Search by keywords

Browse by categories

Fashion Société Design

ManufacturerDesigner

1995 - 1998

Arthur Sanft, son of businessman and manufacturer Auckie Sanft, founded Fashion Société Design in Montreal in 1995. The company produced and sold domestically manufactured women’s fashions.

Arthur Sanft was a long-time collaborator of Jean-Claude Poitras; the designer worked for Sanft at Beverini Inc. from 1976 to 1982. Knowing Poitras was out of work after the bankruptcy of Irving Samuel, Sanft hired him as a designer and vice-president of Fashion Société Design in 1995. Poitras designed two collections for the company: Bof!, his affordable diffusion line, and Qui m’aime me suive, a short-lived collection of dresses and eveningwear.

In 1996, the company also produced collections for Lino Catalano Design.

By mid-1998, Fashion Société Design had run into financial difficulties and Arthur Sanft decided to leave the company. The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec purchased the company and continued to work with Poitras and Catalano, but ultimately had to cease all operations by the end of that year.

Publication date

07/06/2019

© MCCORD STEWART MUSEUM 2024