Helmet (detail), Louis Garneau, 1995. Gift of Cynthia Gordon, M2010.53.3 © McCord Museum
Louis Garneau (Sainte-Foy, 1958) and his wife Monique Arsenault are the co-founders of Louis Garneau Sports, a company specialized in biking equipment and clothing. Garneau created his first bike apparel in the garage of his Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures home near Quebec City in 1983. At the time, he was preparing to take part in the Los Angeles Olympic Games and was unable to find the clothes he needed on the market.
In 1984, he retired from competition to put his specialist knowledge of cycling to work creating comfortable, ergonomic clothing. In 1989, Louis Garneau began manufacturing bike helmets.
Over the years, the company’s product line has grown to include outdoor clothing and apparel for running, skiing, swimming and triathlons.
Bikes, snowshoes, exercise equipment and other accessories are now also part of the diverse line of Louis Garneau Sports products.
Helmet, Louis Garneau, 1995. Gift of Cynthia Gordon, M2010.53.3 © McCord Museum
In 2003, the company acquired the Chlorophylle/L’Aventurier Group, which specializes in outdoor clothing and equipment, and then sold it in 2008 after turning the brand’s finances around. With the 2018 purchase of Vancouver performance apparel company Sugoi, which also includes mountain bike apparel brand Sombrio, Louis Garneau Sports is targeting the export market, particularly the United States, Europe and Asia.
Louis Garneau Sports remains a family business. Louis Garneau’s son, William, was named General Manager in 2017, at the age of 27. However, in 2018 he left this position to launch his own division within the company as his brother Édouard has done. Their sister Victoria also works for the company started by their father.
Sources
garneau.com External link
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L’Équipe de rédaction. “Louis Garneau Sports choisit Cossette pour se lancer à l’international.” Infopresse, Le Groupe Infopresse, 5 July 2018, https://www.infopresse.com/article/2018/7/5/louis-garneau-sports-choisit-cossette-pour-propulser-sa-croissance-internationale. External link
Lemery, Claude-Sylvie. “Le vélo en tête hiver comme été”, Tentations, January 2001, p.3.
“Louis Garneau Sports vend Chlorophylle à des Québécois.” Newswire, CNW Telbec, 19 February 2008, https://www.newswire.ca/fr/news-releases/louis-garneau-sports-vend-chlorophylle-a-des-quebecois-535346161.html. External link
Richard, Manon. “Louis Garneau : la griffe du champion”, Magazine Les Ailes, no 20, December 1993 – January 1994, p. 66-67, 98.
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Publication date
01/10/2004
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Madeleine Goubau, Contributor
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