Posts from ‘Amazing Artists’
You want to buy fashion that is made right here in Montreal by ethical designers whose work is unique, funky and hip right? Looky here. We have the top picks in our city.
Montreal is my hometown; and I love it when I meet travellers in my store who ask where they should go next. I whip out a pen and paper and start drawing up a map with all my favourite things in the neighbourhood…. best lunch at Aux Vivres, best coffee at Melbourne..and so on. This list is born of that desire to share what only a local can know.
There are as many styles on this list as there are designers. As I was researching my fashion-designer colleagues, I was stunned to find out how many of us there are in Montreal. I want shoppers (and especially tourists) to be able to discover stores that they would never find anywhere else in the world; stores that are completely unique to this city. I added what I felt would be the most important information: The price range, the size range and a brief description of the style. A few designers also make girls clothes in addition to their women’s wear collections; you will find the size range noted next to the adult women’s sizes.
The Boutiques on this list are in no particular order of preference or quality. They represent the best in many different styles and sectors. Please click on the links to see the individual designer’s websites and most up-to-date photos of their collections. This way you can decide which appeal to your taste and budget. Then take your list, your map, and go shopping!
KATRIN LEBLOND designer: Katrin Leblond
4647, boulevard St- Laurent, Montréal, QC, H2T 1R2
PRICE: $60-$400 SIZES: XS-XXL & Kids sizes 2-9 ($60-$148)
STYLE: colourful, artistic and embellished knits, ageless appeal, feminine, unique prints, casual dresses, art-skirts, jewelry & accessories, unique made-to-measure bridal.
MELOW designer: Mélissa Bolduc
PRICE: $120 – $400 SIZES: XS-XXL
STYLE : muted palette, contemporary, asymmetrical cuts, jersey, edgy draped knits.
KSL designer: Katy St-Laurent
PRICE: $89-$170 SIZES: XS-XL & Kids sizes 4-12
STYLE: sporty, transformable, travel clothes, athletic, high performance
GENERAL 54 designer: Jennifer Glasgow
PRICE: $50-$450 SIZES: XS-XL
STYLE: classic, chic, original cuts, funky office wear, sophisticated patterns
MAILLAGOGO designer: Carine Chatelais
PRICE: $60-$200 SIZES: XS-XXL
STYLE : sweater knits made in house, creative, timeless, casual and work appropriate
COKLUCH designers: Laurie Lemieux et Christine Geurin
PRICE: $80-499 SIZES: XS-L & Kids sizes 2-6 ($22-$79)
STYLE urban, contemporary, hip, working-girl, trendy
DINH BÀ designer: Dinh Bà Nguyen
PRICE : $120-$200 SIZES: XS-XL
STYLE : geometric prints, dark colours, feminine modern, office chic, mature woman
CRÉATIONS MÉTAMORPHOSE designer: Karine Demers
PRICE: $60-$175 SIZES: XS-XL
STYLE : mixed prints, flirty and funky, eclectic, gypsy boho, urban
FRANCOIS BEAUREGARD designer: Francois Beauregard
PRICE: $60-$550 SIZES: XXS-L
STYLE : simple clean cuts, casual elegant, high-quality basics, chic
LUC FONTAINE designer: Luc Fontaine
PRICE: $89-$150 SIZES: XS-XXL
STYLE : knits, tunics and dresses for mature woman, feminine contemporary
BETINA LOU designer: Marie-Eve Emond
PRICE: $40-$300 SIZES: XXS-XL
STYLE: preppy, understated, minimalist, modern, young, hipster
BODYBAG designer: Judith Dejardins
PRICE: $90-$300 SIZES: XS-XL
STYLE : chic and edgy staples for young professionals, interesting cuts
ATELIER B designers: Catherine Métivier & Anne-Marie Laflamme
PRICE: $100-$350 SIZES: XS-XL
STYLE: young and trendy, hipster basics, natural fabrics, office casual
HIGH-END
MARIE SAINT PIERRE designer: Marie Saint Pierre
PRICE: $200-$2000 SIZES: 4-16
STYLE : Luxury high-end, artistic, contemporary cutting-edge fashion, colourful
SCANDALE designer: Georges Levesque
PRICE: $85-$700 SIZES: S-L
STYLE: Timeless, artistic, fancy party dresses, gypsy chic
IRIS SETLAKWE designer: Iris Setlakwe
PRICE: $125-$900 SIZES: 0-14, XS-XL
STYLE : career, contemporary, feminine, matt jersey
ARIANE CARLE designer: Ariane Carle
PRICE: $200-$3000 SIZES: 4-22
STYLE : evening gowns, bridal, mother of the bride, made-to-measure, gala
ISABELLE ÉLIE designer: Isabelle Élie
PRICE : $150-$2000 SIZES: 4-12
STYLE : feminine, corporate, classy, evening, coats
MILÈNE B designer: Milene Belair
PRICE: $100-$1300 SIZES: 4-12
STYLE : architectural, monochromatic, contemporary minimal, masculine edge
DENIS GAGNON designer: Denis Gagnon
PRICE: $100-$600 SIZES: S-L, one size
STYLE : oversized and loose fitting, futuristic, modern monochromatic, edgy
MENSWEAR
DUBUC designer: Philippe Dubuc
PRICE: $200-$2000 SIZES: 38-46
STYLE : classic minimalist, unique suits, coats, urban wear, casual
ACCESSORIES
LES COUREURS DE JUPONS designer: Geneviève Paquette
PRICE: $50-$200 SIZES: XS-XL
STYLE: recycled leather and fur accessories, vintage inspired jewelry, belts, hats, unique prints, tribal
OPHELIE HATS designer: Corinne Serruya
PRICE: $38-$170
STYLE: classic and funky hats, fascinators for all occasions
m0851 designer: Frederic Mamarbarchi
PRICE: $400-$500
STYLE : leather handbags, backpacks, pouches, jackets, travel bags
LOWELL designers: Rachel Fortin et Mathieu Mudie
PRICE: $60-$700
STYLE: recycled leather and fur, clean-line purses, backpacks, wallets, hats, ear-muffs
Designers: My intention in making this list was to promote locally-made Montreal fashion. It is hard to find us in a simple google search. I had no idea when I started, that this document would take me over 50 hours of research and phone calls to produce. I did it because I believe that if we promote each other, we can all rise up together. Please share widely. If at any time you would like to be removed from this list, please call 514-678-9616 and ask for Katrin.
