Simons launches Fabrique1840 for Canadian Makers

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Oct 7, 2018

La Maison Simons is putting Canadian artisans at the heart of its latest initiative with the launch of Fabrique1840. 

Launching across North America this month, the online retail platform will feature an all-Canadian line up of artisans offering everything from home décor and modern art to fashion accessories and stationary.
 
"The motivation behind Fabrique1840 is to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem," explained Peter Simons, co-owner and president of Simons, in a news statement.

"Canadians must establish a destination that supports and celebrates our creativity and values; the road to Canadian economic success is rooted in cooperation and community."
 
For its launch, a community of more than 50 creators from coast to coast were hand selected such as Montreal-based jewellery brand Ora-C by Caroline Pham, Toronto leather goods brand Uppdoo by Ricki Shi, and Montreal hat maker Camille Côté, to name a few. 
 
Canadian makers involved in the project are hoping that the Fabrique1840 platform will help grow their business and provide an expanded visibility. 
 
"Working with Simons – a family-owned business like ours – gives us the opportunity to grow our business beyond our current reach,” said Khounnoraj Booth, one of the artists behind Toronto-based brand Bookhou, who is also involved in Fabrique1840. 
 
The founder of Lamert et Fils, Samuel Lambert, said: "For us Fabrique1840 project is an opportunity to get closer to our audience."
 
A family-owned fashion retailer from Quebec City, Simons is one of Quebec’s biggest retail success stories. It launched its own, completely custom, e-commerce platform in 2010, and has since been a leader in Canada's e-commerce industry.
 
The fashion company has long been committed to supporting Canadian creativity from partnerships with Canadian artists like Douglas Coupland, to selling emerging Canadian brands in-store. 
 
Fabrique1840, whose name is a nod to the location of the original Simons store founded in 1840 on Côte de la Fabrique in Quebec City, is the latest initiative as part of that commitment. 
 
Beyond the maker community, Fabrique1840 also represents Simons' entry into the world of third-party logistics where it now has the ability to offer its distribution, fulfillment and digital marketing experience to other businesses. 
 
The necessary capacity to offer full third-party logistics services will be escalated by 2020 with the completion of Simons' new distribution centre, currently under construction in Quebec City. 
 
"The level of design and craftsmanship in this country is truly remarkable. We want to support these gifted creators to ensure they can make living from their craft and contribute to the local economy," added Peter Simons.

"Canadian design needs to be as celebrated as Scandinavian or Japanese design and we want to help tell that story."
 
Simons was founded in 1840 by John Simons and is currently led by brothers Peter and Richard Simons.

It operates 15 Simons stores in Canada including nine in Québec, two in Edmonton, one in West Vancouver, British Columbia, one in Calgary, Alberta and two in Ontario.