Les Tissées first started as an online shop selling just a few fabrics. Owner Marie-Lyne Ménard initially worked in marketing, but when the pandemic shifted her career, she got into sewing. This was why she first began sourcing and selling her own fabrics. By 2021, Les Tissées had grown to the point that Ménard took on a permanent storefront location. After extensive necessary renovations, she officially opened the doors in June 2023, and now you can find Les Tissées on Papineau Avenue in Montreal as well as online. We spoke with Ménard to learn more about how she got started and what plans she has for the future of Les Tissées.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Les Tissées, we sell fabrics and accessories for sewing, as well as pdf sewing patterns, and we recently started to offer A0 printing service as well (printing in large format). We specialize in fashion fabrics.
What made you want to do this work?
Honestly, I started Les Tissées for fun because I was a home sewist, and I couldn’t find nice fabric to sew clothing that was not tailored to children. So, during the pandemic, I started visiting local fashion designers, bought their deadstock fabric and was selling them on Facebook. Because it was working, I opened a Shopify store. In the first 3 years of Les Tissées, I was only online.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
I wanted to offer a variety of fashion fabrics for Montrealers’ home sewists with quality fabrics. We now carry very popular brands such as Canada Goose, and we have a bigger selection every year.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Any person who sews clothes at home. Surprisingly, there are a lot of young people who sew. A majority of clients are between 25 and 40 years old. We also have a lot of sporty people as clients since we have merino wool, Gore-Tex, Cordura, ripstop, and a very big selection of them.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
We make money by selling our products. We have a big online presence. More than half of our sales are online. We sell fabrics, zippers (waterproof as well), we have a lot of notions and supplies for sewing that are hard to find, we have more than 2000 buttons all available online, we just recently started to sell PDF sewing patterns, and we will upload more at the beginning of 2026. As well, we recently got an A0 printer and now offer the large-format printing service. This area of the business needs to be developed because it’s very recent, but we can also print in large format other things than sewing patterns. Could be for students, architects, construction industry and so on. How does it work? Answer: by working really hard without counting your hours
Where in the city can we find your profession?
We are located in Rosemont on Papineau, and the address is very easy to remember: 6666 Papineau. Devil + 6 😈😈😈
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
Best part for me is taking pictures of new products and creating products for selling online, as well as meeting customers who tell us every day that they love our shop and our selection of fabric. Helping them find what they need for their project. Worst part for me is accounting ;P
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
IDK, but you have to be really crazy to be in this industry. Countless hours of work. You really have to be passionate about what you are doing,
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Le Marchand du Bourg – Votre Boutique du Steak is very close to our store, and the owner is so kind 🙂
