A style lesson from 3 teachers

Who hasn’t had a teacher who made a difference in their life? If you have children like us, they are key people in our society and we are lucky at Message Factory to count more than one of them among our loyal consumers. But why do teachers choose our clothing line? Here is what they told us.

We speak with Marie-Josée, a remedial teacher, Sophie who has been teaching first grade for 12 years and Noémie who is a special education teacher at the Center Jeunesse de la Montérégie in Chambly.

 

Tell me a little about your work?

Sophie: I teach 1st grade. I love my young first-year clientele who are motivated to learn. It is rewarding to see student progress. The emergence of reading is magical.

Marie-Josée: I have worked in the education sector for 25 years. I am a remedial teacher.

Noémie: I work with only male clients aged between 15 and 17. I teach mathematics, job market preparation courses and carpentry.

 

Is it important for you to choose clothing made locally with organic or recycled materials?

Sophie: I am proud to have Quebec designer clothes in my wardrobe made here. I really like Message Factory's clothing and the philosophical and environmental messages they display. Unfortunately, I don't have many.

Marie-Josée: I discovered Message Factory clothing about 8 years ago. Never before had I asked a stranger to tell me the brand of clothes she was wearing. Immediately, I was seduced by the patterns, the color schemes, the messages as well as the cuts which are well thought out for a woman's body. The fact that the clothing was made locally with organic or recycled fibers only added to my desire to know more about this company. When I need to refresh my wardrobe, this is the brand I always turn to.

Noémie: In my practice, I have to wear clothes that are comfortable, professional and appropriate for the clientele. In the Message Factory collection, I can find both sun dresses that I love to wear in the summer and the colorful, young and professional look that I like to wear during the school months. I don't absolutely want to wear clothes made from organic and recycled materials, but it's an added value when it is. For me, this is proof that creators also have an ecological conscience in their creative process.

 

Noémie Laberge

 

Since the price is sometimes higher for these items, how do you justify your choices?

Sophie: I go for specials. I am a mother of three children... Recycled and organic materials are a choice that tips the scales, that's for sure!

Marie-Josée: I believe the price is justified. In the end, it is the consumer who wins, because the fiber used is of quality. Even after several years and several washes, my Message Factory clothes are still very beautiful.

Noémie: I buy a lot of clothes from Quebec designers. We sometimes pay more, but I like to encourage the work done here by local artists. We are being invaded by big banners from elsewhere. Our small boutiques often offer products of better quality and which are unique. For all these reasons, I am willing to pay more for a beautiful piece.   

 

Marie-Josée Pépin

 

What clothes do you like to wear and why? What are your favorite items?

Marie-Josée: I like simple, comfortable clothes that have a touch of originality. Every day, I wear a touch of Message Factory: a sweater, a jacket, a dress, a skirt, a tunic...

Sophie: When teaching, I like to wear comfortable clothes. The school environment is particularly active with toddlers, it is important to be comfortable to move easily. You have to be ready to act quickly. So I prioritize cotton. When the warm weather hits, I love dresses and skirts. When the weather is cooler, I like tunics that flatter my figure. I am proud and happy to wear my Message Factory clothes for any occasion. They are comfortable and attractive. At a restaurant, with friends, at the shopping center!

Noémie: In my practice, I have to wear clothes that are comfortable, professional and appropriate for the clientele. I like to wear the dress or skirt when I'm in class. When I'm in my woodworking workshop, despite being around dust and paint, I like to wear sweaters in which I remain feminine and unique. With my pink work boots and jeans, I like to wear my goldfish sweater! I love clothes that have great stories on them. I never buy clothes that have signs in English. Message Factory, despite its name in English, puts words, phrases and stories in French on its clothes. I choose and proudly wear these pieces that highlight the language of Quebec.  

 

 

Sophie Beaudoin

What values do you want to share with children about consumption and what are your biggest challenges?

Marie-Josée: In our society of overconsumption, it is difficult not to get carried away by this wave. I believe it is important for the youth of tomorrow to ask questions about the origin of a product. We must make them aware by explaining to them the different issues. It is important to consume items that are sustainable and recyclable. My biggest challenge is consuming only what I really need.    

Sophie: On the subject of consumption, I educate children about overconsumption, but especially through the 3Rs (ecological and economical waste management). I encourage my students to become adults who are conscious of their environment and the importance of protecting our planet. Every little gesture can make a difference.

Noémie: Given the male and adolescent clientele in search of identity that I meet every day at work, I can afford to have lots of great discussions about fashion and its influence. At their age, many indulge in popular, up-to-date, fashionable, often very expensive and “made in China” brands. I like to show them and discuss with them that their identity can also be forged in difference and uniqueness. That buying local can make our economy work and bring pleasure!

 

A big thank you to our 3 teachers for taking the time to talk to us at the start of the school year.

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