From sketch to finished garment, a lot can happen. Before production even begins, countless technical and aesthetic decisions have to be made. Among them, one of the team’s favorite steps is choosing the fabrics. With every capsule, it’s the sweet spot of the whole process: time to go fabric hunting!
Fabric scouting always comes with a little thrill, because no matter how many plans, ideas, and wishes we have… quantity, quality, and price all have to line up. Catherine has often fallen in love with a fabric only to realize there simply wasn’t enough yardage for production. Sometimes, you have to choose between your heart and your head! In the spirit of sharing our knowledge and know-how, here’s a glimpse into how Veri chooses its fabrics.
Based in Montreal, Veri has plenty to choose from. The city was Canada’s first major clothing manufacturing hub and remains one of the few in North America to have retained so much of its fashion infrastructure. There’s the famous Plaza St-Hubert, Chabanel, the legendary garment district spanning more than 5 million square feet, and countless other suppliers scattered throughout the city. These businesses allow us to see and touch fabrics in person, talk directly with suppliers and, sometimes, walk out the door with rolls of fabric under our arms the very same day! Since the beginning, we’ve prioritized Montreal and Canadian suppliers whenever possible. In an industry where these businesses are becoming increasingly rare, these relationships built on trust are essential.
Having this local network also means staying up to date on what’s available in real time: going to Globetex to hunt for deadstock fabrics, meeting with our button supplier to have buttons dyed to match a fabric, or visiting Kava to find the perfect threads and trims are all part of creating new pieces. Veri is fortunate to have access to so many resources and suppliers, but every capsule we produce is also a reminder of how essential a strong network is to sustaining local fashion — in Quebec, Canada, and North America.
In a textile ecosystem like Montreal’s, alongside newly imported fabrics, it’s also possible to come across some incredible deadstock. Our suppliers buy surplus inventory, which means we don’t always know what we’re going to find — or where it came from. Since these are leftover lots, information about their composition and origin can be hard to come by. To try to identify a fabric’s composition, we’ll pull apart the threads and go by touch, or even burn a small sample for clues. But sometimes, we simply go with our gut…
That feeling is crucial when hunting for fabrics. It develops through experience, trial and error, and learning to trust yourself. Being too set on one specific idea can sometimes create more problems than inspiration, so it’s best to approach the hunt with an open mind!
That creative uncertainty can also lead to some great surprises. While sourcing fabrics for Capsule 14, Catherine fell in love with the deadstock used for the Swirl sweater. Its colors and pattern ended up influencing the entire capsule! From that palette came the chocolate Pia, the Elio colorways, and the full houndstooth look with its matching tie. That accessory, in turn, set the tone for the creative photoshoot!
But a fabric also has to feel good against the skin. Loving how a garment looks on your body is one thing; loving how it feels is another! The materials we choose have to contribute to the look of a garment, of course, but above all to its comfort, practicality, and freedom of movement. How will the fabric behave in hot, cold, or humid weather? Will its texture evolve — or even change — over the years? Is it actually comfortable to wear? Feeling, both in the sense of touch and of how you feel wearing something, is key.
Taking the time to ask these questions is one of the privileges of making clothing locally. Creating a garment relies on a delicate balance between rationality and creativity, like two sides of the same coin. Nothing is left to chance… and yet, anything can happen between the original idea and the finished piece. Behind every fabric we choose are countless decisions, a whole lot of people, and plenty of energy coming together to make clothing right here.
Thank you for wearing us!
With love, always,
Veri 💋
Because we want our favorite suppliers to stay in business, here’s a little list of the ones we have on speed dial!
185 Louvain Ouest, #400, Montreal — Chris at Global tex
Our first stop for inspiration and usually where we buy the first few rolls that will lay the foundation for a new capsule. We’ve been loyal customers for over 10 years. He went bankrupt and reopened shortly after, so go show him some love and give him a follow!
7399 Saint-Hubert Street, Montreal — Marc at Tissu Saint-Hubert
Our go-to for quality fabrics. We source from him for many of our custom projects, as well as some of our accessories… because the bill can add up fast!
7609 Saint-Hubert Street, Montreal — Kava
Our go-to sewing supply store and an absolute essential! Trims, threads, you name it — this place is a goldmine for everything we need when developing a new capsule.