What a delightful purchase. It took me a total of 1 second to decide I was going to buy this book. One look at the cover and I was ravenous for more. Each page is filled with screen printed images of magical trees. I grabbed a few snapshots with my phone to share with you. If you need to own it too, go to Drawn and Quarterly on Bernard.
Ivko Linen Coat Style 41715 $336.00, Yoga Jeans $120.00, Pupina earrings $16.00, Jennifer Cukier necklace $95.00
Custom embellished bustier by Katrin Leblond $260.00, Earrings from Africa, Pants Lululemon, sandals by la Canadienne
This is my feather mandala dress. I feel like it has magical powers and is charged with the purpose of making women feel beautiful and powerful. But that is another story…. I wanted to show you how incredible it looks with this light brown Ivko cardigan. It is gorgeous. They were made to be together! I always love it when two designers’ collections go so well together. I have always felt that Ivko sweaters were designed for my store. They complement my clothes so perfectly.
That being said, the Spring collections are in the store now! Ivko, KL, Arianne, Metamorphose, Yoga jeans and Ayala Bar.
If you want to shop for any of these brands, check out our online store. Shop here!
These are the bread and butter of installation artist Cynthia Dinan Mitchell. She is specialized in screen printing and decor. Each piece is unique, decorative and built to be practical.
Watch a video of her talking about her installation art:
Abundance hoodie with wing leggings (left), Anna Dress over palazzo pants (right)
Ivko wrapover cardigan with jacquard skirt (left) and Katrin Leblond Abundance hoodie over wing leggings on right
www.ivkostore.com
Felt hat with mohair shawls in pastel colours
Peach velvet tote bag
- Ivko embellished felt hat lavender
Holiday window display, no red!!!
Ivko wrapover cardigan black
Aviator hat and Ivko cardigan
All hand beaded necklace in mauve and gold
Anna Dress over Palazzo Pants (left)
Patti top over Jupe Calin and IVKO leggings
Here are my newest winter accessories!
Chauffe poignets $39
I am very proud of this one. I think it’s beautiful. It makes you want to twirl and dance.
Hoodie Abondance, 2 way zipper, (XS|S) – M – (L|XL)
Detail manche & dos.
The back yoke panel is a beautiful paisley silk velvet. Mmmm… so divine!
Hoodie Abondance vue de dos, magnifique !
Here are three of the drummers from ODAYA wearing costume sleeves I designed for them. They performed last night at the Rialto theatre for a Women’s day concert. They were fantastic. I admire the work they do and love the music they make. I guess you could say I am a fan.
I feel honoured to have made them these red ribbon sleeves. I felt it was important to decorate the part of their bodies that are in motion when they drum. They looked graceful and powerful. Below they are doing a song together with Maha choir and other musicians from the whole evening. It was a great finale!
If there ever was a forest fairy fashion show, these dresses would be haute couture. They put me in the best mood. And as you can see from the last two pictures, they are not just props, or fakes made to look like dresses, they are truly wearable. Uncomfortable?…maybe a little prickley? Sure. But they are real dresses that happen to be made from natural raw materials.
I made a veggie necklace once. I had to keep it in the fridge and then I wore it to a textile event, and then to work the next day (back when I was a sales rep. at Telio & Cie.) It got a lot of attention and it was great for making conversation. It was also a lot of work. When I see these dresses I see hundreds of hours of work. By the time you have finished the second one, the first one is shrivelled and mouldy. It is astonishing to me how she manages to build a group and time it so that they can all be released in a show looking fresh.
