Montreal Fashion Week 2013!

Preparations are in full swing for Montreal Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013 (MFW F/W 13), produced by Groupe Sensation Mode in collaboration with P&G Beauty & Grooming. This season, the excitement is being felt more than ever and the event has announced several new features that will rest on attributes that MFW is known for: variety and quality. This rendezvous, which brings together the fashion community, will take place February 4 to 7 at the Arsenal, a contemporary art complex. 

"From edition to edition, interest in MFW is undeniable," said Jean-Francois Daviau, co-founder and co-president of Groupe Sensation Mode. "The number of people that have registered to date is very good and we are expecting more than 20,000 visitors, including fashion professionals, designers, artists and media representatives."

In addition to being a platform for Canadian designers to introduce their new collections, MFW provides a varied fashion experience and offers numerous activities, such as conferences, exhibits, artistic performances, and a new concept that marries fashion with cinema: the Fashion Premiere. This series of 21 fashion films, selected by MFW in collaboration with FAT Arts & Fashion Week Toronto and TRIPTYQUE, will be presented throughout the event and will include a tribute to RAD HOURANI directed by Parisian Jean Du Sartel. The McCord Museum will also offer two free activities dedicated to the history of fashion on February 2 and 6.

Among other firsts: MFW F/W 13 will feature a new space at the Arsenal called the Designer Studio by Target, allowing greater flexibility to designers that want to have more creative freedom and stage a non-traditional fashion show or installation with maximum impact. 

For the first time, designers participating in MFW will be able to benefit from an international partnership with Russia Fashion Week, which will provide visibility in a growing market with MFW content being broadcast to influencers from the Russian fashion industry. 

A large variety of designers, both established and emerging, will show their Fall/Winter 2013 collections at MFW, each representing the different facets that Canadian fashion has to offer. The designers chosen by the MFW selection committee include:

Harricana by Mariouche                                                     

Nadya Toto (in collaboration with Elle Quebec)                             

Melissa Nepton                                                              

MARTIN LIM                                                                 

PEDRAM KARIMI (Designer Debut)                                             

by THOMAS. (Designer Debut in collaboration with Elle Quebec)              

Annie 50 (cocktail installation)                                           

RUSH COUTURE par/by CLAUDETTE FLOYD (in collaboration with Elle Quebec)    

Rachel Sin (of Toronto)                                                    

Ralph Leroy (5th anniversary)                                              

COKLUCH                                                                    

Symbiose by hinda A.                                                       

Matiere Noire                                                               

Nisse                                                                      

BANG couture                                                               

L'AUTRE COUTURE DE LUKO MARION                                              

The "Exhibit" concept will also return this season, presenting the creations of six fashion designers:

--  Jennifer Glasgow Design

--  Marilyne Baril

--  Voyou

--  Melow par Melissa Bolduc

--  Copious Couture

--  Rachel F.

Two fashion shows/special events aiming to promote Canadian talent are also planned. On February 7, Target will feature the collections of five finalists from its Emerging Designer Award. The name of the winner will be announced at the end of the fashion show.

TELIO will also present the creations of 25 finalists for "Canada's Breakthrough Designers 2013" contest, which collects entries from 22 fashion design schools across Canada.

A range of special activities has also been added to the Fall/Winter 2013 program, including a conference by Carly Stojsic of the WGSN agency, a fashion luncheon at the CIMM, the OldWIG pop-up shop, and an artistic fashion installation by Samuel Mercure that will feature live performances.

Members of the public can take advantage of exclusive access to MFW F/W 13: a four-day passport for $175, a one-day pass for $75, and single tickets for individual fashion shows priced at $25 (plus tax and service charge) are available. Tickets are on sale at www.montrealfashionweek.ca and spots are limited. Those who will not be able to get to the Arsenal can watch all of the shows live on the MFW website thanks to PARCE QUE FILMS, the official video partner.