A photoshoot in the library caught my attention last week—three guys in matching black t-shirts posing by the whiteboards. They weren’t working on a project; they were launching a business.
Lyle McLaren and Harshvardhan Dubey, both second-year UNBC students, have founded Arya Vastra LLP, a Canadian clothing brand headquartered in Prince George and Dawson Creek. Their vision: compete nationally before taking their products global.
From Dorm Room to Factory Floor
The partnership began with persistence. “This guy kept bugging me about starting a business,” McLaren recalls, laughing. “I wasn’t interested at first—business isn’t really my thing. But when he showed me the shirts, the quality sold me.”
Dubey, a Management Information Systems student, spent four months in India vetting over 200 manufacturers before finding the right partner. His market research was hands-on: “I visited malls and saw clothes from Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, India, and China—all at premium prices but with quality gaps. That’s where we fit in: better quality, lower prices.”
The Product
Their shirts feature double bio-washed French terry fabric with 3-5% spandex. Dubey claims the treatment process eliminates 87-90% of bacteria and enzymes, improving durability and fit. “It feels great the first time, but after four washes, it really molds to your body,” he explains.
McLaren offers a simpler benchmark: “I compare them to Carhartt.”
Stress-Testing the Product
Dubey personally validated the quality. The t-shirt he wore to our interview had survived two months of daily wear at his dishwashing job at Busters—exposed to heat, stains, and constant washing. “I needed to test it under real conditions,” he says. “It held up perfectly.”
The Team
The operation is lean: Dubey and McLaren manage operations in Prince George, Jeremy Jahn handles Dawson Creek, and their partner Gotham oversees manufacturing and exports from India. Eight months of planning have brought them to launch.
Current Status and Challenges
“We have inventory ready,” Dubey says, “but we’re finalizing retail partnerships.”
The biggest hurdle? International business registration. “Every single step—export licenses in India, Canadian business accounts—takes 15 days minimum,” Dubey explains.
What’s Next
The immediate goal is to establish retail presence with their unisex t-shirts, then expand into multiple colors, gender-specific lines, and eventually athletic wear. Long-term, McLaren envisions competing with major brands like Carhartt or Nike.
The founders also hope to integrate philanthropy into their business model. “Once we’re established, we want to help people in need through random acts of kindness globally,” McLaren says.
For Retailers and Customers
Arya Vastra is seeking retail partners and direct customers. They emphasize premium quality at affordable prices and welcome feedback to refine their products.
Contact: Lyle McLaren at lylemclaren79@gmail.com or (250) 219-6716, or Jeremy Jahn at jeremyjahn@aryavastra.shop.
