End of an era for Ste. Catherine St. store
Trimmings Dressmaker to close its doors for good next month
While much of Ste. Catherine St. between Atwater and Guy Sts. has been undergoing a modest revival in recent years, other parts on the same stretch are closing shop.
In the latter category, one of the most notable is Garnitures Dressmaker Ltée, a veritable Montreal institution since shortly before the Second World War.
First opened in 1937 at 1255 Guy St. under the name Mackay Tailors, the couturier business quickly changed its designation while, at the same time moving, in 1949, to its current location at 2186 Ste. Catherine.
The store’s owner, Ron Green, took over the venture from his father, Sam, in 1980.
Since that time, Green has laboured relentlessly, along with his wife, Ginette, at consolidating a successful enterprise based on both honesty and quality in all of its dayto-day transactions.
The boutique sells dressmakers’ supplies of all kinds, trims and accessories, although it was never a fabric store as such.
Years ago, there was a large market for such wholesalers and, as a result, there were six or seven similar stores in Montreal. At the time, many people had their clothing made by tailors and dressmakers, not only the wealthy, as is so often the case now.
Trimmings Dressmaker Ltd. (its present English-language designa- tion) is probably the last of its kind in Montreal.
In its early decades, it was a very busy endeavour with a large wholesale business supplying dressmakers, tailors, shops, and factories. There was even a vehicle for the deliveries — as many as 30 a day — the operation made. To this day, Green has memories of just receiving his driver’s licence and being assigned to a route that covered much of Montreal.
Production at one point represented half of the business, as Dressmaker made covered buttons and installed snaps in the back of the store as well. Additional services, including alterations, smocking, pleating, tucking and embroidery, were sent elsewhere to be done. However, times have changed. In the past, it was common for women, and even some men, to sew. Girls took home economics in school and learned the basics in how to create their own stylish wardrobe at half the price of ready-made clothing. Today, low-cost imports and discount stores offer such inexpensive garments that it is simply cheaper to buy rather than make your own clothes.
Nevertheless, as society trans- for med, the undertaking also evolved. Specialty importations of high-quality buttons, trims and needles from Europe lessened as the numbers of dressmakers dropped. In Montreal, and elsewhere, the dressmaking and tailoring industries slowly disappeared and with them the supporting trades, such as button makers.
Trimmings Dressmaker expanded to include supplies for knitting, needlework and eventually jewelrymaking. Popular how-to classes were given on-site. Although the shop has adapted to changing times, Green, 59, wonders reflectively if society’s love affair with immediate gratification might mean that the pleasures of one’s own creation could be lost in the near future.
Running the small activity over the years has proven time-consuming and all-encompassing for the Greens. On the verge of reaching their 60s, both wish to spend more time with their two children and their passion for ballroom dancing. Retirement seems in order.
Accordingly, Trimmings Dressmaker Ltd. will be closing sometime in February after completing a period of liquidation that started on Jan. 3.
Until that time, those customers who were so thoughtfully attended to down through the years may wish to drop by to say goodbye to a remarkable couple and yet another city custom rapidly succumbing to the fast–shifting times.
For further information, telephone Trimmings Dressmaker at 514-935-7421 or write to infos.@trimmingsdressmaker.com