MONTREAL FASHION WEEK SET
MONTREAL — Local designers, manufacturers and industry promoters plan to launch the first edition of Montreal Fashion Week on Sept. 3.
The five-day event will showcase spring-summer 2002 collections from Montreal designers aimed at buyers and media at various locations around the city. Confirmed participants include Marisa Minicucci, Luc La Roche, Phillipe Dubuc, Michel Desjardins, Jean-Yves Lacasse, Yso, Helene Genest and Claudette Floyd.
“By launching Montreal Fashion Week as a twice yearly event, we intend not only to increase the visibility and renown of Quebec fashion products and the industry that creates them, but also to position Montreal as one of the world’s fashion capitals,” said Lynda Brault, coordinator of the event.
She noted that with 50,000 workers, Montreal accounts for nearly half of Canada’s apparel production, compared to 20 percent in Toronto, which has established twice-yearly fashion weeks. In addition, the sector ranked first among Quebec’s export industries between 1990 and 1999.