear.
As a family of many female farmers, Jackson decided to do something about it, and Rolling D Workwear was born.
“We began brainstorming about everything that we wanted in our workwear, how we wanted it to look, how we wanted to feel in it,” Jackson said.
While working on her family farm near Inglis, Man., Jackson found herself wishing for workwear designed by women.
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“As someone who works outdoors myself, I was really starting to feel defeated by the lack of workwear options,” Jackson said.
“There have been women working outdoors for generations. And they certainly, absolutely deserve clothing that is for them and make them feel good.”
Jackson’s aunt, Cheryl Digby, owns a manufacturing company called Deasil Custom Sewing Inc. in Morden, Man., where the first Rolling D clothing piece was made. Everything since has been made there, as well.
A year later, the business is thriving.
“The response that we have had from women who work outdoors has been really positive,” Jackson said.
Most workwear clothes are designed and sized for men, meaning they don’t fit women’s bodies well. Traditionally, jobs like farming or trades were done by men. However, according to Statistics Canada, 28.7 percent of farm operators were women in 2016. In construction, women make up 13 percent of Canadians employed in the industry.
The demand is high for workwear designed for women.
“Women deserve to have workwear that reflects their professional life,” Jackson said. “So it’s important to have clothing that’s not only functional, but also to have clothing that actually fits. We want women who work outdoors to feel as confident as though they’re getting to put on their power suit to go to work every day.”
Jackson said the clothing is tested by women who work outdoors as part of the company’s design process.
The name Rolling D comes from the farm Jackson’s grandparents ran. The farm is no longer in operation, but Jackson said it serves as a reminder of where she came from, and what she’s working toward with her business.
“It’s reflective of our roots in the world of agriculture. I think it also pays homage to our family, in particular the women in our family who inspired our business.”
