Montréal has long been the beating heart of Canada’s fashion scene, a city where European flair meets North American innovation. Known for its rich history as a textile hub and its vibrant underground culture, Montréal is where burgeoning talent finds its voice, and avant-garde ideas take flight.
This year’s Semaine de la Mode was no exception, offering a glimpse into the future of fashion while paying homage to its storied past. From Raphaël Viens’ exploration of identity through deconstructed forms to Tristan Rehel’s visual poetry of inner turmoil, or be it Sweeven’s nostalgic knits or 3 Dimensional’s stark futurism, the week was a testament to the city’s undeniable creative pulse. With an increasing pool of innovative talent and incubator’s like Lignes de Fuite providing the necessary platforms for young creatives to thrive, the city is quietly becoming a hub of talent with the power to influence the international fashion industry. Here are some highlights.
Raphaël Viens
Raphaël Viens‘ presentation at Lignes de Fuite’s On Show for Semaine de la Mode was an exploration of the sartorial as both wearable art and narrative. Models stomped the runway in a frenetic and catatonic manner donning deconstructed garments that played with asymmetry, layering, and juxtaposition of materials; challenging traditional notions of silhouette and form. Viens skillfully combined soft, flowing fabrics with heavier, more industrial materials, creating a dialogue between fragility and strength. The use of historical references, reinterpreted with a modern twist, further emphasized the collection’s conceptual depth, with elements like corset-like tops and sculptural headwear adding layers of historical referentiality to each look.