Canada's insider blog

Chic and daring, Québec’s fashion designers are renowned for their often-edgy clothing designs. And fashion-conscious Québeckers know when they can get their hands on them – affordably. Twice a year, in April and October, La Grande Braderie de Mode Québécoise – the Big Fashion Sale by Québec Designers – is an anxiously awaited event where prices of samples and surplus inventory plummet by 50-80%.

This fall’s local mecca for fashionistas is the 34^th bi-annual sale and it takes place at the Bonsecours Market in Old Montréal, Oct. 20-23. And, for the first time ever, it will be followed up by a sale in Québec City, Oct. 28-30, that will take place at the cruise terminal Espaces Dalhousie.

Find everything from women’s and men's ready-to-wear coats like gems from Soia & Kyo, sportswear, leather and shoes. There will be street-wear classics from atelier b. and popular Bodybag offerings, simple fun dresses from Barila as well as furs and fur hats by Furlux. Expect frilly to minimalist in everything from bathing suits to lingerie. And don’t miss the jewelry from lines like Fixation.

Begun in 1994 with only 50 customers, the "Braderie" now attracts about 25,000 people over four days, twice a year. Between 35 and 100 fashion designers from the well established to newcomers take part – this is a rare opportunity to meet and chat with the creators.

Tourisme Montréal

Québec City Tourism

Credit photo: Shannon Hansen