Philippe Dubuc

Philippe Dubuc is a Montreal designer of high-end men’s ready-to-wear. His creations run the gamut from casual to business to evening. His urban style is inspired by architecture. Philippe Dubuc generally works in a palette of neutral mineral tones. Quebec celebrities have often worn his suits on the red carpet.

A graduate in men’s clothing design from Montreal’s Cégep Marie-Victorin, Philippe Dubuc began his career as a designer, pattern maker and production manager for various fashion companies.

In 1993, he and business partner Marie-Claude Gravel founded the DUBUC label and opened a first store on Montreal’s St. Denis Street.

His creations were sold in Canada, the United States, Japan and Europe. Most notably, his work was part of an exhibition at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum in 2002 and shown at Paris Fashion Week in 2003.

Théodore Pellerin wearing Philippe Dubuc © Jean-Claude Lussier. Photo courtesy of Philippe Dubuc

After growing rapidly and expanding into women’s fashion, the business, by then called Dubuc Mode de vie, went bankrupt in 2006. The event was widely covered in Quebec media. Philippe Dubuc and Marie-Claude Gravel subsequently decided to refocus their operations on the local market and men’s fashion. Working on a smaller scale and using the Philippe Dubuc label, their brand gradually recovered.

Philippe Dubuc has collaborated with a variety of brands and retailers over the years. For example, he designed several collections of affordable women’s wear for La Maison Simons from 2005 to 2008. In 2016, he began working with the Kanuk brand of winter coats to revitalize its image and style. Founded in 1974, this Quebec brand has given him carte blanche.

In June 2017, Marie-Claude Gravel left the Philippe Dubuc company. Her departure coincided with the label’s purchase by Sarah Pacini, an international brand. Following this acquisition, Philippe Dubuc has remained the designer of his eponymous label. His creations are designed in his  studio in Montreal’s garment district before being produced by Canadian and European subcontractors. As of 2018, his collections were sold in his branded store on St. Pierre Street in Old Montreal.