Our Dime - Gaiam True North Audit

Gaiam

Parent company: Marquee Brands

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Categories:

Yoga & Pilates

Recovery (Massage, Mobility)

True North

Capital: Foreign

Capital: Foreign (profits)

Control: Foreign

Control: Foreign (decisions)

Gaiam operates as a foreign-controlled brand with profits and strategic decisions flowing to its United States parent company. Its True North score indicates minimal domestic retention, as manufacturing and material sourcing do not demonstrate a significant Canadian footprint.

Vector Breakdown

Inputs

low

0 /20

Information regarding the specific geographic origin of raw materials used in production is not publicly disclosed.

Capital

Capital (profits)

high

0 /40

The brand is owned by a private American brand management firm following a corporate acquisition.

Control

Control (decisions)

high

0 /20

Strategic management and brand direction are centralized at the parent company's headquarters in New York.

Operations

medium

0 /20

The business model utilizes global third-party manufacturing with no documented primary production facilities in Canada.

Origin claims

Best available claim:

Unknown

Low

Scope: Unclear

Based on source quality + scope clarity + recency.

Updated Jan 25, 2026

Unknown

Applies to: Not specified

No additional claims found.

Caveats

No caveats noted.

Buying Direct in Canada

Duty: medium

Ships From

USA

↩️

Returns To

International

Maple Wash Analysis

Measures: Canadian symbolism intensity vs economic reality (True North)

Does not measure: product quality, legality, or whether claims are false

✓

Symbolic Gap

Aligned

Label is based on gap size, not intent or wrongdoing.

0 - 0 = ✓

Canada Symbolism Score

True North

Top Symbolism Signals

Absence of National Symbolism

The brand maintains a consistent global identity centered on yoga and wellness without adopting Canadian-specific iconography or motifs.

Brand identity

Observed from Canadian-facing branding (no packaging claims used).

Analysis

In Canada, the brand's public identity emphasizes global wellness and yoga-centric motifs. That symbolism is aligned with the provided economic baseline.

Last analyzed: 1 month ago

Verified Official Retailers

Explicitly authorized by the brand.

Direct Store Available

Where to Buy

2 retailers

Seamless returns 🇨🇦 Ships from Canada

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you click and buy. This doesn't affect our scores

		Availability								Shop Here
Walmart Canada Walmart Inc. Authorized Reseller	🍁 30 True North: 30/100 True North measures how much of your spending stays in Canada. Vector breakdown: Capital: 0/40 Control: 10/20 Operations: 10/20 Inputs: 10/20	🏪📦 Stores + Ships	$35	Free Free prepaid return label or free drop-off • Window: 90 days • Returns to: Canada	90d	Easy Full refund to original payment, 30+ day window • Window: 90 days • Refund: Original Payment	90d	$0 Free returns with prepaid label provided by the retailer.	Mostly supported Claims As of Jan 21, 2026 Marketing language In Canada, the brand's public identity emphasizes national iconography and its long-standing operational presence in the country. That symbolism is higher than the provided economic baseline. Based on publicly available information we could verify as of Jan 21, 2026. This is a consumer guidance signal, not a legal determination. Maple Leaf Iconography “The Walmart Canada logo features a red maple leaf.” Brand Identity See source Canadian operations mentioned “Walmart Canada was established in 1994 with the purchase of the Woolco Canada chain.” Website See source Details: 85/100 Request correction / provide evidence →	Shop
Amazon Canada Amazon.com, Inc. Authorized Reseller	🍁 20 True North: 20/100 Amazon Canada operates as a foreign-controlled retailer with a substantial operational footprint within the country. While it provides significant employment and infrastructure investment, the capital and strategic control remain outside of Canada, resulting in a True North score of 20. Vector breakdown: Capital: 0/40 Control: 0/20 Operations: 20/20 Inputs: 0/20	📦 Ships Only	$35	Free Free prepaid return label or free drop-off • Window: 30 days • Returns to: Canada	30d	N/A Retailer has no physical locations in Canada	N/A	$0 Free returns with prepaid label provided by the retailer.	Mostly supported Claims As of Jan 21, 2026 Marketing language In Canada, the brand's public identity emphasizes localized digital presence and seasonal national iconography. That symbolism is higher than the provided economic baseline. Based on publicly available information we could verify as of Jan 21, 2026. This is a consumer guidance signal, not a legal determination. Maple Leaf Iconography Brand Identity Localized Digital Framing Website Details: 80/100 Request correction / provide evidence →	Shop

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