Red Vancouver 2010 Mittens Actually Manufactured in China

With the downtown Hudson's Bay Company store seeing more than 15,000 people going through its doors each day, it's no surprise that the red wool mittens featuring a maple leaf on the inside and the Olympic rings on the outside are one of the Vancouver Games' hottest items.

At $10 a pair, they're affordable and practical - it's just too bad they're not made in Canada.

Despite bearing a Canadian emblem, the ubiquitous red mittens are actually manufactured in China.

It's for this reason that Vancouver silk screener Ingrid Doerr decided to set up a marketplace for Canadian artists during the Olympics.

Canamade will exhibit the work of more than 80 local artists with merchandise ranging from vintage map necklaces by Kathy Milot of Kohana Jewelry to artwork like Andy Everson's "Raven" print, which was presented to Canadian Olympian Alexandre Bilodeau after he won the gold medal in ski moguls.

Canamade also features handmade soap, tea, chocolates and clothing and bags all made by real Canadian artists.

The event also features a massive 20,000 foot Gallery that will feature local artists from the Half Moon & Shakti Galleries, Reine, Autumn Skye, Ron Smid and Martin Kaspers.

Shoppers can relax in the Canamade lounge where they can enjoy a drink while they take in the events on the 10 foot screen.

The Canamade Winter Market runs February 12-28^th and March 12-21^st at 151 West Cordova in Gastown.

And just in case you're still hankering for some Chinese-made Canadian pride, the hard-to-find red mittens are available online at www.buyredmittenscanada.ca.