What would happen if the delicate brushstrokes of a fine renaissance painter would mary the elegant precision of a skilled couturier? The answer is Helmer Joseph, a designer who has recently returned to his roots in Montreal offering an entirely different perspective on the art behind fashion design. A tailor by trade and training, Helmer practiced his art for the benefit of some of the greatest names in fashion and the performing arts in France, Italy, Japan and Spain. A master of dimensions, volumes, textures and layers, Helmer’s creations illustrate the mystifications of the artistic mind, and complexities behind the skill and precision of a couturier.

As expectations of an anxious crowd awaited, Helmer unveiled his Spring-Summer 2012 collection in a private show that took place within the divine backdrop of the St.Jean Baptiste Church on Rachel street, in the heart of the Plateau Mont-Royal. Without an ounce of disappointment, the first creation came out and bled a river of ingenuity, mastery, and pure magnificence. An amalgamation of textures, fabrics, bold structures, loops and woven details, filled our eyes as the sounds of the organs carried us away into his world.

And a daring world that is… The theme of this collection is inspired by Greek mythology and Helmer open’s Pandora’s Box! Just as Pandora opened a jar to unleash all the evils of the world, this designer experience proudly exhibits a collection of symbolic garments representing the seven deadly sins; the seven great modern curses. Through his use of contrasting color, Helmer presents us with a mythical collection that transpose the ramifications that burn within our modern society. Utilizing the representation of emblematic colors like pink and red, each creation touches on the vulnerability of modern day issues such as Breast Cancer and AIDS. Through an array of three dimensional metaphors, Helmer delivers once again a sea of beauty and true talent that one can only applaud. A true genius within the hands of our brilliant city!

In case you are not yet aware, Helmer’s boutique is situated at 2020 St.Laurent, and features his haute couture, partially-finished and ready-to-wear designs and accessories. His collection can also be found in the ISHI gallery-boutique-spa located at 2122 Crescent Street in downtown Montreal and in the new boutique Une Ile en Amerique at 102 Laurier Avenue West.

Posted under Fashion, design, exhibition, montreal

50’s pop culture, spoofing sports & famous animation studios, tongue in cheek humor, Andy Warhol making art using illustrator, those were some of the terms we used to describe Antoine Tavaglione Dirty Does It exhibit last month. Sounds to good to be true, right? We have some of pictures from the exhibit and it definitley did live up to its expectations. We literally could’ve bought all of them to put in our homes and office!! Below are some our personal favorites.

Turns out Antoine not only had art in mind but as well as fashion. During the Dirty Does It exhibit Antoine also launched/exhibited his Dirty Thoughts collection (dude! do you sleep?!?!!) which we are really proud to point out that it is 100% designed & made in Montreal!! You can find the t-shirts currently in Montreal at Influence U.

You can see more picutres and screens after the jump. Let us know what pieces you like!

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Posted under Events, Fashion, art, montreal, street art

Text, Photo : Christine Elizabeth Laprade

Holt Renfrew held a media event on July 20 whereby Fashion Director VP Barbara Atkin presented the Fall/Winter biggest trends to a very select audience.

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Posted under Fashion, design, montreal, press

By Dahlia Pham

Jean-Paul Gaultier is bringing his Ready-To-Wear Fall 2011-2012 collection to kick off the Montreal Fashion & Design Festival (#FMDM11) on August 3^rd. L’enfant terrible of the fashion world has charmed our fair city and swept it off its feet with his retrospective exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in June, and will continue to woo us this August.

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Posted under Events, Fashion, Graphic, art, conference, design, exhibition, furniture, industrial, montreal, music, networking, photography, press, street art

Can’t Stop..Won’t Stop!! And 10 years to prove it! To conclude it’s 10 year Anniversary Celebrations, the Place D’Armes Hotel & Suites have collaborated with everybody’s favorite Montreal Designer, Denis Gagnon. Also sharing his 10 years of design, Denis Gagnon is at it again and this time offers his talent to one of the infamous establishments of Old Montreal’s Antonopoulos Group.
As of July 2011, Denis has delicately created the new uniforms that will be worn by the front desk personnel of the Place D’Armes hotel. The concierges, receptionists, and valets will all be adorned in black and white outfits that display simplicity and sophistication all wrapped up in a unique touch of designer couture. Using his signature zipper detail, the typical mens blazer has been tweeked to show style and stature. For the women, refinement and sophistication takes on a new form with a disctinctive scarf that will surely grab anyone’s attention. Without a doubt, Denis illustrates that clothing is everything and first impressions are meant to last forever. This partnership is another brilliant way to showcase our local city talent in a new light. The everlasting beauty of the Place D’Armes hotel pairs with fashion and design like fine wine. A great way to celebrate 10 years of success!

The Antonopoulos Group, a close knit family run business, employs more than 600 people in their 13 establishments of hotel, bar, restaurant and spa holdings located in Old Montreal. These include: Auberge du Vieux-Port, Narcisse Bistro + Bar a Vin, Terasse de l’Auberge du Vieux-Port, Lofts du Vieux-Port, Hotel Nelligan, Verses Restaurant, Mechant Boeuf Bar & Brasserie, Terasse Nelligan, Le Place D’Armes Hotel & Suites, Aix Cuisine du Terroir, Suite 701, Terasse 701, Le Petit Hotel, Galianos, Modavie Restaurant Wine Bar and Vieux Port Steakhouse.

Posted under Fashion, art, hotel, montreal

Par Tashange Ksaur

Cette saison, le Shoot Studio nous dévoilaient fièrement le talent de ses photographes, connus comme des plus importants de la scène montréalaise, lors de leur vernissage 2011. Ils nous invite alors à leur cozy studio se déclinant sur 2 étages et demi au cœur de la plaza Saint-Hubert.

Pour le plaisir des yeux, Audrée Desnoyers, Hans Laurendeau, Pierre Manning, Jérôme Guibord, Sandrine Castellan, Martin Girard, Jean-François Lemire et Jean-François Gratton présentaient une belle gamme de clichés : des macros, des paysages, des portraits, certains attrapés sur le vif et d’autres minutieusement composés… une belle démonstration d’un studio polyvalent.

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Posted under Events, Fashion, Graphic, art, montreal, photography, press

Par Ariane Valade – www.arianevalade.blogspot.com

Mardi dernier avait lieu le vernissage de La planète mode de Jean Paul Gaultier, De la rue aux étoiles au Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. Cette exposition très attendue a recueilli tant d’invités que je n’ai pu tout apprécier. Je dois donc absolument y retourner, car elle en vaut la peine.

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Posted under Events, Experience, Fashion, Films, art, design, exhibition, inspiration, montreal, motion

WANT? more like need… Montreal’s favorite fashion agency offering the most sought after brands of our era have planted their roots in Montreal; an event we have all been anxiously waiting for.
Carefully curated by the WANT twin-mastermind fashion guru’s, Byron and Dexter Peart, The WANT Apothecary brings an element to Montreal that will change the face of retail. Loosely inspired by the atmosphere of a 19th century pharmacy, the concept of their first ever boutique challenges the conventional brick and mortar representation and recaptures the essence of the intimate, and trustworthy neighbourly retail experience once respected in a bygone era.
When I walked into the space, packed with Montreal’s best-looking fashionistas soaking in the pleasures of this inauguration, I couldn’t help feeling like we won the jackpot! Finally! A new concept, unconventional and antonymous from what we’re used to…like something you would stumble upon while walking the streets of the coolest cities in the world. Read More…

Posted under Events, Fashion, design, environment, montreal, store