Denis Gagnon Quebec couturier show it all: portrait of a Montreal fashion local icon

The Quebec couturier Denis Gagnon was born in Lac Saint-Jean, Alma (Quebec province). In 1988, Denis Gagnon graduate from Collège LaSalle in fashion. Denis Gagnon once declared that he would had like to stay at school longer and become a sculptor or a painter and have exhibitions.

Following his graduation, he worked making costumes for theatres. In 1993, Denis Gagnon moved to Casablanca (Morocco), were he teach pattern-making. Denis Gagnon returned to Montreal in 1995. Denis Gagnon returns make costumes for diverse theatre troups. In 1999, Siphay Southidara, a Montreal designer, asked Denis Gagnon to collaborate to his apparel woman line, Yso. Following his collaboration with Siphay Southidara, Denis Gagnon decide to begin his own fashion line. Denis Gagnon is a regular of the Montreal Fashion Week. La Maison Denis Gagnon had many sponsors. For the 2011 spring-summer Denis Gagnon Couture Collection show, we find ALDO, Lancôme, MontréalCouture.com, Cohn & Wolfe, Toxa, Urbania, RSM Richter Chamberland, Holt Renfrew and BEDO, just to name a few.

In Canada, Denis Gagnon clothes can be purchase at Holt Renfrew boutiques. Earlier in 2010, Denis Gagnon join the retail chain Bedo for a 2010 autumn collection. For the occasion, the designer created a limited collection for BEDO. Generally, lace, leather, fringe, zippers, black, dark browns and blues color are elements find in Denis Gagnon signature. For BEDO, Denis Gagnon prepares a 30-piece collection, ranging in affordable price from $29 to $299. The collection is now sold out.

Denis Gagnon feature in an intimate documentary Je m'appelle Denis Gagnon (My name is Denis Gagnon). The documentary film My name is Denis Gagnon had been produced by Monsieur Monsieur Films, in collaboration with the INIS and the PRIM Centre d'arts médiatiques. The film had been produced under the direction of Khoa Lê and associate-direction of Micho Marquis-Rose. My name is Denis Gagnon has its premiere in March 2010 at the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA).

Until February 13, 2011, the Contemporary Art Square at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) present a free admission exhibition of Denis Gagnon most famous pieces: Denis Gagnon Shows All. Denis Gagnon Shows All. According to Nathalie Bondil, Museum Director of the Contemporary Art Square at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), this exhibition mark the first time that the work of a Quebec couturier is the subject of an exhibition at the MMFA. Regarding the Denis Gagnon Shows All exhibition, Nathalie Bondil declared: “This installation at the Museum, following the Yves Saint Laurent show and preceding the Jean Paul Gaultier one, reveals the same high standards with regard to the discipline. His unfettered talent makes him an icon of Canada’s fashion world.”

Here, Nathalie Bondil comment is wrong. Instead of declaring "an icon of Canada's fashion world", Nathalie Bondil should had say "an icon of Quebec’s fashion world.” Why? Because Denis Gagnon is a longtime Quebec independentist, openly promoting the independence of Quebec from Canada. Denis Gagnon had once declared in an interview that the Quebec is a beautiful country. Also, a populair French magazine, Nightlife Magazine, Denis Gagnon clearly declare that he's a nationalist. And he is. Denis Gagnon does not belong the the Canada's fashion world, but Quebec one only, no matter how talented the man is. Because yes, behind his big, bold glasses, Denis Gagnon is a Quebec nationalist and a local Montreal fashion designer.