Your local design re-education starts with these Montreal creatives & artists

Montreal’s design scene was always thriving, but established and new breeds of local designers are expanding the city's tapestry with sheer creativity, innovation, and sustainability.

Here, we spotlight 20 trailblazers who call Montreal home and are merging artistry and eco-conscious practices to deliver pieces that tell stories of heritage, experimentation, and individuality.

Challenging norms and redefining their crafts, this lineup features everything from avant-garde knitwear and playful, upcycled accessories to bold tufted rugs, sculptural luminaires, sustainable swimwear, functional ceramics, and farm-to-garment must-haves.

COMING AGE

Coming Age is redefining custom adornment in Montreal, blending luxury craftsmanship with a deeply personal artistic approach. Founded in 2021 by creative duo Kristina Halladay-Warren and Véronik Langlois, the women-owned studio specializes in custom grillz and fine jewelry, merging their professional backgrounds in jewelry-making and product design. Each piece—whether a bespoke set of grillz or a silver ready-to-wear accessory—becomes a tangible expression of the wearer’s identity, crafted by hand with precision and care.

Inspired by pop culture, natural forms, and the ever-shifting collective consciousness, Kristina and Véronik channel their fascination with materials into artful creations that resonate with meaning. Their Mile-End studio, an appointment-only space, reflects their ethos: a safe, inclusive environment where clients—particularly women, BIPOC individuals, and LGBTQ2+ creatives—can collaborate and express themselves freely.

ZAP/STUDIO

ZAP/STUDIO explores the transformative potential of clay through the hands of Montreal-based ceramicist Zachary Lemay-Choquette. With a background in industrial design from the Université de Montréal, Zachary blends a sharp design sensibility with an intimate, hands-on approach to crafting functional ceramics. Each piece feels like a meeting of past and future—striking in its refined simplicity while carrying a unique perspective on proportions and detail.

Handmade works—be they vases, vessels, or tableware—invite intrigue and quiet beauty into daily life, encouraging moments of pause and appreciation. Zachary’s creations evoke what’s been referred to as an imagined utopia, where objects are not only practical but soulful, each piece imbued with artistry that refuses mass production’s monotony.

LA TOMBÉE

La Tombée offers a world of delicate romance bottled in small-batch, oil-based perfumes crafted in Montreal. Founded in 2023 by Sandrine Khuon, the label approaches fragrance-making with an intimate, poetic touch.

The collection recently welcomed its fifth creation, LES MUSES, a collaborative effort with Em & May (also featured on this list). Anchored in notes of vanilla, almond blossom, incense, musk, and sandalwood, this fragrance pays tribute to Montreal’s muses—women who are equal parts soft, seductive, and unyielding.

Each composition from La Tombée is a testament to subtle luxury, crafted for those drawn to the art of slow beauty and timeless allure. It’s perfume for the romantically inclined.

MADE TO BE MAD

Claudel St-Pierre’s redefining what knitwear can be with a bold mix of tradition, artistry, and innovation. A graduate of Cégep Marie-Victorin and the Montreal Contemporary Textile Center, she discovered her passion for knitting early, transforming it into her signature medium where tradition and innovation coalesces.

Inspired by global pioneers who blend the old with the new, her time at Iceland’s Textile Center in Blönduós profoundly shaped her vision. Drawn to the island’s untamed landscapes and ancient textile traditions, she infused these elements into her designs. Her label, MADE TO BE MAD, is more of a movement than a brand. Each piece, from cardigans evoking the Northern Lights to textured pullovers mimicking icy tundras, tells a story we like to hear.

GEISSLER

GEISSLER is a playful rebellion in sustainable luxury. Founded in Montreal in 2020 by Stephanie Geissler Francois, this avant-garde label redefines ready-to-wear accessories through a bold, experimental lens. Seasonless and rooted in circular fashion, the label transforms waste into statement pieces that radiate quirky elegance and daring textures.

For Stephanie, a Lasalle College graduate with a knack for technical design, design isn’t just an aesthetic pursuit. She channels her global experiences in London and Vancouver into a creative ethos that celebrates freedom, curiosity, and a refusal to confine play to the weekends. 

The label’s partnership with Awe Exchange, a nonprofit merging art and climate activism, deepens its commitment to sustainability where purchases support climate initiatives.

