Christian Chenail

Christian Chenail is the designer of Montreal brand MUSE, which specializes in made-to-measure and small batches of ready-to-wear clothing for professional women. His clientele comes from both the worlds of business and culture. A graduate in architecture from Université de Montréal, the designer pays close attention to the structure and lines of his garments, which are often made in colourful fabrics or unusual prints.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Christian Chenail earned a fashion design diploma from Montreal’s LaSalle College in 1988.

The following year, he joined forces with Johanne Demers to present his first collection of women’s clothing under the MUSE label and open an atelier on St. Lawrence Boulevard in Montreal.

At the time, their clothing was sold in stores like Filly & Colt and Revenge in Montreal, as well as at UltraVox in Granby.  In 1993, Christian Chenail and Johanne Demers inaugurated the first MUSE store on St. Denis Street. The duo’s collections were also sold at Eaton, The Bay, Simons and Holt Renfrew.

When the partnership with Johanne Demers ended in 1994, Christian Chenail took over the company’s administration and development. In 2003, a second MUSE store was opened, on René-Lévesque Boulevard West in Quebec City.

As of 2018, Christian Chenail produces one-off custom-made pieces as well as two annual collections of limited distribution ready-to-wear. They are sold in approximately ten stores in Quebec, including the company’s two branded boutiques. More complex garments are produced in the MUSE atelier, while simpler pieces are entrusted to local Montreal subcontractors.