fashion news

The latest fashion news from here and elsewhere.

It goes without saying: the love of knitting

The new Ça va de soi boutique has just opened on Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Large and bright, it highlights the different quality knits that have made the reputation of the Quebec brand.

The building located in Mile End also houses the head office, showroom, warehouse, reception and distribution. “Everything is gathered in one place and we even live above! “say Antoine Nasri and Odile Bougain, founders of the brand, who work with their daughter, Kinza Nasri.

Since its creation in 1989, the brand has relied on beautiful materials: Egyptian cotton, merino wool and cashmere. “It was while watching films from the 1960s that I started dreaming of beautiful knitwear,” underlines Antoine Nasri. Moreover, during our meeting, the film A woman is a woman by Jean-Luc Godart is presented on the screen of the boutique. “At the time, we wore one and the same knit all year round that we kept for a very long time, and that inspired me to do this, long before the current ecological movement. We have always focused on quality, on spending less, but better, for sustainable products,” he says.

“Material, color and shape is our philosophy. The style of knitwear for men and women is timeless. We create classics that come back from one season to another, then we revisit other up-to-date cuts”, specifies Odile Bougain. The choice of colors is very neat, there is a luminous blue, an eye-catching purple, a lemon yellow, a mottled grey, a barley beige, a deep black and a charming old pink.

Quality wool

It is by touch that we recognize the quality of a knit; an ultrafine wool adapts to your body temperature, and the wool is distinguished by its spinning, an Italian know-how.

The Nasri family can talk to you for hours about the quality of wool, because the comfort of a knit on the skin is essential. “We are very sensitive to it, our wool is soft, comfortable. The wool comes mainly from Mongolia, New Zealand and Australia. Goats live high in Mongolia in a harsh climate and their wool is warm and soft. As for the sheep, those who give the best wool are those who are the most pampered, they live in beautiful conditions, in the plain, their diet is monitored, hence the softness of their wool, “explains Kenzi Nasri.

The boutique is located at 5156, boulevard Saint-Laurent

Event: the sale of second-hand clothes by Lolitta Dandoy

Fashion columnist Lolitta Dandoy is organizing “My Walk-in”, a second-hand clothing sale in collaboration with stylist @mllegeri, on November 25, 26 and 27 at Cours Mont-Royal. It’s time to shop around, whether you’re looking for a second-hand dress, coat, jacket, accessories or shoes. “I’ve been hunting for 30 years, 80% of my wardrobe is second-hand and more than ever, we must encourage this way of consuming,” says Lolitta Dandoy. “I get asked all the time, ‘Where did you get that jacket?’ And I am often told: “I would so love for you to shop for me!” This sale is a bit of a response to that,” she says. The pieces are carefully selected (since the 1990s!) and there is something for all styles at very affordable prices. “And we will be there to advise you,” says Lolitta Dandoy.

“My walk-in”, at Cours Mont-Royal, at 1455, rue Peel, street level, on November 25, 26 and 27

Good cause: a less crazy Friday

Are you one of the 28% of Canadians who, according to a survey conducted for the Retail Council of Canada, plan to shop during the Black Friday sales? While voices have been increasing in recent years to denounce this incitement to overconsumption, others are taking advantage of this day to advocate responsible, local purchases, which can also be an opportunity to give back. This is particularly the case of Montreal designer Marilyne Baril of Marigold who, in 2019, renamed this day “Responsible Friday”. This year again, it will donate 15% of the profits from today’s sales to the organization Book Humanitaire. Doyle Eyewear has chosen to partner with the Breakfast Club. For each frame purchased this week, a donation equivalent to 20 breakfasts for a child will be donated to the organization. For the manufacturer of solar-powered watches Solios, nothing more than one watch will be donated to the Operation Santa Claus Foundation for each watch sold during the day. “We hope to encourage sustainable choices and bring a little love and light into the lives of people who don’t have the opportunity to indulge during the holiday season,” said Samuel Leroux, co-founder of Solios. In addition, the company has a temporary store at 3859, rue Wellington in Verdun (Friday to Sunday until December 18 and from December 19 to 23).

Quebec designers: Heirloom receives

Samantha-Tara Mainville, creator of Heirloom Hats, has decided to share her boutique space in Mile-Ex with some of her favorite Quebec designers. Her “roommate” jeweler Alexandre Bergeron will of course be there. The equally unique creations of Ora-C will sparkle alongside its exceptional rings. You can shop the recent collections of clothing brands Eliza Faulkner, Mamé, Veri, Parada and Fever to create. There will also be bags, signed Partoem, Bouquet, Your Bag of Holding and Hotel Motel, then some decorative objects and beauty products. Naturally, we take the opportunity to find the Heirloom headgear that will keep his head and ears warm this winter. The new collection of the very creative milliner includes, among other things, classic berets, all-purpose hats in organic wool or very soft mohair and headbands. The shop will hold all these products until December 24th. Some of them can even be purchased from Heirloom’s site, which will continue to be updated in the coming days.