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When Léonie Daignault-Leclerc undertakes a project, she doesn't do it halfway. Gaia & Dubos, her sustainable clothing company, is a perfect example.

It all began during her master's degree at Ryerson University. Her research topic: unraveling the myths and realities of a truly eco-friendly clothing collection and conducting a market study on its potential clientele. One year after submitting her thesis, in the spring of 2017, she officially launched her brand.

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One of the lessons she applies to Gaia & Dubos is local production, which is indeed better for the environment. While proximity reduces the number of miles traveled and thus the carbon footprint, it also allows for more responsive production and smaller batches, thereby avoiding inventory surpluses.

Simultaneously, Léonie can ensure that the human behind each stitch is respected. "I make it a point to visit each of my manufacturers and talk to the employees," the creator shares.

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Another fundamental aspect of her eco-responsibility mission is the choice of materials. Almost all of her fabrics are of natural origin, except for her polyester linings made from recycled bottles. Otherwise, cotton, wool, and silk are all certified organic and ethical. Belgian linen is another favorite fiber of Léonie's, which she describes as "inherently ecological since it requires no pesticides, little water, and can even decontaminate the soil where it grows."

Furthermore, she prioritizes modular designs, from a reversible blouse to a wrap skirt, to offer maximum versatility both in terms of style and body fluctuations.

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Finally, regarding her fabric scraps, her cutter is instructed to keep them entirely. "The larger pieces are used to make scrunchies and sleep masks, and the smaller ones are redistributed to artisans," she shares.

Knowing that the challenges of the fashion industry go beyond her company, Léonie has even developed tools to help the public consume more responsibly, such as online sewing initiation courses to learn how to mend our clothes or her book " Pour une garde-robe responsable" published by Éditions La Presse.

When they said she didn't do things halfway.

The distribution of this article is made possible by the contribution of Détail Québec, comité sectoriel de main-d'œuvre du commerce de détail.

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