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‘I think I’m still emerging. It gives you edge and keeps you there. As a designer, when you stop emerging, you die.’

Luc Laroche

   Audacity did, however, run rampant in the Week’s final event. It was sadly under-attended, perhaps due to the tendency of journalists to head off early to catch planes and file stories. An in-studio installation highlighted the dramatic and original work of Cluc, who once designed for Cirque du Soleil, among myriad other projects for film and stage. Eccentric, highly theatrical himself, Cluc’s montage or original works was worth the trip. It highlighted six of his vibrant creations, with dancers from Les Grands Ballets Canadiens serving as models.
   Not all emerging designers find it easy here, though. ‘There’s a lot of interest in design here, but it’s difficult to sell in Montréal,’ said Adam Quang. The up-and-coming designer did not have a show on the Week’s roster, but was attending to network. His Aqù label features hand-painted silk and satin pieces that women can layer to create different effects. He found it easier to make his first major sales in Toronto, where he’s landed his first four boutique contracts. ‘In Montréal people really appreciate design and quality construction, but they’re not ready to pay the price,’ he lamented.
   The Week’s spokesperson, Luc Laroche, seems poised to quit the ranks of the emerging and assume major designer status. At the first Montréal Fashion Week, he showed only his Lúk label men’s underwear and a few sportswear pieces. This time around, he displayed his many talents in no fewer than three shows, incorporating women’s sportswear as well. ‘I think I’m still emerging, though,’ he said when pressed on the issue. ‘It gives you edge and keeps you there. As a designer, when you stop emerging, you die.’ • Susan Kelly

Susan Kelly is Montréal correspondent for Lucire.