Ma Divine Clémentine

Ma Divine Clémentine, a brand of high-end clothing for children ages 6 months to 10 years, and Ma Divine Clémentine Mom (or Maman, in French-speaking markets), a line of maternity wear, were created by Montreal fashion designer Dominique Perron.

Born in Quebec City and raised in Chicoutimi, Dominique Perron initially studied environmental design from 1975 to 1977. She then attended the Instituto Allende, an art school in Mexico, and the Art Institute of Chicago in the United States, where she specialized in fibres and textiles. She completed her training at the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in 1980 and 1981.

The following year, the designer launched a children’s clothing company with partner Paule Lagacé, but bought her out several months later. In the early 1990s when she herself was pregnant, Dominique Perron added maternity wear to her collections. At its height, Ma Divine Clémentine employed approximately 10 people at its Montreal headquarters located at 4398 St. Lawrence Boulevard.

Its clothing, produced by Montreal subcontractors, was sold in 150 stores throughout Quebec and Ontario, along with another 100 in the United States.

Faced with growing competition from Asian countries in the field of children’s fashion, the company ceased operations in the fall of 2001. Dominique Perron then taught fashion at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) École supérieure de mode as well as at the Séminaire de Sherbrooke. She also worked as a creative director for various clothing companies like Jacob, L’Officiel, West Coast and Mexx until 2012.

She then went back to school, studying painting at Concordia University. As of 2018, Dominique Perron was working as an artist in the Eastern Townships village of Knowlton.