Montreal is Delirious for Denim

Keeping up with a fashion blog takes some work. I get a lot of emails of companies pitching me a new line or new product in hopes of getting the word out there. But what’s really striking is the fact that I get a concentration of emails from one camp in particular: denim.

I don’t know how many denim companies are out there, but I think there are way too many. Especially in Montreal, I don’t know what it is about this city, but they’re full of denim designers. How well these small companies do is hard to say, but it’s suffice to say that I am about up to here with denim overload.

I mean I love my jeans, I read somewhere that the average shopper owns at least 5 pairs of jeans, which isn’t too far from the truth to what I own. So I’m assuming because people own so many pairs of jeans that there’s a hot market for it and a huge demand. Premium denim costs a pretty penny and I think shoppers are getting confused and lost between the difference of premium and a regular pair.

I’m no denim expert, but from what I’ve learned, premium is the kind that will last you forever. The way jeans were originally meant to be. Denim was conceived to be durable, and so farmers and laborers wore this material as they worked. Then it made its way with cowboys in the 1930s and popularized into fashion after WWII. You can read more about the history of denim on Lifestyle Monitor’s 2007 issue at Cotton Inc.

With everyone jumping the bandwagon and attaching “premium” to high priced jeans, or with the recent green movement that everyone is saying that they’re using organic cotton,  there needs to be a simple certification system issued by the top guns in using organic fabric if you ask me. Like many things in fashion, education is essential if you don’t want to be duped, but it’s becoming increasingly complex. You’d really have to be a Denim Nerd to differentiate premium and fashion jeans. Something I personally can’t be bothered with. I equate jeans as practical winter wear, if they can survive the slushy cold streets of Montreal, they’re good in my book.

Image credits: Cotton Inc

When You Can’t Go to an “Only” Event

If there’s one thing I love about the fashion industry are the fashion shows. It’s fun, it’s exciting, you get free swag, the atmosphere is engaging, and it’s more fun when it’s people you know who invite you to these fun events.

Unfortunately I had to turn down one of these events since I’m simultaneously involved in the local Japanese cultural side of things.

However, if you want to attend the event, feel free to go! The event I’m missing is a fashion show thrown by “Only” a Danish Denim brand at the Miss Swiss boutique on St-Denis, Aug. 13th @ 6pm. You can have a taste of what their clothing looks like by watching their videos on their website.

Here’s what’s written on the Facebook event page:

Hello everyone!

Danish female denim brand ONLY will present a new Fall 2008 collection at the Miss Swiss boutique on Wednesday August 13, 2008 at 4271 Rue Saint Denis. The highly anticipated fashion show will start at 6:00 p.m. The concept of the fashion show is inspired by nature and the latest trend of being environmentally responsible.

Invited VIP guests and the first 50 customers that make a purchase will receive exclusive gifts from ONLY, NARS Cosmetics and DaLish Cosmetics. Along with the runway show, guests will enjoy an exclusive night of ultimate shopping, refreshments and musical entertainment by the fantastic DJ Joey Dalleva.

Come see the new collection and join us for celebrations!
RSVP before August 11, 2008!

For more info missswiss@rapidweb.ca or onlyfashionshow@hotmail.com, tel: 514-281-8461

Miss Swiss is a store that carries a mix of European brands for trendy 20-somethings, and “Only” is going to be trumpeted in with much fanfare in a couple of weeks. This is also a good opportunity to come and show support for the people who actually organize the event (any kind of event planning is a huge endeavour to take on). Also, it gives a chance for people who aren’t in the industry to make some connections for beginners. I know it’s tough out there and you often don’t know where to start, but I would say events like these will help you expose to the environment a little, so get out there!

Image credits: Only