Montreal Designer Cat Préfontaine: From Project Runway Canada to Sustainable Fashion
Montreal designer Cat Préfontaine, the founder of Maison Préfontaine, recently competed on the Crave Original series Project Runway Canada but was eliminated from the competition. Hosted by supermodel Coco Rocha, the show features a judging panel that includes fashion media icon Jeanne Beker and designer Spencer Badu, with designer mentorship provided by Aurora James. Préfontaine, one of two Montrealers on the show, was eliminated in the latest episode where contestants had to create outfits inspired by footwear from the Bata Shoe Museum.
Despite her elimination, Préfontaine remains proud of her creation and plans to make the ruffled sleeves design available on her website. Her journey into fashion design began after studying film and later enrolling in Cégep Marie-Victorin's École de mode. During the pandemic, she represented her institution at the Fashion Preview festival and spent time in Virginia working with horses, which inspired her to fuse her love for the outdoors with her creative instincts.
Préfontaine aims to design with minimal waste, promoting local production and eco-responsible choices. She brings a Western edge to Montreal's cool fashion scene, balancing raw texture with runway polish. Her long-term vision includes creating collections in smaller quantities to avoid waste and promoting sustainability in the fashion industry. Despite her elimination from Project Runway Canada, Préfontaine hopes that the exposure from the show will further boost her career in the fashion industry.
You can catch Project Runway Canada streaming on Crave on Friday nights.