Welcome to VelAwesome Raptor Labs!

Sure our name is long, but that’s because its hard to contain so much awesomeness in fewer letters. If you’re lazy (like us), you can call us VAR Labs.

Started in March of 2010 when two friends Caitlin and Lindsay started getting a little crafty and discovered a passion for designing and making shirts. They wanted to do something that was environmentally friendly and steer away from sweatshop produced clothing (unless you count their own studio *cough*) and that was chock full of Canadian goodness.

Every clothing item, button or accessory is a designed, created, and hand crafted and sent to you from VAR Labs in Guelph, Ontario, Canada (aka Caitlin or Lindsay’s workrooms). Awesomely unique – every clothing item is slightly different because they are each hand printed.

Thanks for stopping by (and hopefully shopping by…sorry bad pun) and supporting our home grown business.

The fabric scientists of VelAwesome Raptor Labs
We call ourselves fabric scientists for two reasons. One, because we’re both scientists in “real life”, and two, because we love to create and play with fabric, textiles, dyes, paints and thread to experiment with and create new and awesome projects. Like most of what you see on this website

Caitlin Thompson
Scientist by day, costumer by night, Caitlin is a molecular biologist with a passion for costuming and all things geeky. She changes her hair colour more often than you change your socks. She brings her savvy business sense and her web skills as well as her awesome sense of fun to VAR Labs. And pie. Sometimes she brings pie!



Lindsay Pattillo
Lindsay is an animal biologist, horsewoman, artist, costumer and graphic designer all rolled into one person. Its a rare moment when she doesn’t have several projects on the go at once and when she’s not waist deep in them, she’s off at the barn hanging out with her horse, Zero. All of VAR Labs’ designs are Lindsay’s handiwork with some helpful guidance from Caitlin and the VAR Lab Test Subjects.


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