Canadian International Women’s Wear Show

Organized by a private promoter, the Salon du prêt-à-porter féminin was a bi-annual three-day event that promoted Quebec and Canadian women’s clothing designers. At its height, the event drew around 3,500 visitors.

Launched in 1984, it initially took place at the Montreal Convention Centre before moving to Place Bonaventure. An international element was added to the event in 1989, with booths for German, French and Italian companies. In addition to the trade show itself, the event included a program of seminars and fashion shows.

The media of the time used various names when referring to the event: Salon du prêt-à-porter féminin, Canadian International Women’s Wear Show, and Montreal Prêt & Collections International.

When it first began, the show received funding from the Quebec Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which eventually withdrew its support, citing insufficient buy-in from the industry. In January 1992, only six weeks before the event, the organizers announced that the women’s ready-to-wear show would be combined with the men’s version. Only a dozen or so exhibitors chose to take part that year, marking the end of the Salon du prêt-à-porter féminin.