FASHION EVENTS - MONTREAL

By MFDF

12TH ANNUAL MONTREAL FASHION & DESIGN FESTIVAL PUSHES CREATIVITY TO THE EDGE

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

Montr�al, Canada � In the city where avant-garde style shines and creativity confidently rules, the Montr�al Fashion & Design Festival (MFDF) steps squarely into the spotlight with a sparkling 12th edition set to mesmerize the masses lining McGill College Avenue from August 1st to 4th, 2012.

This year�s festival continues to celebrate the phenomenal pool of leading-edge talent that defines Canadian creativity through hundreds of fantastic fashion concepts, amped-up live music performances and a deluge of design interpretations .

Prepare for sensory overload as more than 50 fashion designers and over 65 national and international fashion brands thrill fashion-lovers from all over. The Festival will also allow you to zero-in on local labels and designers well identified by the Mode MTL heart. At special events such as Dressing Room, Nation F & D, Podium, and Bollywood presented nightly at 10, fashion, design, dance and music come together, much to the the delight of audiences.

Step inside the designers� minds and view their world from a whole new angle with the delightfully inspiring INBOX DESIGN.

Stand witness to Montreal�s urban-themed sit-in as six unique artists reinterpret five of our city�s public benches in the inaugural �On Public Benches� exhibition.

And that�s only scratching the shimmering surface of the thrill-a-minute schedule of the largest and most unique event of its kind in North America!

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

The MFDF is where Canada�s most exciting and edgy fashion and design conceptualists come together to break out of the box and bend the trends with four days and nights of scintillating sights, sounds, and sense-tingling spectacles spread out in true Montreal style for an audience of over 550,000 to enjoy. From the most inspiring leading-edge fashions to the most daring designs, the festival delivers more than a mile of style as it stretches from Maisonneuve Boulevard all the way to Place Ville Marie.

�We want to produce an event that will rock downtown Montreal and that will be accessible to all fashion and design lovers�, states Jean-Francois Daviau, co-founder of the Montr�al Fashion & Design Festival. �We also want to promote Montreal as a city of fashion and design to showcase our creative industries, designers and major brands from around the world.�

Genevieve Borne takes the stage once again this year for a fourth turn as the official spokesperson of the MFDF. �The creative powers behind the event have worked hard to offer you an absolutely exhilarating program where fashion, music, design and art converge and combine in a most unusual way, to present the best our Canadian designers have to offer,� gushes Borne. �It�s an opportunity for me to spend four days at the heart of my greatest passions � fashion, music, design and shopping!�

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

ROCKING THE RUNWAY� AND BEYOND! MFDF 12�S HOT TICKETS:

Dressing room

Wednesday, August 1st

Under the theme "dressing room", we will experience the craft of internationally acclaimed choreographer No�mie Lafrance (known, most notably, for her work with singer Feist), reflected in a striking blend of dance and fashion. A production of Sensation Mode, styled by YSO and music by Christian Pronovost.

HOUR OF HAPPINESS

Highlight on Montreal Fashion Week, in collaboration with Clin d'oeil Magazine

Stop by for Festival happy hours where celebrities will be taking part in the �Highlights of Montreal Fashion Week� event. The walls come down on what is normally an invitation-only event as 23 of our best-known designers show their finest creations from the latest Fashion Week. Presented on an open-air stage for all festivalgoers to enjoy, their fashions will be worn by some of the city�s most beloved celebrities: Genevi�ve Borne, Florence K, Fransisco Randez, Azamit, Anne-Marie Cadieux, Anais Favron, Catherine Pogonat, Virginie Coossa, Mistress Barbara, India Desjardins, B�n�dicte Decary, Mara Tremblay, Isabelle Blais, No�mie Yelle, Denis Gagnon, Annie Dufresne, M�lissa Desormeaux Poulin, Dylane Hetu, Jacynthe Ren�e, Caroline Dhavernas and Ariane-Li Simard C�t�, Alexandra Diaz.

