Reading the Financial Post’s Canada’s largest corporations (FP500) special issue you can find all the major retailers in Canada like Sears, Canadian Tire even Walmart Canada. Nowhere 178 page booklet can you find a mention of Canada’s second incorporation HBC. Canadians are becoming more disenfranchised with the company who recently has upset most by supplying the Canadian Olympic team uniforms that are Made In China. Moreover the company keeps pushing Canadian clothing manufacturer’s out the door, thanks to new policies that favor Made In China products. Most of the companies were consignees where the manufacturer only gets paid commission on their products and has to sustain major damage by customers returning clothing as much as a year later, theft which is a sport at HBC’s The Bay stores and the directions poor decisions in helping a country’s manufacturing sector. Quebec and Montreal’s division of consignees is run by non other Mrs. Claire Gagné responsible for the demise many clothing manufacturer’s licensee programs. Quebec The bay stores are run by horrible management who couldn’t run to the bathroom let alone run a department store and is supposed to be managed by Toronto’s head office who is oblivious to anything. Don’t believe me, then why is a company with over 95 department stores that has been operating since the inception of corporations in Canada can’t even make it on any lists worthy of a large corporation.

Last night as Montreal Canadians beat the Boston Bruins 5-0 in the 7th game of the first round in the playoffs, thanks largely to our favorite goalie Carey Price, downtown Montreal turned for the worse. A total of 16 police cars were demolished and 6 of them were lit ablaze, riot police were dispersed as Montreal Habs Fans’ pelted garbage, bottles and even cement bricks and blocks onto Montreal Police officers. Also many downtown Montreal retail stores were completely demolished and ravaged by looters, including Influence U and other fashion stores like Reebok which makes the jerseys and other Habs equipment. Montreal Canadian fans were disappointed in all the violence and blamed the mob for creating an unwanted atmosphere of violence, as Police blocked off most of Downtown Montreal.

Montreal designer Yohan Kadoch knows that the pen is mightier than the sword, turning the daily battles of wrong vs. right into fashion designs that rock tees and hoodies. Beautiful artwork with a pertinent message “Fight For Freedom represents courage, determination and motivation. We want to promote achievement and accomplishment. If you want something you have to go out and fight for it, whatever it may be, whatever the effort you have to put into it and whatever obstacles you have to overcome…” . Also this Montreal Fashion company puts its money where its mouth is, literally, 20 % of all beneficial proceeds are donated to charity like hospitals, Chabad organizations and certain designated families in need. Impressive so Montreal stand up for the fight and support the cause. For more info you can visit their website or for how to order sales@fightforfreedomfashions.com.

HBC’s CEO has sadly passed away after suffering from cancer of the brain. Jerry Zucker commanded a hostile takeover of Canada’s second incorporation in 2006 and has steered it in the right direction, closing off The Bay stores that were not performing and restructuring Zellers. The Israeli-born philanthropist and son of Holocaust survivors was the first American citizen to  have the position of CEO of the Hudson Bay Company. Jerry Zucker is in Forbes Billionaire List 2006 and is well known for his considerable contributions to various charities. HBC has lost a great leader and will probably up for grabs soon even though his wife, Anita, has become HBC’s first female governor, and has successfully overseen many of Jerry’s ventures. We will wait and see the effects on Montreal’s fashion market. Since the takeover we’ve seen in Montreal the closing of Place Vertu’s The Bay store. Hopefully another sale will not affect the economic situation for retailers negatively.

The 4th of April started another trade show in the Atlanta Apparel Mart mainly for fashion and accessories and amongst the different fashion brands showcased were several Montreal designers and Montreal fashion brands. This fashion trade show receives buyers from all over the Southeastern states that had to go through the embattled downtown core of Atlanta due to recent tornado activity. A Montreal fashion company and designer, Lace Canada, has resurfaced in the USA as a trendsetter for Missy apparel and Missy fashions with a contemporary feel, presented by Swann Apparel & Assoc. Elegant women’s fashions with quality designs and beautifully inspired apparel created by this Montreal fashion manufacturer. Atlanta also showcases shows like “Montreal Collections” spearheaded by Louise Fortin, director of the trade division of Quebec’s government office in Atlanta, and showcases many brands and designers from Montreal fashion school’s like Lasalle College.

