This Designer Is Devoted To Making Accessible Clothing As Wearable Art

For decades the concept of wearable art, where clothing was used as an artistic expressive statement, was often too expensive or completely impractical. Artful garments were reserved for a small segment of the population.

But designer Katrin Leblond believes that clothing and design can be art that should be accessible to all women. “I believe women can be disrupters,” says Leblond whose Montreal boutique is filled with her bold, playful and unique prints and is consistently voted one of the city’s top designers. “I operate in an industry with a distorted perception of value because of fast fashion,” she adds. Most people who buy art like to know about the artist, but most people who buy clothing do not know the seamstress who sewed it or even the person who designed it.”

Known for her vibrantly creative one-of-a-kind designs, Leblond began her career two decades ago as a textile designer. In 2007, she launched her own label, Katrin Leblond Design, and her own shop, Boutique Katrin Leblond. A textile artist, Leblond’s inspired talent is present in her creations.

“I love folk art, motifs, flowers and bright colors. I love yellow, orange, pink and turquoise,” says Leblond who begins every piece of clothing with a paintbrush. “I love being an extravert visually in the way that I dress. I think it compensates for my shy nature. I don’t have a lot to say with words, but I have a lot to say with colors and motifs.”

Leblond also collaborates with other women artists on print designs. Last year she worked with Ukrainian artist Daria Hlazatova. Creating across cultural and geographical borders, their theme was sisterhood.

“The concept of sisterhood is really important to me. I work with women, serve women, and almost all of my customers are women,” says Leblond. “Women have a way, across generations, of lifting each other up. We impact each other’s moods, we give each other compliments, we cry and heal together. We share moments of joy and intimacy. All these things happen in my store all the time.”

Growing up in Montreal Leblond recalls her early drive for creativity, crafts and even entrepreneurship. “I remember having a little stand at the end of my grandmother’s driveway where I sold the rocks that were clearly visible in the driveway behind me,” she shares. “I dressed up, put flowers in my hair and sat there under a parasol. People bought them. I loved making money as a kid.”

Her first foray into creative product production was making Fimo, (a kind of polymer clay), jewelry, not clothing. By 13 Leblond had her own stand at a community Christmas craft sale. “It was funny because when they wanted to make a purchase people would ask me where my parent was and I had to explain to them that it was my booth and they had to pay me,” she recalls.

Studying fine and studio in art school she discovered that she had a disconnect with the school’s underlying mission. “It was really difficult for me because they expected us to have a big concept for our artwork,” says Leblond. “I just wanted to make beautiful things. Things I could use, things I could wear.”

Leblond’s early work was very whimsical. “I made tops with dragonfly wings and skirts that looked like upside-down tulips,” says Leblond. “It didn’t sell very well.” Now she tends to make practical easy-to-wear clothing with feminine silhouettes and bold prints. “Things for everyday living and everyday joy,” she adds.

The great joy for Leblond is process of design. “It’s the journey from doodle to garment: a print gets developed, colors get changed, scale gets tested, and it becomes a magical envelope for a woman’s body,” says Leblond. In fact, she equates the process to baking. “You can take some rotten bananas, eggs, flour, butter and milk and turn it into an aromatic soft moist banana bread, or a dry unappealing loaf. There are so many steps to getting it right,” she offers. “I like it because it’s difficult and I’m good at it.”

Eighteen months ago, Leblond and everything she built was tested in a major way when her store and workshop were affected by a major fire. She lost most of her inventory and had to move overnight. “Those moments always make you question if you want to go on” she shares. It would have been the ideal time to let it all go and do something else.

Leblond knew in her heart that she wasn’t finished with her business. But she was determined to rebuild in a new way. “I didn’t want to compromise anymore. No more selling myself short. No more choosing cheap materials just to keep things affordable,” she shares. That meant going forward with organic cotton, colorful linens, and all original prints. It meant restarting. “It meant more work and hustling like a 20-year-old,” she says.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, since the fire Leblond has designed two collections, built a new store and gotten back on her feet. And she is inspired to go even further. “I want to be the Marimekko of Canada, a design house that stands for originality, art and local pride in the textiles market,” she says as she is launching a wholesale collection for spring 2023. “I believe there are women craving creative self- expression and I want them to know that they are not alone.”