Among the designers showing selected items from the last Montreal Fashion Week event we note: Abol, Aime By W, Alexandre Arsenault, Anastasia Lomonova, Annie 50, Betina Lou, Ca va de soi, Cin Tailleurs, Dinh B� Design, DUY, �ve Gravel, Kollontai, LLUI, LYN, Marie Saint Pierre, Martin Lim, Maude Nibelungen, M�lissa Nepton , Rud styled by Rudsak, Second Yoga Jeans, Samuel Dong, UNTLLD and White Label.

At the end of the show, Clin d�oeil will unveil the grand winner of the Become a Clin d�oeil Professional Model contest.

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

Nation F&D

Thursday, August 2nd

F & D Nation is a show of contrasts in which we invent a world where fashion and design come together. Against an impressive soundtrack, through seven unique worlds where textures, materials, colours and geometric shapes come together, you will be left speechless by the intensity of this experience where we pushed the limits of creativity.

A production of Sensation Mode, original idea and direction by Gabriel Poirier-Galarneau, styled by Jenn Finkelstein and music by FunkyFalz.

Podium

Friday, August 3rd

With the popularity of physical culture that lives through the collections, this show of fashion and music will certainly impress you. With input from the cheerleaders of the University of Montreal�s Carabins, basketball competes with high heels, inspiring you with sporty-chic looks for fall. Sporty�s in! A production of Sensation Mode, styled by M�lanie Brisson and music by Girl.

Bollywood

Saturday, August 4th

Delightfully kitsch, glamour and opulent, Bollywood is the theme for the Festival�s closing show.

In an atmosphere inspired by the magic of Indian cinema, the Festival pays homage to its extravagant fabrics. Music, dance and performances inspired by Mumbai�s greatest celebrations! A production of Sensation Mode, styled by Sophie Lanza, music by Christian Pronovost and choreography by Bollywood Blast.

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

FASHION FROM AROUND THE GLOBE: trends of major brands

The MFDF is the only free outdoor event that brings the world of fashion to you! Let your favorite international labels guide your fashion future at the all-essential time of year � August is the New Year�s Eve of the fashion calendar! Get your fix on the runway and then grab it from the stores. Discover the must-haves for fall/winter 2012 with shows from the likes of:

On Wednesday: Edit by Jeanne Beker, MEXX, Parasuco, Eden Park, M0851

On Thursday: Centre Eaton, Suzy Shier, Yves Martin, Complexe les Ailes, LOL�, Against Nudity

On Friday: Place Ville Marie, Franco Negretti, Antoine Laoun Opticien, Cartise, Forever 21

On Saturday: Quicksilver, Boutiqueonze.ca, Attitude by Jay Manuel, Le Ch�teau, GUESS/GUESS by Marciano.

Check out the full schedule of shows at:

http://www.festivalmodedesign.com/completeprogram

KICK UP YOUR HEELS FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Spokesperson Lolitta Dandoy can�t think of a better way to launch the 12th edition of the festival than by kicking up our heels for a worthy cause at the Glamour Stiletto Run fundraising event! Presented by Bota Bota, the MFDF�s second annual high-heel race will see participants from all walks don their pumps and peep-toes in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. For a $50 donation, teams of two can register to teeter and tiptoe their way down Montr�al�s avenue of fashion in a hilarious high-heeled relay race, held on August 1st, the festival�s opening day.

