Interview – Pascal Labelle

Pascal Labelle by Pascal Labelle, designer and owner.

 

What is the story behind your brand?
Following my five years of studies at Lasalle College in menswear, I immediately founded my company specializing in coats. This choice seemed obvious to me because I wanted to create without falling into a world of production. The coat is the garment in our wardrobe for which we usually allocate the biggest budget. So I started by designing one coat at a time, which allowed me to be creative while making a living from my work. In addition, the concept of recycling furs to give them a new life appeals to me, not to mention the ecological aspect of this approach. 

What is your creative process?
What inspires me when I create is definitely the person I’m doing the piece for. I like to capture the energy and needs of the client and then propose styles to take the idea even further, both in terms of look and detail. I am passionate and a great dreamer, so I love to make my clients’ dreams and visions come true.

What has inspired your latest collection?
I’m very inspired by the musical world because I have the privilege today of dressing several rap stars and imagining with them unique pieces for the stage. These moments of life are full of inspiration and positive energy. 

What inspires you at the moment?
Everyone around me is an inspiration. The culture and the musical world are sources of inspiration that I like to reinvent in luxe designs.

What is your signature piece?
I think my coats made from exotic skins, such as python and alligator, are impressive pieces, if not my styles made from recycled fur. In short, I want to be recognized as the one who makes the most beautiful coats in the world.

Who is the Pascal Labelle man?
A passionate person, a great dreamer, a creator who wants to establish and leave his mark internationally.

What is your fondest fashion memory?
I have many, but the standing ovation at my first show at Toronto Fashion Week will stay with me forever. It was my first wave of love of this magnitude from such a large crowd. I still get chills when I talk about it…

How are you coping with COVID?
I took advantage of this moment of life to structure and organize my workshop to be even more efficient. Of course, I also took this time to spend quality time with my children and my wife.

On a different note… Which book is on your nightstand at the moment?
“The Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfield.

Which song are you listening to over and over?
“Falling” by Trevor Daniel because it’s my daughter and my son’s favorite song. On a more personal note, I like all the Post Malone songs including “Sunflower” with Swae Lee.

Which television series are you binge watching?
“Nicky Jam: El Ganador”.

What is your current recipe?
I’ve been eating Keto for the past few months, so I have a recipe for crushed cauliflower cooked with 35% cream, garlic and a hint of beef broth ?

Which movie inspires you?
A classic that I like a lot, “Vanilla Sky” directed by Cameron Crowe.

 

PROMO: We recently launched our Bulletproof project. Moreover, for the next season I will be offering a complimentary matching mask with any custom coat.


Andrew McNally

When asked what it is that I do for work, I like to joke that I am a fashion hybrid. I am lucky enough to work in various ways within this industry which I am passionate about. I am a fashion columnist at Journal de Montreal for which I write for different columns, including Mode de stars (Fashion of the Stars) and Dans la garde-robe de… (A Glimpse In His.Her Closet…). I also do image consulting for several performers and actors in the Quebec entertainment industry. In addition, I work behind the scenes as an Artistic Director at many fashion events and fashion shows. The rest of my time is spent teaching fashion at LaSalle College.