Semaine Mode de Montréal begins this week

mmode (CNW Group/mmode)

MONTREAL — More than 70 organizations from the Quebec fashion industry ecosystem come together and invite consumers to take advantage of Semaine Mode de Montréal (SMM) to support the talent and know-how of Quebec-based companies by promoting the local purchase of clothing, footwear and fashion accessories this week.

In recent months, Quebecers have been made more aware of the impact that their purchases of products designed or manufactured here have on the economy of the province and their regions. This interest in local purchasing has also been decisive for several companies in the fashion industry, a sector mainly made up of SMEs and severely affected by the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of economic recovery and as part of the cultural calendar, the mmode Cluster wants the SMM, to become a fashion Rendez-Vous for the general public, an opportunity to take a moment to discover new local companies and to stock wardrobes with items purchased from locally established brands and banners.

“The SMM’s program reflects the richness and variety of Quebec fashion scene. Across Montreal and online, dozens of activities are offered throughout the week, for all tastes and all budgets, to allow the public to discover new Quebec-based brands and to buy locally in a festive atmosphere: pop-up shops, shopping events, workshop sales, online sales, collection launches and more,” says Debbie Zakaib, executive director of the mmode Cluster.

For its first year at the helm of Semaine Mode de Montréal, an event that returns after almost 10 years of absence with a brand new formula, the mmode Cluster has brought together emerging and established designers, independent retailers, large retail chains, fashion schools, associations, business development corporations and public partners. “We have witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of solidarity across the industry over the past year and we must continue to work together to ensure the economic vitality of the sector in times of recovery. A unifying initiative like Semaine Mode de Montréal is a new opportunity for newcomers and industry leaders alike to proudly celebrate our creativity while allowing consumers to discover and support local businesses, “explains François Roberge, CEO of Boutique la Vie en Rose Inc. and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the mmode Cluster.