MONTREAL FASHION WEEK, DESIGNERS LAUNCHES THEIR FALL/WINTER 2003-04 COLLECTIONS

Montreal becomes the centre of attention in the fashion industry as designers launches their collection during Montreal fashion Week.

MONTREAL, Monday, March 3, 2003 -- From March 3 to 7, all eyes will be on Montreal as the major fashion event, Montreal Fashion Week, stages its fourth edition. Throughout the week, designers will share the spotlight on the catwalks in this fascinating and cosmopolitan city as they present their fall/winter 2003-04 collections.

The calendar for this fourth Montreal Fashion Week features more than 26 events including 15 individual fashion shows from established fashion designers as well as from emerging talents. The program also features the Designer Debut show which highlights a new generation of fashion design, the Children's Collective Fashion Show which groups together designers and manufacturers of childrens clothes on the same catwalk and the Closing fashion show which is open to the general public and staged in collaboration with les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Also to be found on the calendar are events and parties designed to entertain fashion professionals.

An important element of Montreal Fashion Week is the informative seminars. This years guest speakers are Maître Daniel S. Drapeau, lawyer and trade-mark agent, Ogilvy Renault S.E.N.C. and Barbara Kennington, trend-forecaster specialist at WGSN, the renowned research and trend analysis bureau. Childrens fashions also hold a seminar with two guest speakers -- Dominique Peclers, president and founder of Peclers Paris and David J. Howell, vice-president of NPD Group Canada.

Mercedes-Benz, a major world fashion industry partner, is again supporting Montreal Fashion Week as a sponsor. Mercedes-Benz also sponsors fashion weeks in Sydney Australia and New York. Montreal Fashion Week also counts on the generous support of the ministère des Finances, de lÉconomie et de la Recherche, the ministère des Affaires municipales et de la Métropole, the Conseil régional de développement de lîle de Montréal (CRDIM) and theCity of Montreal.

Some major partners also provide support to MFW. Imago design and lHôtel de Montréal, MFWs official hotel, join forces once again this season to continue in their support of this most prominent fashion event in Canada. Amabilia.com, an Internet portal that specializes in the arts of living, fashion and beauty, and eXtension design concept, visual environment designers are equally important partners in this fourth edition of MFW.

Montreal, a city bursting with creative spirit, sustains its inimitable know-how in a grand tradition of innovation, quality and excellence. Nearly 50% of Canadian clothing production comes from companies based in Montreal.

Montreal Fashion Network, the origisator of Montreal Fashion Week, is a non-profit body created in 1998 to bring sectorial associations in the clothing industry together. Montreal Fashion Network seeks to promote the Quebec fashion industry and to position Montreal as an important Canadian and North American fashion centre.

Designers and participants in the 4th edition of MFW:

Cest pas grave, Cole B, Danier Leather, Envers, Fur council of Canada, Isabelle Elie, Kamkyl, Lili-les-Bains, LúK par Luc LaRoche, Mackage, Morales, M Siamo, Nadya Toto, Second, Sheila Dassin
      

Designers and participants in the Children's collective Fashion Show:

Blü, Bodyguard, Coccoli, Créations Démétan, DKNY, Elle, Elvira Vali, Girl & Company, Kaboo, Kenzo, Krickets, La mère Michèle, Le Grenier des Frimousses, Magi, Marèse, Pepita la Bambola, Perry Ellis, Roméo & Juliette, Tutti Chicca,      

Designers and participants in Designer Debut
Antonio Ortega, Dada + Tati, Falbala, Nadia Gilot