I graduated from Ryerson University's Fashion Design program in 2002. I worked for several years in costuming and for two years ran my own tailoring business. I created Birds of North America in 2007.

Traditionally, fashion students create a collection of clothing for their graduation aimed at the fashion apparel market. I did a collection that was a pure physical expression of what I saw inside my head. I gave myself carte blanche because it was clear that the fashion industry was not the place for me. I didn't shop for new clothes, I didn't follow trends, I didn't like the fashion people, I didn't like the fashion industry. This collection was going to be me exiting the fashion world in an anti-fashion blaze of glory.

Ironically, someone from Holt Renfrew saw the collection and asked if they could display it in their front window. My first response was "Who the hell is Holt Renfrew?" I found out pretty fast. The collection was up in their flagship store in Toronto for 5 weeks that summer.

I realized at some point between the ages of 18 and 19 that I was interested in clothing and wanted to know more than I did. In 1998 I applied to Ryerson's Fashion Design program. For most of my youth, my only creative outlet was constructing things out of fabric. I had spent the previous decade in a small and socially isolated private school in Victoria, BC. It had a strictly enforced school uniform and out of necessity I turned my attention to the inside and sought inspiration there.

My life's experiences comprised uniforms, boating paraphernalia, antique furniture that filled our house, the insides of institutions like schools, music conservatories, libraries and hospitals. It was on this frame that my aesthetic was formed.

I am interested in transforming my experiences and emotions, which are filtered through the uniquely constructed mesh of my aesthetic, into tangible objects that can be seen by others.

Hayley Gibson,
Birds of North America.

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Birds of North America Hayley Gibson 7030 Rue Marconi, #303 Montreal, QC H2S 3K1 Canada Phone: +1-514-527-1298

Use the instructions below to find your size in Birds of North America products. If an item does not follow this size chart a special note will be added to the product description.

Size Chart

	XS	S	M	L	XL
Bust	32.5"	33.5"	35.5"	37.5"	39.5"
Waist	25"	26"	28"	30"	32.5"
Hip	35"	36"	38"	40"	42.5"

How to Measure

Bust: Measure around the fullest part of the bust. Keep tape comfortably loose.
Waist: Measure around the natural waist line – generally the smallest part of your waist. Your natural waist line is located where the body creases when bending to the side.
Hip: Keep feet together and measure around the fullest part of your hip.
Inseam: Measure from crotch to hem line.

Still have questions about sizing, please email us!

When you find an item that you like, click the "add to cart" button. Continue shopping until you are ready to complete the purchase. Click on the "X item in cart" button (top of page). Make sure the items sizes and quantity are correct. If there is a mistake, you can remove or edit in the cart page. Once the order is confirmed, follow the instructions to move through the shopping cart.

Confirmation
Once you enter in your address and credit card information and press "submit" an email confirmation will be sent to you. This will have your order number, your complete order, and your shipping address. Please print this document and save it for your records. If there are any mistakes on the receipt, please email us right away.

Method of Payments
ShopBirdsofNorthAmerica.com accepts all major credit cards (including Visa, Mastercard and American Express) and PayPal. If you would like to pay using a money order, please email us with the items you want to purchase (style name, size and colour), your address (for tax purposes) and your preferred shipping method.

Taxes
If you are ordering from within Quebec, you will be charged GST & PST. If you are ordering from British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick you will be charged HST. If you are ordering from any other Canadian province you will be charged GST only. NO SALES TAX WILL BE ADDED TO AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL ORDERS.

Pricing
All prices are quoted and sold in CAD. Prices listed on the page and in the shopping cart do not include shipping, handling or taxes. When you check out, select the shipping options which best suites you. Taxes will be added according to your location. The final price (including applicable taxes, shipping and exchange rate) will be displayed prior to entering your credit card number and will also be sent to you in the confirmation receipt/email.

Stock Availability
ShopBirdsofNorthAmerica.com will keep its stock listing up to date. If however stock availability on your order has changed, we will email you with a notification and a time frame on a restocking date.

Products shipped within Canada are shipped via Canada Post. Shipping options are as follows:

1. Standard Shipping ($7 CAN) - This is the most economical method of shipping with an expected arrival of 5-10 business days from date the product is shipped.
2. Express Shipping ($12 CAN) - This method will have your order to your door in approximately 1-3 business days from day product is shipped.

Products shipped to the United States are shipped via Canada Post. Shipping options are as follows:

1. US Air ($12 CAD) Shipped via Canada Post Air and will arrive 5-14 business days from when order is shipped.
2. Express Shipping ($17 US) - This method will have your order to your door in approximately 3-7 business days from day product is shipped.

International orders are shipped via Canada Post International Air with an expected arrival approximately 7-21 days from date of shipment. The cost of an International order is $35 CAN.

We ship Monday to Friday. All orders will ship one-two business days after they are received. Shipping times are based on a base case scenario.

We hope that we have given you sufficient information regarding our products. ShopBirdsofNorthAmerica.com regrets that returns can only be processed under the following conditions:

1) You received the wrong order - you have not received the item(s) listed in your confirmation email.
2) Wrong size - must be returned via prepaid shipping. (Applicable only to regular priced items.)
3) You are not 100% satisfied with the product - must be returned via prepaid shipping. (Applicable only to regular priced items.)

If any one of the above instances should occur, email us within 5 days of receiving your order. Returned merchandise must arrive back at ShopBirdsofNorthAmerica.com no more than 20 days from the time you placed your order. All returns must be in 100% new condition, not worn, nor washed and all tags in place. Please ensure returned clothing is packaged safely, as we will not accept damaged returns. The amount of your exchanged item will be credited towards your next order.

Sorry - no refunds. Sale items are FINAL SALE - cannot be exchanged or returned.

Any information that you do submit to ShopBirdsofNorthAmerica.com will not be disclosed.

We will only add you to our mailing list upon request. ShopBirdsofNorthAmerica.com will NEVER release, sell, share or exchange any of its customer lists.

ShopBirdsofNorthAmerica.com uses PayPal to process all credit card orders. Customers submit their personal information and credit card number directly to PayPal. We do not see nor store credit card and address details. To read about PayPal's privacy policy, click here.

All written, graphic and photographic work is copyrighted to Birds of North America Inc. All website code is copyrighted to FashionCan.com Inc. No information within the ShopBirdsofNorthAmerica.com website may be used or reproduced in any manner.