So don�t delay � register today! (Guys, you�re welcome to join in too!) Full race details and registration at www.festivalmodedesign.com/mode/activites

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

INBOX DESIGN

With the expertise of Sylvie Bercowicz, the curator of the INBOX DESIGN, the MFDF puts Canadian nature in boxes. Inside containers transformed into exhibition areas, we invite you to a journey into the Canadian forest. Through design objects staged by artistic director Lacy Barry, experience a northern location. Each of the containers participating in the INBOX DESIGN facet evokes a typical theme: the forest, snow, river, wind, hunting and the cottage. Six containers, six atmospheres, six trips... in the heart of downtown Montr�al. Antoine Laverdi�re, Bip�de, BRUT Design, Ceramik b, Kastella, Mika�l Charpin (Agence Monde Ruelle), Les Archivistes (Agence Monde Ruelle), St�phanie L�vesque (Agence Monde Ruelle), St�phanie Beaudoin (Agence Monde Ruelle) V�ronique Lamarre (Agence Monde Ruelle), Tat Chao (Agence Monde Ruelle), Pascale Girardin, TOMA Objects and Six Point Un invite you to the opening of their exhibition at 8 p.m., August 1st, 2012 on McGill College Avenue.

ON PUBLIC BENCHES

Montr�al�s sit-in shows off the talent of our local designers as it affects the daily life of locals and tourists, by improving the urban landscape. Valentin Hay and Philippe Cossette, Duc C. Nguyen, Michael Bishop, Bruno Houseaux and Laurence Pilon are among the Montr�al designers and artists who will be offer their interpretations of 5 public benches, all on display on the festival site.

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

MUSIC: SOUND STYLE

Crowds have long come to the festival for their summer fix of ear candy! Once again this year, inspired creativity moves to the rhythm of the hottest DJs and music groups who�ll be blasting out the beats throughout the festival site. Listen for: Ap�ro-Fashion-Musique with Virginie Coossa, Philippe Fehmiu, Catherine Pogonat, Florence K and, during Rock�n�Couture, listen to Kaytradamus, Jef Barbara, Middnight Romeo and Chinatown. Also on site, bands like GIRL, Jolie Jumper, Tops, and Grenadine as well as DJs like Alix, A-ROCK, Millim�trik and Shaydakiss.

RALLYE SHOPPING POPS WITH SHOPS!

Fun will reach fever pitch levels on Sainte-Catherine Street with the Rallye Shopping presented August 2nd

by the National Bank Allure MasterCard in collaboration with LOULOU Magazine. New this year: download the beSleek app for fashion tips from beSleek�s team of stylists.

In the wake of last year�s record crowd of 45,000, Rallye organizers have raised the bar higher than ever for this fourth edition. More than 65 leading retailers and designers will be rolling out the red carpet along the pedestrian-only street as of 5 p.m., welcoming die-hard shoppers with due pomp and circumstance. Participants will flit from store to store, scooping up the latest finds and enjoying the VIP treatment dispensed by participating merchants against a backdrop of the latest music spun by live DJs.

New this year: vintage buses from the STM (Soci�t� de Transport de Montr�al) will be on site serving as pop-up shops during the Rallye Shopping. Inside the buses, fashionistas can get their hands on exclusive pieces, straight from the collections of their favorite designers!

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

The Pop-up Boutique, exclusive to the Festival!

The Pop-up Boutique will make it possible to shop every day of the Montr�al Fashion and Design Festival. It�s the largest outdoor walk-in in town! For the fourth year, the boutique will be offering a selection of designer items at the most affordable prices. Canadian designers will be offering the best of their 2012 spring-summer collections, as well as exclusive items. It�s the hotspot for great finds!

MANY OTHER MUST-SEE EVENTS:

Trend Feature Show: Fall/Winter 2012-2013

Watch at 9:30 nightly as fashion stylists bend the trends on the runway, mixing bang-on pieces from various designers in their own take on a specific fashion trend of F/W 12 -13 ! Under the themes of Glamania, Transe/Paraitre, Gold Rush and Chromatic Fantastique, you�ll discover the trends. Styled by Jos� Manuel St-Jacques and Simon B�langer Come and discover the fabulous work of students from Coll�ge Lasalle and Coll�ge Marie Victorin.

Check out the unique and original events presented by Cashmere, DYDH productions, OldWIG, ETHIK BGC during the Festival.

