Bertrand Marois

Bertrand Marois is the founder and designer of the company that bears his name, which specializes in men’s shirts and pants, both ready-to-wear and made-to-measure.

Bertrand Marois, 2001 © Le Soleil/Raynald Lavoie. Photo courtesy of Bertrand Marois

His clothing is known for its special details. Elastic insets at the waist, hidden under the belt, make his signature pants extra comfortable. His shirts feature contrasting or patterned collars and cuffs, unusually shaped buttons made of original materials, and pockets in a different print.

A self-taught designer from the Beauce, Bertrand Marois got his start in the fashion industry working in a military uniform factory before working in a shirt factory.

He then worked in interior design for five years, before returning to the clothing sector to work for a Quebec City jeans company.

Bertrand Marois designed his first collection of men’s pants in 1983, selling them in the Quebec City store La queue de chemise. In 1985, he converted his apartment at 77 Petit-Champlain Street in Old Quebec into a shop/atelier and launched his own business, adding shirts, jackets and coats to his product line. By then, his clothing was being sold by a half-dozen Quebec retailers.

Bertrand Marois and his associate Marielle Roy, 2002 © Jacques Truchon. Photo courtesy of Bertrand Marois

In 1995, Bertrand Marois began to work with his wife Marielle Roy, who took on administrative and marketing duties for the company. The couple decided to go back to specializing in men’s shirts and slacks and stopped supplying the retail market.

Their shop/atelier has been located at 60 Champlain Boulevard in Quebec City since 2016. Since this area is very popular with tourists, Bertrand Marois has built an international clientele of customers who purchase their first pieces in the store and then order using the company’s Website. Approximately 90% of the garments produced by Bertrand Marois are made on-site by a single sewer. The rest are given to a local subcontractor.