Small Business Profile: Mississauga's JK Store

In conversation with Mississauga entrepreneurs Jader and Khaled on their small business JK Store.

JK Store owners Jader and Khaled

What exactly does JK Store do? 
JK Store has designed, produced, and is now retailing Egyptian cotton apparel. We use fabric made from this cotton species specifically because it’s superior to Pima cotton and Upland cotton in so many ways. We prize the material’s breathability which makes it seem cool to the touch. The fabric is also the most durable, and yet becomes softer after every wash. We’re proud of how we make the fabric from plant fibers originating in the Nile delta, ensuring the authenticity of our clothing products. 

Where did the inspiration come from? 
JK started as a supplier of Egyptian cotton linens and towels in Canada. In 2019 we participated in The Apparel Textile Sourcing Exhibition in Toronto and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from industry experts who encouraged us to extend our JK brand to fashion apparel. Their message was loud and clear: a fabric as soft and versatile as Egyptian cotton should be worn on the body as clothes, and not simply relegated to luxury towels and linens.  

How detailed was your idea development process? 
Our mission was to design and create premium Egyptian cotton garments for the extraordinary individual who appreciates a natural fabric finish in modern cuts. Through a proprietary process in which we cook the cotton fabric in Egypt, following our own carefully developed product testing and development guidelines, we’ve now debuted a premium collection of Giza 96 Egyptian cotton essentials. Behold JK Store is born.  

Why is Egyptian cotton so difficult to make into shirts? 
Good question. The raw material is expensive when compared to other types of cotton. Egyptian cotton is also scarce, not all cotton grown in Egypt has those superior traits. Only Giza Egyptian cotton is the type that has all the benefits. Therefore, many brands use Pima cotton which is a hybrid of the original Egyptian species with a quicker grow season and noticeably shorter fibers. It’s easier to cultivate and manage; the crop is more affordable to process, and the woven material is easier to cut. We at JK have managed to go about producing stunning apparel made from authentic Giza Egyptian cotton. 

What's been the most challenging part of your entrepreneurial journey? 
Product development and testing was a very challenging phase in our business. As a new clothing brand, we wanted to make sure that our products could appeal to the most discriminating Canadian men and women with ultra-high standards based on quality, style, and comfort. We needed to produce an unrivalled product that could score top marks in all three categories. 

How did you overcome these obstacles? 
In Egypt we engineered a fabric which we hope will transform the essentials trend. All JK Store clothing is made with natural cloth which has high breathability and softness. We couldn’t find any better raw material than the world’s finest cotton. We tested our designs on the streets of Toronto, Canada’s largest city. We interacted with our target market and met with retail fashion experts while producing garments with proven appeal to modern consumers. 

What does 2022 look like for JK Store from a business perspective? 
We are very excited about the future. 2022 will be a very interesting year coming out of the pandemic when people are already showing an eagerness to get out and look their best.  

In terms of the business, we hope to extend our product lines by designing new garments using our trademark Egyptian cotton fabric. By the summer of 2022, we hope to have a full line of Egyptian cotton essentials that will include hoodies, joggers, sweatshirts and shorts. 

Where can people buy your products? 
jkstore.ca