The Makeloo Studio Story: From Dupas Island to the Canadian Wool Collective
A passion born in childhood, an accident that changed everything, and the meeting of two artisans. This is how Makeloo Studio became a benchmark for local wool in Quebec.
Before it was a studio, Makeloo Studio was a childhood promise: that of a boy who learned knitting and crocheting alongside his great-grandmother, "Vo Pina." Years later, that thread never broke — it became the heart of a business.
Today, Makeloo Studio is a Quebec textile workshop that creates yarn balls from local, hand-dyed fibers, one recipe at a time. Our approach is summarized in three words: innovation, regionalism, and biodiversity.
Marcelo's Turning Point
Marcelo Martins' passion for spinning ignited in 2015, under the mentorship of Pierre Charette — "Piérot." But it was an accident in 2017 that reoriented everything. Plunged into the chronic pain of CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), Marcelo was prescribed hand spinning by his occupational therapist. What was meant to relieve his body became his calling. Immunocompromised, he prioritized natural dyes based on citric acid from the outset — a health choice that is now the studio's signature.
In 2018, he launched the web series "Parlons de fibres et de filage" (Let's Talk About Fibers and Spinning), filling a void in French-language content on wool. The same year, the Centre des Arts Textiles des îles (Islands Textile Arts Center) was born, to break isolation through art. In 2021, he taught spinning at Vogue Knitting Live.
Patrice, The Other Half of the Studio
Designer and co-founder Patrice Blanchet comes from a completely different world: that of 2D animation and 3D cinematics, with a Bachelor's degree from Concordia University and over 20 years of career experience in this field. Today, he is the color engineer and designer of all Makeloo Studio products. But his fascination with old circular knitting machines — awakened more than 25 years ago by the creations of "Les bas de Julie" — never left him. Coming from a rural family, he carries within him a love for heritage and craftsmanship.
2022: The Birth of "De par chez-nous"
In 2022, Marcelo and Patrice united their worlds and founded the local wool brand "De par chez-nous" (From Our Home). The launch at the Salon des Métiers d'art de Québec (Quebec Craft Show) marked a real turning point: the artisan community noticed them.
Recognition
In 2023, Makeloo Studio won the Desjardins Grand Prix de la Culture in the Arts and Crafts category, and became a finalist in Heritage. In 2024, the studio received nominations in Visual Arts and Education.
In 2025, the studio was named "Public's Choice" in Eco-responsible Economy by Québec Circulaire — the first company in Lanaudière to receive this distinction. The same year, Makeloo Studio participated in Barcelona Knits with an exclusive dye developed for the occasion, Marcelo joined the board of directors of the Canadian Wool Collective, and became a member of the Textile Society of America and the Fibre Art Community.
Art as a Driving Force
At Makeloo Studio, contemporary art is a lever to promote Quebec wool. Every thread and every piece is a work created with passion: we believe that art can embellish our lives and raise public awareness of the importance of preserving our textile heritage.
Reducing Our Footprint
We seek to reduce our ecological footprint at every stage. By spinning locally, we limit transportation and support the circular economy — a choice that strengthens our ties with local communities and respects both health and the environment.
Much More Than Threads
Beyond yarn balls, Makeloo Studio also offers training and team-building workshops, conferences and exhibitions, personalized textile art, and consulting in wool production. Textile art as a tool for transmission and well-being.
Our Purpose
We work hand in hand with sheep producers throughout Quebec, valuing the diversity of breeds and fibers. It is Marcelo who travels to farms to find the best fleeces, while Patrice shapes the colors and design of each product. Natural dyes based on citric acid, small batches, traceability: each skein carries a human story.
Together, we are shaping a world where craftsmanship, sustainability, and art combine to inspire and enchant.