This is a sampling of the artwork by Frederique Morrel. To see more of her work got to her website. I have a huge appreciation for artists that make time consuming labour intensive work. The textile arts have become very undervalued in the past few hundred years. It seems like everyone assumes that machines are making things, but there is a person operating every sewing machine. These creatures are modern momento mori in which no animals were harmed (always a bonus!). The combination of old craft and traditional imagery makes these sculptures very familiar in a wierd way. It is like they have always existed. I feel like I have seen them before even though they are new to our culture of contemporary crafts. I think the references to kitchy folklore makes them extra appealing.
I am so excited! This painting is wonderful and colourful and contains one of my dresses! Today Johanne rang my doorbell asking me to come upstairs to her painting studio to see her latest piece. She was just finishing up. She hadn’t even signed it yet. Months and months ago, she borrowed some of my runway dresses for inspiration.
When I saw the painting I screamed!
This is the original dress. Actually it’s a skirt. Johanne’s model is wearing it all the way up as a bustier-dress for her painting.
And here is the artist herself. Johanne Cullen
Below is another painting that she did based on the same skirt, but she changed the original colours.
This is the art of Nicole Dextras.
It is from a group of work called Weedrobes:
“New addition to the Weedrobes Collection: The Maple Flapper Dress symbolizes hope and prosperity for the new immigrant. The 1920’s was an era of liberation for women and here she is seen as a young entrepreneur fresh off the boat, with her old-world good luck charms of plants and animals.”
I think she is incredible and hugely inspiring.
I love the nude dress. It is so bold and gutsy and LOOK at those perky nipples!
This show is beyond fashion…
It is about sculpture that can be worn.
The arms of the dress become fingered gloves with bright red lacquered nails.
The sequins are actually shaded to lend contour to the body.
Go to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts before it is too late. The show closes October 2nd, 2011
These are both pictures that I took on my 3rd visit to the JPG show in Montreal at the MMFA.
The in-soles of those heels are lined with white fur. Down to the detail his work is amazing and desirable.
It’s sexy. It’s glam. I want.
I love the Virgin of Guadalupe and I don’t really understand why. I guess it is because she is such a stylish goddess. She is always portrayed surrounded by glitter and pretty things and lots of colour. She is the brown skinned Virgin and she is a Mother.
So I tried to make Virgin cookies…..not the best tasting cookies I ever made, but still kinda fun.
I also used the top of an old perfume bottle to emboss roses into the cookie dough.
And now, for a peek at a recent release of the new Fall collection: the Guadalupe skirt! Isn’t she just fabulous!
I know it was months ago and I haven’t been posting a lot lately, but here are my pictures from the opening night of the Jean Paul Gaultier show in Montreal. It is the all time best show ever!
Go see it!
Don’t miss it!
I was very inspired and have been back to see it again since the opening night. It was so crazy that night, that invited guests had to line up for hours just to get into the Museum.
The first series of photos below were taken while Krin and I took were in the line up to get into the Museum.
Me wearing a turquoise silk bustier ($158-258) and Russian Bracelet ($12-16) and Silk chiffon scarf ($22-32).
My muse and circus super star Karin Maren Haglund wearing the Purple Bella dress ($278)
This Rosebud necklace is all gypsy and all modern ($248)
The slim fit crinoline in multi reds ($140) available in 12 different colors at Boutique Katrin Leblond 4647 blvd. St-Laurent
The Museum of Fine arts in Montreal decked out in JPG sailor stripes.
Just before we went in to see the show I bumped into Rosie Godbout. Her atelier is upstairs from mine and she is an incredible textile artist who specializes in felting and makes the most amazing winter coats.
Here we are inside the show admiring and stealing pictures on the down low.
My fave dress above and Krin’s fave below.
the famous Can Can dress was on a catwalk of moving mannekins. The installation of the show is superb and very fresh.
I leave you with this picture of the most incredible shoe collage: heels inside wedge sandals! WOW!
Katrin Leblond, un arrêt printanier obligé
La belle Katrin m’a fait parvenir plusieurs de ses suggestions, mais j’ai retenu la robe « Princesse corail » que je trouve assez spectaculaire. Une robe 100% soie, pour 345$. Elle est merveilleuse non?
La boutique Katrin Leblond est un must absolut pour votre magasinage de robe de bal. Vous y trouverez un choix très inspirant de modèles, pour toutes les tailles et toutes les bourses, tant par la designer propriétaire que par les nombreux designers québécois qu’elle accueille dans sa boutique. Ne passez pas à côté des joyeux bibis fabriqués par Katrin elle-même, et les crinolines de fabrication locale qui pourront compléter plusieurs modèles de robe.
The floral theme and the beautiful colours remind me of Katrin’s own commitment to colour and flowers in her fashions.
Bonjour
Nous vous faisons un petit clin en envoyant ces photos. Me voici dans ta creation que je porte lors d’un grand concours de flûte en Europe. Votre robe a presque eu autant de succès que ma performance!
De passage à Montréal, je ne manquerai pas de venir voir vos nouvelles collections!
Charlotte Bletton
