Canada-based eco-friendly apparel company Hemptown Clothing Inc., has appointed Kenneth Barker to its board of directors.

Mr Barker is co-president of The Meriwether Group, a Portland-based business acceleration and investment company, formed in 2004. Prior to The Meriwether Group, he was director of apparel for adidas America, where he was responsible for the entire adidas US apparel business. He also served as business unit manager of apparel for adidas Canada. Before joining adidas, he was general merchandise manager at Levi Strauss and Co. Canada, where he oversaw both Levi's and Dockers brands.

Born in South Africa, Barker started an athletic apparel company in 1983 which he ran until moving to Canada in 1998.