Anto Yukon grows from side-hustle to international soap-seller

It started as a hobby. About 10 years ago, Kym Rempel's mother gifted her a soap-making class. Rempel liked it and made soap for her family and friends. Once her recipes were perfected, she branched out.

Rempel sold her creations at the Fireweed Market in Whitehorse and found there was big demand for local artisanal products. So, she thought bigger and started building a brand that reflected her products: natural and luxurious.

Six months later, Anto Yukon, named for Rempel's beloved dog and home territory, was picked up by the luxury retailer Holt Renfrew, and the brand's reach has been growing ever since.

With support from CanNor from 2022 to 2024, the business has increased its capacity to meet demand. Rempel renovated her factory and retail space and upgraded to an industrial-sized lye tank, oil heater and hydraulic soap cutter. Before, she could make 80 bars per batch, but with the new equipment she can make 360.

"It's crazy to think that I used to make this soap in my shed," says Rempel. "It's incredible to have this dedicated space and be able to develop these systems to become more efficient."

Through this project, Rempel also reimagined the products' packaging, using Yukon-born artist Meghan Hildebrand's art and local illustrator Tedd Tucker's designs.

Anto Yukon's product line now includes over 30 varieties of bar soap, bath products, oils and balms. Many of the products use Yukon-grown ingredients, such as locally harvested fireweed, spruce tip, rosehips, arnica and glacial silt collected from the base of the Kluane Ice Fields.

In January 2024, Rempel launched her products in the United States through a tradeshow in New York. She returned this fall to keep growing her footprint.