Montreal: Three Monkeys has monumental style
If I tell you where I shop, will you promise not to tell anyone? I mean, nobody likes to tell her favourite spots, right? So let’s keep it between you and me—top-secret. I’m a mad, mad monkey for Three Monkeys (Les Cours Mont-Royal, 1455 Peel St., Suite 207, 514-284-1333, threemonkeys.ca)! This shop is so beyond perfect balance of Montreal based indie designer and international labels, it’s insane.
Launched in 2004, Three Monkeys had a goal to sell only local brands and help the community and the Montreal fashion industry. Realizing the demand was also strong innovative international design, the shop moved to a new space in Les Cours Mont-Royal and now offers a wide selection of very hot clothes, shoes, hats and accessories from around the world. (Inside, you’ll find designers such as Anastasia Lomonova, Valérie Dumaine, Travis Taddeo, Cheap Monday, WeSC, Vans, Insight and many more.)
Last summer, I stumbled upon the house-designed collection of printed T-shirts, which took my breath away. The screen-printed tops (from $38) depict favourite Montreal sites, such as the Farine Five Roses neon sign and the Expo ’67 bubble, immortalizing the city as a style statement. What makes more sense than Montreal being a fashion icon? No need to beg, I’ll be the crazy monkey sporting the city on my chest, no problem with that.
Shown: Detail from “Farine Five Roses,” part of the Montreal Series, designed by Three Monkeys’ Mike Casali