Perhaps you could make your kid a star player at school if he/she/they sports a Lionel Messi brand outfit. The Argentine professional footballer has kicked off his line of children’s clothing from sizes 3-14 and you can only buy it at a few stores in Montreal.

I would head to Goldtex, a superb outlet which is hidden amongst factories in LaSalle, and is worth the trip to find it. The family-run business are experts in the baby business and have always curated a quality selection for you. And not only that – 95% of their stock is from Canadian suppliers and they only sell Canadian approved products which are safe for you kids.

If your  kids need school colour coded clothing – they sell it here: shirts, dress pants, unisex white polos, cargo and Bermuda shorts, cords, tunics, skirts, cardigans, blazers, knee highs and tights.

 Some of the clothing brands in sizes from newborn to 16  are: Nike, Jordan, Levis, Converse, Hurley, French Toast, Nasri, Gusti, Perlimpinpin, and now Messi!. 

It’s even easier when you can shop-at-home (from their website) at a store right here in Montreal and keep the money in our own city. They we will also match the price of any in-stock item of a Canadian online retailer.

There’s Perlimpinpin, Halo, Mabymoov, and Jolly Jumper bedding and lots of bottles, hats and shoes at the front along with baby cream by Aleva Health and The Honest Company. Baby accessories are by Chicco, UPPA baby, Safety First, Nuby, Graco, Avent, Dr. Brown, Munchkin, The First Years, Oxo Tot, Boon, Haakaa, and Medela. You can find  strollers, cars seats, high chairs, play yards and swings by Graco, Baby Jogger, Peg Perego, Maxi, Cosi, Safety First and Nuna, UPPA baby.

And when you might need them, the upper mezzanine has  fancy party dresses – even for flower girls, suits, tuxedos, outfits for communion, confirmation and baptism.

Feel good about buying from a local second-generation family business who offer you great service, prices and products.

Location: 8875 Salley, LaSalle Click for map 
corner: Dollard
Tel: 514-365-9699
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-5, Thurs & Fri 10-6, Sat 9-5
www.goldtex.ca

Maxwell’s Clothiers is a 2nd generation Hong Kong family run business at the heart of bespoke tailoring since 1961. Then Ken Maxwell took his hand-crafted suits and shirts from Hankow Rd, Hong Kong to his clients around the world. I have visited their elegant showroom in Hong Kong to see how the shirts and suits are made.

They make it easy for us to shop as they fly here and bring their expertise to us with a team of tailors who can fit men and women for custom-tailored suits, shirts, jackets, pants and overcoats.

For 3 custom-made cotton shirts, it’s only $210 (plus tax and shipping) and that could be for the sea-island cotton (luscious), Egyptian cotton, or pinpoint Oxford or 3,000 fabric choices. You get to choose your collar style, cuff style and, of course, your monogram.

Each cust0m shirt has fuse collar and cuffs, one business pocket, cuff pleats, seven button placket front, sleeve gauntlet opening with button and side pleats. You can have your monogram sewn on the cuff or pocket.

Suits packages start at $825 for a custom tailored suit and 3 shirts. Each garment is individually cut, constructed and sewn by their skilled craftsmen, taking a minimum of 120 hours of hand work.

No appointments are necessary – just show up and bring your friends. Ask for the Maxwell’s Clothiers Suite.

Dates and Locations:
Sept 5,6,7: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, 900 Boul. Rene-Levesque O. 514-861-3511
Sept 8: Sheraton Laval, 2440 Autoroute des Laurentides 450-687-2440
Sept 9,10,11: Ruby Foo’s Hotel, 7655 Decarie Blvd. 514-731-7701
Hours: 9:30-8pm
www.maxwellsclothiers.com