Meet Florence Luo, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Excellence Finalist

Florence Luo, Founder and CEO of Jan & Jul, is a 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards finalist and the creative force behind the globally recognized children’s apparel brand. Driven by her passion for sewing and sustainability, Florence turned her early love of textiles into a company that helps kids enjoy the outdoors, rain or shine.

Since launching Jan & Jul in 2008 with a single handmade sun hat, Florence has grown the brand into a full line of eco-conscious outerwear and footwear, pioneering innovations like non-fluorinated waterproof fabrics and 100% recycled snow gear. Her journey, from living in a cotton-farming village near Nanjing to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur, reflects a commitment to product integrity, sustainability, and family-friendly design.

Meet Florence and discover how she is helping children and the planet thrive outdoors.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when…

I wanted to control my own schedule so I could better care for my children.

Entrepreneurship is made for me because…

I am a purpose-driven, hardworking, and dedicated individual. I also drew strength and support from my family, friends, and community.

The impact I hope to make through my work is…

Helping more kids and families fall in love with the outdoors.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is…

Know your strengths and stay focused on them.

My proudest accomplishment is…

Seeing children, near and far, wearing Jan & Jul’s clothes and shoes.

The biggest risk I took that paid off was…

Expanding from apparel into designing, developing, and producing footwear.

My biggest setback has been…

Struggling to keep the company’s accounting in order, which caused constant stress.

I overcame it by…

Hiring an experienced bookkeeper and a qualified accountant.

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was…

Build a clear company structure.

I surprise people when I tell them…

That I trained as an engineer before becoming a children’s clothing designer.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to…

Prototype another new idea.

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know…

That I love dancing.

The future excites me because…

New sustainable technologies in textiles and footwear are developing quickly, allowing us to create even better products.

Connect with Florence Luo on LinkedIn.