I am exhausted. I was stuck at the same venue for nearly 11hours. I came home with two goodie bags, one containing a pair of crocs (no, not the ugly crocs thankfully), Eye Candy The Volumes magazine, chips and pamphlets. I missed out on getting an M0851 goodie bag which had small leather items like keychains and a wallet.

I made a couple of new friends, 2 buyers from Massachussetts and another girl from a local independent publication called “La Belle Epoque”. Talking to them certainly helped passed the time, although I wish I had met them earlier during the 3 hour break inbetween the first show and the cocktail hour. I read my book for a solid 2hrs perched on a stool downstairs at the snack bar. Paid $12.50 for a ham sandwich, pasta salad and small chocolate cake.

Befriending these new people was fascinating and exciting. I got to ask questions I’ve always wanted to ask to buyers and the journalist knew all the dirt on the inner workings of what the Chabanel industry is like. Chabanel is the garment district in northern Montreal where buyers can buy directly from the showrooms and don’t have to assist all the fashion show shenanigans in the Old Port. I’ll talk about that tomorrow.

Enough of my social antics. I can’t reveal much about the shows, but I’d have to say for today, Muse by Christian Chenail was the best show. This shocks even myself since I really didn’t care for his last 2 collections at all, but this season he really pushed the envelope and I was amazed that he could produce such a great collection.

The worst show was Envers by Yves Jean Lacasse.

Ok.

What is up with this guy? People are clamoring to see his shows, but his collections are terrible!! He’s like a bad Jean-Paul Gaultier wannabe, at least Gaultier still knows how to make clothes. I think the only notable talent Mr. Lacasse has is creating these nice tailored jackets in embroidered fabric for men. But he does that for EVERY collection. Ugh. Enough. I’m never going to his shows again. I’m not the only one to think so, the expression on people’s faces were priceless. One guy was just squinting his eyes, his jaw dropped open as the male models passed by, trying to figure out what in the world was going on.

Marie Saint Pierre? At first I was impressed with her, but not anymore. It’s always the same thing, you can see it on people’s faces, they start yawning, they get bored. And does she even try to venture out onto different fabrics? I don’t think so.

More juicy gossip.

This morning’s press conference was one hot pressure cooker. I was relieved to know that some local journalists are still journalists at heart. One lady who freelanced for Le Devoir asked that although the industry is full of talented designers, what was the government going to do to help them position them on an international level? Mr. Bachand, minister of Economics of Quebec, mumbled his way through his answer, only reiterating what he had stated earlier in his speech, and flat out didn’t answer the woman’s question. I have never seen a more plastified smile on a person’s face like Mr. Bachand’s before. This isn’t a good sign. It seems to indicate that the govt has absolutely no idea how to spread our designers on an international level business wise. All they believe is that promoting creativity will be enough to propel some 600 yearly new designers on a global scale….right.

Another woman asked that the manufacturing industry is downsizing in Quebec and moving elsewhere to Asia like China and Vietnam, so what would the govt do to bring back those lost jobs? Sensation Mode’s co-president answered that although it was unfortunate that manufacturing jobs are moving elsewhere (because of cheaper labor), they hope that the creativity and design of our fashion designers will make up for the difference. Er….ok. I’m guessing that these manufacturing jobs will be lost for good then. What’s the point of boasting our Canadian manufacturing industry (being third behind NY and LA in North America) when nobody is trying to save it?

Ok what’s wrong with this picture? Is the govt trying to save the fashion industry or not? And I hate how they try to paint Montreal as THE Canadian fashion capital. Wrong. It’s Toronto. Even I know that. People aren’t exactly clamoring to come here are they? It’s even more insulting trying to lump us together with NY, Paris, Milan and London Fashion Week, when we are a bazillion light years behind them on an international scale. We may be fashion forward, but our business models suck globally. Don’t sugar coat the facts!

I’m really starting to become disappointed about the state of our fashion industry. It’s in terrible shape. At least Mr. Bachand had a redeeming phrase towards the end of his speech: “We are still working within a frame of a strategy. A strategy is not written in stone.” So they’re working on it. Let’s hope they get it right before I die!

