Since its inception in 1997, Quartz Co. has gained a leading position in the premium winter coat industry in Canada and other markets across the globe. Based in Montreal, the company has been led since 2015 by fraternal entrepreneurs Jean-Philippe, François-Xavier and Guillaume Robert, and the ambitious trio have taken Quartz Co.’s operations to the next level. As of late, the company boasts a flagship store, its very first, in Mile End, a former industrial downtown area which has transformed into a mecca for cool coffee parlours, art galleries, and last but not least, boutiques. The flagship store occupies a 5,300 sq.ft. (492 sqm.) unit on the ground floor of a former textile factory, and also accommodates a showroom, a design studio and a multifunctional space which could eventually host events and pop-up installations, as well as brand collaborations, art exhibitions, concerts and private soirées.
The austere interior design codes reflect how Quartz Co. creates and manufactures its coveted coats while also fully matching the building’s industrial legacy. A collaborative effort of Quartz Co. and Montreal-based architecture practices Rainville Sangaré and Blanchette Architectes, the retail space is sparsely furnished, featuring merely a sales counter, displays, low benches, and clothing racks using an ingenious system of stainless-steel poles and timber which don’t need to be attached to the walls, and instead, friction and tension hold them in place. Hardware and fastening pieces were left visible to demonstrate the accuracy with which the job was carried out. Locally sourced and FSC-certified ash was used because its texture contrasts with the other materials and because it adds a touch of warmth to space. The new Quartz Co. store carries the brand’s full range of men’s and women’s apparel and coats, including the new Forward collection, an outerwear range crafted from high-tech materials woven from recycled fibre.
Quartz Co.
5445 Avenue de Gaspé (Mile End)
Montreal QC H2T 3B2
Telephone: +1 514 5047500
Mon-Wed 10-6
Thu-Fri 10-8
Sat 9-5
Sun 11-5
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