MERCY HOUSE STUDIO

Mercy House Studio brings a fresh edge to Montreal’s Mile End, crafting minimalistic, made-to-order streetwear that merges comfort, culture, and innovation. Founded in 2016 by Karen Vaquilar, the brand honours her Filipina roots and her mother, Mercy, who first introduced her to fashion and the tactile beauty of textiles. From Edmonton to Montreal, Karen’s journey—spanning tech, breakdancing, and tailoring—infuses Mercy House garments with movement, freedom, and an ethos of empowerment. 

Partnering with designer Amy Robinson, Karen shares a vision of reshaping fashion’s manufacturing landscape. The majority of Mercy House’s fabrics are sourced locally in Montreal, and the label champions slow, intentional production with customizable lengths and made-to-order creations. Their signature style? A futuristic take on streetwear—“Sci-Fi Hip Hop”—marked by oversized silhouettes and references to art, music, and architecture. A love letter to community and connection, driven by women, and designed for all, each collection raises the bar with an aesthetic that is bold, thoughtful, and unmistakably Montreal.

Rad Hourani

Rad Hourani defies categorization, an interdisciplinary artist whose work unravels the boundaries of identity, art, and societal constructs. Known for pioneering the first gender-neutral fashion collection, Rad’s creations move seamlessly across mediums—sculpture, painting, video, sound, and performance—questioning systems of nationalism, racism, gender, and economics while celebrating a pluralist, boundary-free existence.

Montreal has been both a canvas and a springboard for Rad’s vision, a place where their concept of “neutrality” finds a powerful voice. From the groundbreaking exhibition of the same name at Arsenal Contemporary Art to works shown globally—from the Centre Pompidou to the Guggenheim Bilbao—Rad transforms art into activism, fostering dialogue around nonconformity, equality, and the human condition.

Their aesthetic, rooted in a “no-background” background, is timeless and universal: genderless, ageless, and limitless. Rad’s work calls for introspection and reconnection to our unconditioned selves, a vision realized through pieces that invite viewers to transcend labels and embrace a limitless understanding of identity.

Soie Lait

Under the moniker Soie Lait, Pauline Ebel, a multidisciplinary artist and craftswoman originally from Nice brings a raw, avant-garde approach to jewelry, bookbinding, and leatherwork from her studio in Montreal. Self-taught and deeply introspective, Ebel embraces imperfection, weaving the organic irregularities of found materials—stones, cement, glass—into her creations, transforming them into striking, unconventional expressions of individuality.

The name Soie Lait (phonetically “sois laid,” or “be ugly”) serves as a manifesto of defiance, inspired by Eva Hesse and Sol LeWitt’s call to reject self-doubt and societal constraints. Each piece becomes more than an accessory; it’s a statement of action and self-emancipation.

Committed to sustainability, Ebel sources leather from deadstock, sculpts jewelry with locally sourced beeswax, recycles sterling silver, and incorporates found stones into her designs. Packaging is crafted from repurposed materials, and her production prioritizes low-impact practices like cycling and public transit. Looking ahead, she aims for full autonomy in producing her own raw materials, from sterling silver to paper, further reducing environmental impact while empowering her craft.

Boutique Take Three

Boutique Take Three is a collaborative boutique co-owned by three Montreal designers—@alywayera, @kimilalalalala, and @seruhwho—who bring their distinct creative visions into one vibrant space. Together, they merge vintage fashion, art, and community together for a hub for sustainability and self-expression. The collection always stays current and compelling, and the owners' 10+ years of sewing experience allow them to craft and alter garments on-site.

At Take Three, the ethos is clear: Fashion should be meaningful. Each of the owners’ works is available alongside others. Alyway Era presents curated vintage and reworked pieces inspired by timeless ‘90s aesthetics, for example, and Kimilala transforms discarded materials into striking, one-of-a-kind designs that balance raw textures with refined details. Each creation reflects the trio’s commitment to individuality and environmental responsibility. Take Three also supports local artists, offering them a platform to share their work.

HOTELMOTEL

Founded in 2018 by Montreal-based leather artisan and shoemaker Corinne Bourget, HOTELMOTEL blends innovation with tradition, offering handmade unisex sneakers, bags, and wallets that exude playful sophistication. Corinne’s motto of PLEASE DISTURB reflects her polite rebellion against fast fashion—a call to embrace ethical, slow production that prioritizes artistry over mass manufacturing.