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

BLOGGERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The Collectif will be serving up a fresh experience with several features, including a show spotlighting 5 looks styled by 5 Montreal bloggers who picked the creations, musical selections and models. Connected to the web with Candice Pantin (Montrealinfashion), Duc C. Nguyen, Ga�lle Leroyer (Blog mode), M�lodie Wronski (Mode34B), Sophie BT(Total Velours).

Not to be missed: Lolitta Dandoy digs into her online boutique� treasure trove (mywalk.in), showing off her favourite pieces.

�D�filez sans clich�!��MAKE ROOM FOR OUR YOUTHS!

Check out this major event raising awareness of body image diversity. This unique fashion show will present the young winners of the �D�filez sans clich� competition.

STANDING STRONG FOR A HEALTHY IMAGE

The MFDF continues to show its support for the Quebec Charter for Healthy and Diverse Body Images through several initiatives, including a commitment to featuring only models over the age of 16, as promoted by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Highlight local talent: COLLECTIF DE : MTL in collaboration with MDEIE

�The Qu�bec fashion and clothing industry is the core of this sector in Canada and one of the three major hubs in North America. This is a strategic field for our economy. Its manufacturing component alone includes over 900 businesses, generating $1.7 billion in sales and $439 million in exports in more than 25 countries. This is why, in its last budget, our government reiterated its support by announcing new investments of around $9.5 million and the creation of a fashion working group,� affirmed the Minister of Finance, Minister of Revenue and Minister responsible for the Montr�al region, Raymond Bachand.

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

The talent and expertise of our Montr�al companies will be showcased on Saturday through the fashions of designers such as: Anna Note, Blank Cocollily, Cokluch, Dom Rebel, Rachel F. Elisa C.Rossow, Genevi�ve Savard, Harricana, Jean-Paul Cobeil, Mackage, Miss Mak Designs, Perdram Karimi, Soia and Kyo, M0851 and many more.

Cr�me � la glace, limonade sucr�e

In the light, warm atmosphere of a summer afternoon, get into the groove with the fab fashions of Atelier B, Anastasia Lomonova, Val�rie Dumaine, and rapturous rhythms of the season. Come brighten up your weekend with an over-the-top Saturday!

OUR INVALUABLE PARTNERS

Attracting close to half a million visitors a year, the Montr�al Fashion & Design Festival is the largest outdoor fashion and design event in North America. This year�s edition would not have been possible the Festival is pleased to enjoy the support of such prestigious sponsors as the Government of Qu�bec (Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, and the Ministry of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women), Heritage Canada and Official Languages, the Bureau de la mode de Montr�al (Montreal Fashion Office), Tourisme Montr�al and Destination Centre-ville. The Festival also wishes to thank sponsors

such as National Bank Allure MasterCard, Philips Satin Perfect, Cashmere, Heineken and Ford, as well as its fashion partners: Montr�al Eaton Centre, Place Montr�al Trust, Complexe Les Ailes and Place Ville Marie.

Photo courtesy of Festival Mode et Design de Montr�al - jimmyhamelin.com

A PRODUCTION OF GROUPE SENSATION MODE

After more than 12 years, Groupe Sensation Mode continues to produce and present some of the most important fashion events on the Canadian and international scene. It is the creative force behind such unique new concepts as the Montreal Fashion and Design Festival, the Fashion Theatre (on the Berlin, Tokyo, New York and London stages), Fashion & Opera presented in Los Angeles and Montreal, as well as Montreal Fashion Week and Le Showroom.

Innovative events organized by Groupe Sensation Mode have provided an increasingly visible window on the creativity and talent of homegrown fashion designers. Having forged partnerships in some of the fashion capitals of the world � Paris, Berlin and Tokyo �, Groupe Sensation Mode is proud to hold an eminent position among North America�s fashion and design leaders. The Montreal Fashion and Design Festival is a member of Festimania and the Major International Events Network (MIEN).

Follow MFDF: Hashtag: #FMDM11, Facebook: SensationMode, Twitter: Sensation_Mode, Webtv: montrealfestimania.tv

Source: Sensation Mode

www.festivalmodedesign.com