Last week we reported that Cavendish Mall was getting a makeover, but the kings in makeovers of malls is by far Ivanhoe Cambridge. If anybody has been in the Rockland Mall has seen the turnaround they have made, just look at the new food court; fabulous! Now, we have heard that they took over Place Vertu in Saint-Laurent and have plans to apply a much needed face lift. Replacing all those flea market businesses with Montreal Fashion boutiques and companies. The Bay closed down and Zellers moved in to their location, they are bringing in Winners and an upscale food market to cater to the growing community behind the mall in the Bois-Francs area. They brought in Brown’s shoes outlet, Boutique Lace (a high end women’s fashion retailer), La Vie en Rose/Aqua and Urban Planet. Plans are already taking place to renovate the food market and bring more quality retailers. Well done!

Côte-St-Luc’s Cavendish mall is getting a well deserved makeover. We received news of the mall redecorating and bringing new retailers. The plan is to make the mall much smaller than it used to be, and selling off the rest to real estate developments. New retailers and renovations are already happening. These new retailers will help service the community that is seeing younger couples move in. Lots of Montreal Fashion in Cavendish Mall; Ralph’s just recently moved in to there new location and looks fabulous, Montreal manufacturers Boutique Lace is also getting ready to relocate. If you are a Montreal fashion company looking for retail space Cavendish Mall is the place for you, contact Roy Solomon with the Administration office at (514)487-4511.

You would think that the big retailers would be the first to give a helping hand to Canada’s Fashion industry and promote local manufacturers and designers, unfortunately in today’s world the big box stores make it harder and harder to have local businesses as past of their merchandise. For example, Hbc’s The Bay department stores have been continuously shrinking their licensee department and increasing their buying power to no-name brands like Style & Co. that are produced in China. The fact is season after season their allocating less space in their stores for Canadian manufacturers especially here in Quebec with the help of their Licensee Director Mrs. Claire Gagné.

Shouldn’t these companies like The Bay, Sears and others promote local fashion manufacturer’s  since they hold the key to some of the largest number of clients that visit their stores on a daily basis. Maybe they can tell us why it is so hard to reach their buyers and why they seem so reluctant to promote our business. I mean, Montreal brands are some of the best in the world. Don’t you think?

In today’s world it is probably impossible to reverse our dependence on China. Chinese goods are everywhere I mean when is the last time you picked up an item at a store without a ‘made in China’ tag. Reality is, they are part of our everyday life. Unfortunately I think it’s very wrong and that we as a country need to change that immediately. Not only for Tibet’s sake nor China’s lack of freedom, free press, fair trade and ethics, but for our sake and our economy. Yeah, you save money buying those products, but for every dollar you spend on Chinese goods you are killing our manufacturing sector especially in the fashion industry. I don’t know about you but Chabanel Street looked much different a few years ago; the fashion industry was strong, manufacturers in Montreal where everywhere. Now you’re lucky if someone can sell you a zipper without calling up China. Consumers must pick up the initiative and buy local products and shop local retail stores, only when the consumer will start demanding quality products and especially locally made products will it resonate with retailers and suppliers. Buy Made in Canada products and support our local fashion companies. Hard to compete with a Nation that practically don’t pay wages. And bottom line the quality is garbage, you were better off paying the extra buck!

On Thursday night I attended Africa is Real at Club 1234, an event that was hosted by several musical artists in order to raise awareness and reaise funds for charity. According to their website “Africa is REAL was established in November of 2006 to stand by a Jewish message of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), and to stand up for those who are not. AIR is a not-for-profit organization that funds leading AIDS researchers and doctors while aiming to raise awareness of the REAL issues plaguing Africa today through social action.” Let me tell you that this event was rocking, the place was packed and everyone was waiting to see one thing and one thing only, Miri Ben-Ari the Israeli-born hip-hop violinist performing with Marthin Luther King Jr. in the background, praising peace, love, acceptance and raising against discrimination. She is a Grammy Award winning artist praised by the likes of Wyclef Jean, Kanye West, Patty Labelle and even Jay-Z. Let me tell you she was beautiful and her music is amazing, please check out her website www.miribenari.com and to donate to Africa is Real go to www.africaisreal.com.

On a more disturbing note the very next day I go to check out new fashion trends at Influence U only to overhear a conversation of the boutique’s owner Mr. Bachour with several customers about praising Palestinians’ terrorism, and saying that Israeli people control the media and distort the truth. A far cry from what I witnessed at Club 1234, it was very sad to see such discrimination in a store I personally liked for it’s denim collections and full lines of Mackage coats. Spreading hate is definitely a fashion faux-pas!