Trained in custom shoemaking techniques across Melbourne, France, and Montreal, Corinne’s meticulous process begins with ethically sourced leathers from France and Italy. Each piece is designed to mold to its wearer over time, becoming a natural extension of the body—whether styled for a gala or a casual stroll. Beyond its core offerings, HOTELMOTEL collaborates with artists and artisans to create limited-edition works of wearable art, celebrating craft as an act of connection.

Every product is customizable—choose your dream leather hue, laces, or stitching—and entirely crafted in-house, preserving the legacy of shoemaking in Montreal with tenderness and integrity.

Milo & Dexter

Milo & Dexter is reshaping Canada’s garment narrative in its own way with one reverent eye on tradition and another sharp one on the future. Born in Montreal’s Chabanel district, this brand is a vanguard of the farm-to-garment movement, crafting timeless pieces from 100% Canadian wool. Their Wool Project revives a heritage industry dismantled since the mid-20th century, turning undyed, locally sourced fibres into garments that celebrate the natural hues of Canadian sheep.

Milo & Dexter embodies a philosophy grounded in sustainability, ethics, and artistry. Their designs have classical elegance to them, but also contemporary sensibilities, resulting in versatile staples built to endure both time and trend. It’s slow fashion, and it’s deeply Canadian storytelling in fabric.

ça va de soi

For Montreal’s ça va de soi, knitwear’s a manifesto against the fast-fashion frenzy. This family-run house has spent decades perfecting essentials that are timeless with top-notch natural fibres like Egyptian cotton and New Zealand wool. Every item reflects a commitment to quality, from buttery-soft sweaters to care products like bespoke soaps and repair kits.

Anchored in Mile-End with outposts in Toronto, Quebec City, and Ottawa, ça va de soi creates clothing meant to outlive trends. Their muted palette—think taupe, navy, and black—gets the occasional jolt of lilac or crimson. Founder Antoine Nasri’s mantra, “clothes with soul,” underscores their approach: Slow, sustainable, and human-centered.

PARTOEM

Partoem distills minimalism into luxury leather goods, crafting folded works that balance elegance and innovation. Founded in 2017 by Montreal-based designer Madeleine Beaulieu, the brand draws on her industrial design background and fascination with origami, creating bags, wallets, and small leather goods that forego stitching and glue in favour of meticulous folds and signature hardware.

Partoem—derived from par toi-même (“on your own”)—celebrates the beauty of Italian vegetable-tanned leather, known for its quality and natural tanning process. Each piece is numbered, timeless, and designed to last a lifetime. The brand’s refined, hands-on process reflects years of experience designing accessories for acclaimed Canadian brands before venturing into her own atelier.

From the capsule Picolissimo collection, offering petite bags perfect for essentials, to dog accessories that combine durability with style, Partoem creates with purpose: a marriage of form and function, simplicity and artistry. Handcrafted in Montreal, these pieces are for those who value thoughtful design and quiet luxury.

STUDIO SUPER SUNDAY

Studio Super Sunday treats furniture as storytelling, where design becomes a reflection of personality and purpose. Rooted in Montreal, this Canadian studio marries bold, maximalist influences with a refined minimalism, creating pieces that effortlessly balance playfulness with precision. Founder Vincent Le Sauteur steers the studio’s vision with a focus on technical exploration, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technologies to push material boundaries and reimagine functional objects as artful statements.

Each creation is the product of curiosity and care—fusing form, texture, and utility into furniture that resonates. Whether it’s a chair, a table, or an unexpected accent, every piece brings a quiet intentionality to curated spaces, enriching daily rituals through design that feels both meaningful and enduring. Also sourcing high-quality, local materials and collaborating with community artisans, Studio Super Sunday reduces its ecological footprint while ensuring its work stands the test of time.

EM & MAY 

Em & May reimagines swim and loungewear as a celebration of sustainability, inclusivity, and thoughtful design. Founded in 2018 by Montreal designer Emilie Pittman, the brand embraces a made-to-order model, crafting pieces from sustainably sourced fabrics like recycled fibres and deadstock materials. Each creation challenges fast fashion’s wasteful churn, offering a slower, more intentional alternative that doesn’t sacrifice comfort or style.

