location: 4019 Notre Dame O.
phone number: 514.989.5134
hours: Mon-closed/Tues & Weds 11am-5:30pm/Thurs&Fri 11am-8pm/Sat&Sun 11am-5pm
payment methods: cash, debit, Visa
directions: Take the metro to St. Henri on the orange line. When you exit the station, cross in front of the fire-hall to get onto Notre Dame street. La Gaillarde is right at the corner.

La Gaillarde is a store with a mission. Along with the standard second-hand fare, this shop offers a varied selection of original pieces by local designers. The artists craft their lines from 100% recycled material, and La Gaillarde supports this endeavour - eco-commerce - by supplying both space and resources. Clothing donations to La Gaillarde are either sold in the store or used as fabric for their young designers to re-use and re-invent. The store itself is non-profit.

The idea is gracious and applaudable. In fact, La Gaillarde is so dedicated to their philosophy of environmentally responsible fashion that they not only sell ready to wear, but they also offer low-cost sewing and design classes to the public. They hope to further spread the concept of recycled style.

The results are affordable and impressive. Not much in the store is over $20, including coats, and I found some very special items here; adorable fifties style cotton print dresses, pretty silk slips in hues of petal pink or jade green, and mint condition vintage satin pumps to name a few. At closer to $30, I found a gorgeous cocktail dress in black lace and a two-piece suit made of metallic brocade. Really, price for piece, La Gaillarde is one of the best shops I’ve been to in the city.

The designer clothes, however, are underwhelming and overpriced. There are a bunch of lines to choose from, but the story is basically the same; the designs are not particularly wearable, and most pieces are $50 and up. There is always some lower priced fare offered on the two discount racks, but I saw little there worth mentioning. This aside, La Gaillarde is a comely shop with good heart, and it brings a lot of warmth and colour to its little corner of St.Henri.

profile by Carlyn Fleming
photography by Heather Utah