Be forewarned that fashion shows have a tendency to start late. Show up early at your own risk!

Karv Fashion Show @ Club 1234
March 7th, 2008 at 10PM
Tickets are available (10$) price at the door will be (15$).
For Tickets & Table Reservations Call : 707-3333
Cause: Promotional
Click here for the Facebook Event

CASA Cares Fashion Show @ Olympia Theatre
March 13th, 2008 at 8:30PM
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at 1500 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Room GM 218-4.
Cause: Donation to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation
Designers: Dom Rebel, Aqua di Lara, Bodybag by Judith Desjardins, Dinh Bà and more.

Ethni-cité fashion-show & Party @ Time Supper Club
March 13th, 2008 at 11:30PM
Pre-sale tickets are $15. Price at the door will be $20.
Cause: Promotion of cultural diversity among local and international students
Click here for the Facebook Event

The Official “WALK” Fashion Show @ House Nightclub
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:30PM
Tickets are $40. Groups of 10 or more get a $10 discount per person.
Contact Megan Clark: thats.crazy.babyyy@hotmail.com
Tel: (514) 525-8567
Cause: Donations for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation
Click here for the Facebook Event

Armure Urbaine @ Marche Bonsecours for Montreal Fashion Week
March 27th, 2008 at 9:30PM
Tickets are $30. Can be purchased at Admission.com.
Cause: Donations for YWCA.
Designers: Body Bag by Jude, Dinh Bà, Denis Gagnon, Envers by Yves Jean-Lacasse, Helmer, Collection Iris, Marie Saint Pierre, Muse by Christian Chenail, M Siamo, Mylene B.

Path of Destruction Fashion Show – Location TBD
April 5th, 2008 – Time TBD
Tickets are $25. Price at the door will be $30.
Cause: Promotional, free stuff
Click here for the Facebook Event

OR you can just join the Montreal Fashion Group on Facebook and make your life easier.

And as a final announcement, which isn’t fashion show related, I found out that Marie Saint Pierre will be opening a new boutique at the Rockland Centre soon.

Here’s the list of targets I want to check out:

Boul. St-Laurent

U&I
Vivienne Westwood, Ksubi jeans, 3.1 Philip Lam. It’s a higher end casual store tha always looks so somber on the inside, but the brands attract me enough to at least check them out.

Blank
Often referenced as the Quebec version of American Apparel. 100% made in Montreal and a good deal cheaper. Just don’t expect ads and posters of scantily clad women and men in their basic undies around the store.

Rue St-Denis

OLAM
Once reported as a featured store on Musique Plus, there is another one on St-Catherine as well. I passed by the one on St-Denis and saw that they carry a mix of Quebec designers and some high end imports like Miss Sixty.

Philippe Dubuc
Although I long though he had closed down due to money troubles, he still maintains a modest 2 story boutique. He’s been touted as a designer with a great eye for design and tailoring, but I really want to see with my own two eyes.

Muse
I just noticed yesterday that Muse is only two doors away from Philippe Dubuc’s store! Very small boutique from what I could see, only one window? I saw a sale sign, maybe I could find something there.

Rue Sherbrooke

Escada
Always been curious about this high end italian German store (it’s a good thing I don’t write for a newspaper yet), why doesn’t anyone talk about it? Maybe because, egads, their price range is in the thousands. Hmm. It won’t hurt to look right?

Rue Peel

San Remo
Now I’ve been lusting after this store for I don’t know how long and only managed to do a quick runaround only once. Sure, perhaps only the fictional Carrie Bradshaw could pull off those embroidered and sequined concoctions, oh but the fantasy in those windows, so old school, so glittery, oh so very lovely. I’ll try to take pictures when we’re not engulfed in snow.

Rue Crescent

Boutique Encore
A photographer friend referred me to this store but I have yet to set foot in it. He says this store has discount designer goods, usually second hand but still in good condition.

I’ll write up an eventual report on my discoveries (if any) and can hopefully show you some pictures.