With custom sizing and an ever-expanding range, Em & May ensures that every body is seen, celebrated, and draped in designs that feel personal. For Emilie, the brand is a reflection of her values, a fusion of creativity and care born during her studies in Textiles and Apparel Design. Her pieces are more than garments—they’re a response to the industry’s fleeting trends, grounded instead in longevity and integrity. Even the details echo this commitment: packaging is crafted entirely from recycled materials, underscoring Emilie’s dedication to both people and planet.

MAKI RUGS

MAKI RUGS redefines the rug as a playful canvas for bold design, injecting colour and texture into spaces hungry for personality. Montreal-based artist Taylor Maki crafts each piece by hand, fusing mid-century modern influences with the curvy exuberance of ‘60s motifs and experimental geometric patterns. The result? Rugs that radiate joy and refuse to play background decor.

What started as a pandemic experiment has grown into a cult-favourite label, with standout designs like Orbit, a runner of conjoined circles that marries retro charm with contemporary flair. Hand-tufted from acrylic yarn and finished with a soft felt backing, these pieces balance cozy functionality with statement-making artistry.

Maki’s work channels the rising wave of tufted textiles as functional art—rugs and oversized coasters that are tactile rebellions against minimalist monotony. Each creation feels like a nostalgic wink at fearless design eras past while offering a modern twist, inviting you to step, sit, or simply stare.

Bibelot 

Bibelot is the design world's rebellious child, birthing home objects that defy the beige boredom of conventional decor. Founded by an industrial design renegade, this Montreal studio turns Jesmonite—a chameleon material with eco-warrior credentials—into functional art that refuses to blend in. Bowls, planters, and candle holders emerge as one-of-a-kind rebels, each handcrafted piece sealed with beeswax and radiating a chromatic defiance.

The studio's commitment stretches beyond aesthetics, embedding environmental consciousness into every curve and pigment. No mass-produced anonymity here: Bibelot crafts objects that are simultaneously practical, beautiful, and quietly political. These aren't just design pieces; they're small-scale revolutions against disposable consumer culture, inviting individuality into spaces hungry for authentic expression.

Laboratoire Textile

Light becomes sculpture in the hands of Lucie Leroux, Montreal's architectural alchemist transforming textile into ethereal landscapes. Laboratoire Textile—her 2012 brainchild—defies conventional illumination, crafting luminaires that exist somewhere between industrial design and avant-garde poetry. Nordic minimalism collides with technological precision in each meticulously folded creation, where lamp names literally count their geometric contortions.

Leroux's journey reads like a creative odyssey: from architectural lighting to Cirque du Soleil's costume workshops, she's cultivated an obsessive understanding of material language. Her handcrafted pieces aren't mere light sources—they're three-dimensional narratives, breathing stillness into spaces through carefully engineered shadows and intricate folds. Collaborations with design titans like Atelier Zebulon Perron and showcases at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal cement Leroux's status as a visual storyteller who transforms ordinary illumination into extraordinary experience.

Lola Cera

Camille Zurini shatters ceramic conventions through Lola Cera, her Montreal-based art practice that transforms everyday objects into provocative vessels of creative rebellion. Clay becomes her weapon against mass-produced mediocrity, each carefully crafted mug and bowl a defiant interruption of consumer culture's numbing rhythm.

Trained in the creative crucibles of Concordia and Cégep du Vieux Montréal, Zurini doesn't just make ceramics—she constructs tactile manifestos that blur lines between utility and artistic expression. Her multidisciplinary approach bleeds across mediums, from intricate metalwork to bold paintings, creating a visual language that challenges the sterile boundaries of design. At Lola Cera, function is just the beginning; each piece whispers of hands that refuse industrial anonymity.

Karim Charlebois

In the frenetic digital ecosystem of Montreal, wood sculptor Karim Charlebois carves out a rebellious narrative against technological saturation. His sculptural practice is a middle finger to the algorithmic noise—each knife stroke a deliberate rebellion against pixel-perfect precision. Charlebois transforms raw timber into meditative objects that pulse with imperfect humanity, revealing the tender scars of manual craftsmanship. As co-founder of Field Experiments, he navigates the liminal space between art and design, challenging our consumption-driven visual landscape. His work, featured in global galleries from London to Sydney, isn't just sculpture—it's a tactile manifesto challenging our increasingly frictionless existence. With every deliberate cut and carefully studied form, Charlebois reminds us that beauty exists in the unpolished, the handmade, the beautifully flawed.