LaSalle College Fashion Design graduates reveal tomorrow’s fashion trends

Montrealers got a glimpse of tomorrow’s fashion trends on Thursday night, at the LaSalle College Signature Fashion Show. Experts and fashion enthusiasts from around the world are here at the Grand Quai of the Port of Montreal to discover hundreds of original creations by the school’s graduates.

“What I wear makes me become my alter ego and gives me my super power. It’s crazy how just something that you wear can change your whole behaviour and make you feel powerful,” says Éléonore Lagacé, spokesperson for LaSalle College Signature Fashion Show.

“We’ve been working so hard, so, so hard. And I don’t think that people realize that it’s hours of work, it’s spending every night up to like 11 at school and then being there the day after at 8 and we’ve been pouring our hearts and soul into those designs,” says Eve Laroche, one of the 74 LaSalle College graduates this year.

Eco-responsibility takes center stage at the show and for the first time, Montrealers have the opportunity to acquire one-of-a-kind upcycled and eco-responsible pieces designed by graduates in a pop-up store.  

“We created the first collection SGNTR, so Signature Without the Vowels. And the students, a group of 17 students actually upcycled hundreds of samples to create this collection that is actually right behind me in the pop-up store. Then the guests are invited to purchase these garments and then they get the profits from those sales,” explains Andrew McNally, Dean of Fashion for LaSalle College.

“All the different textiles put together to make a unique piece. These pieces were being unused, they were deadstock, so now it’s to create a new piece that hopefully someone would love,” says Olivia Sollazzo, LaSalle College graduate.

The event is kicking off the College’s 65th anniversary celebrations and for the occasion, fashion designers from Vancouver, Barcelona, Melbourne, Morocco and more are also in attendance to unveil their creations, along with the LaSalle graduates.

“We’re presenting close to 427 looks. So the 74 graduates, different collections, it’s very eclectic and for the first time we’ve invited because the LaSalle College LCI Education has 23 campuses around the world”, adds McNally.

Signature 2024 is part of the new Festival LaSalle College, running until May 18 at the Grand Quai of the Port of Montreal.