Built in Duncan.
Built on experience.

The Top Stitch story began in the 1960s, when John’s father—also named John—opened De Haan’s Upholstery in Duncan. The shop handled furniture upholstery along with a wide variety of other projects.

In 1974, John joined his father in the upholstery business. He started by doing the hands-on work of stripping old furniture so it could be re-covered, gradually learning the skills and techniques of the trade. After leaving De Haan’s Upholstery, John continued to take his commercial sewing machine wherever he went—even as far as Creston, British Columbia—in the hope of continuing the family business.

When John returned to Vancouver Island, he began working for a local business in the Cowichan Valley. He later joined forces with Shirlee Harris to establish Top Stitch Manufacturing Inc. They made a strong team: John brought his upholstery knowledge, while Shirlee contributed her experience in apparel manufacturing.

In 2005, Top Stitch began operating from a 250-square-foot bedroom in Shirlee’s home. Two other people played important roles in the company’s beginnings and day-to-day operations: John’s wife, Sabine de Haan—Top Stitch’s biggest supporter and a shareholder—and Shirlee’s husband, Mike Harris, a former accountant.

After years of hard work, the company was doing well and eventually moved into a larger space. John and Shirlee decided to expand Top Stitch’s services to include screen printing. This new direction required someone with strong computer skills, so John invited his nephew, Brent Rayner, to join the company.

Brent began working with Top Stitch in 2011 as a computer technician. He prepared images for screen printing and worked on the company’s website. Although the screen-printing side of the business did not grow as they had hoped, Brent was eager to become part of the family trade and learn the craft.

With no previous sewing experience, Brent began as a part-time employee while also working another job. His computer work continued, and he helped make Shirlee and Mike’s work easier while learning the basics of bookkeeping. Over time, Brent absorbed a wealth of knowledge. He progressed from apprentice to tradesperson and became an important part of Top Stitch’s future.

In 2017, Shirlee made the difficult decision to step away from the business and prepare for retirement. Around that time, Brent was offered a partnership in the company. Shirlee’s retirement also meant that Mike would begin stepping back from his role. Brent accepted the offer without hesitation and with great honour.

Sabine also played an essential role in this transition by transferring shares to Brent, helping ensure that the family trade could continue for many years to come.

Today, John, Sabine, and Brent—uncle, aunt, and nephew—remain partners in Top Stitch Manufacturing. Together, they are proud to carry forward a family trade spanning three generations. They look forward to the future and to continuing to provide high-quality products and services to customers across Vancouver Island and beyond.