Donald Richer

The son of a fur manufacturer, Donald Richer joined the family business, I. Richer Furs, in the early 1960s after studying commerce at Sir George Williams University (today Concordia). Initially an assistant designer, he soon began creating his own highly original collections whose designs were in sharp contrast with mainstream industry productions, earning him the nickname the “enfant terrible” of the fur world. He was known as one of Canada’s most innovative fur designers through his collections for various fur manufacturers, including Amsel & Amsel.

He also made his debut as a designer of women’s wear in 1968 with a line for Fashion Hill of Canada. He became vice-president of the family business in the late 1960s. In 1974, he was one of the founding members of the Fashion Designers Association of Canada. He took part in the activities of Montréal Mode in the 1970s, as well as the last Auto-Élégance in August 1979, an event that combined couture fashion with new cars.

Shorts, Donald Richer, 1971. Gift of Donald Richer, M972.19.2.1 © McCord Museum