Although it was over 40 degrees and I was melting in the extreme heat, I attended the Montreal fashion festival with friends and had a blast. As a matter of fact, it was super inspiring to meet all these incredible local designers and was truly one of the highlights of my summer.
I discovered some amazing talents, brands, and met some fabulous people.
Here are some of my favourites:
1- Hoaka Swimwear
There was a long line of young women waiting to purchase bathing suits and underwear in front of the stand. I became curious and soon discovered a brand that truly cares about the planet. (And the designs were attractive too.) What do I love most about this fun label? Hoaka plants trees for each purchase made, and the EcoHoaka designs are made with recycled plastic bottles and 10 trees are planted with every sale. Even their packaging is sustainable: it’s made of corn starch which is 100% compostable material, proof that they really do care about the planet.
Image via Hoaka’s Instagram Account
Girl Crush
I really crushed hard after meeting one of the founders of this amazing brand of comfortable yet sassy clothing, Cindy Cournoyer, an influencer who has that more than a little something, something. This young woman is on fire! Created in October 2019 by Cindy Cournoyer and Lucie Rhéaume, Girl Crush is a brand, but above all an inspiration for all those who wear it and who want to make a difference.
Here is a description on their website: “Girl Crush offers coordinated sets of superior quality prioritizing comfort, aesthetics and ecological awareness. Going in the blink of an eye from “netflix and chill” to “I have a professional meeting”, Girl Crush has been meticulously designed to support its customers through daily challenges.”
In terms of sustainability, here are some of things this brand does with intelligence nad style: minimal packaging with no plastic wraps and a biodegradable package. This is truly music to my ears.
They also favor ecological printing, a slower production of quality garments, the use of some recycled materials ( their T-Shirts, tote bags, socks and Reworked collections are made from 100% recycled materials), as well as organic cotton, an ethical production, hiring local staff as well as sup^porting a local cause that is close to my heart: Le Chaînon.
At Girl Crush, they design trendy clothing while placing great emphasis on the ecological footprint, from the start of the manufacturing process to the final receipt of the package.
These women rock!
Photos taken during the Montreal Festival Mode & Design
Image credit: Girl Crush Gang
