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If There’s Anything Designer Alexandre Faulkner Knows Intimately, It’s the World of Fashion

With more than a decade of industry experience under his belt—including working for acclaimed Montreal-based designers like Marie Saint Pierre and Philippe Dubuc and doing sales for Acne Studios in Paris, followed by a stint at a modelling agency—it’s safe to say Alexandre Faulkner has seen it all. But his latest venture is entirely a making of his own.

by : Erica Ngao- Sep 3rd, 2021

Courtesy of Monthly Payment

The ethos behind Monthly Payment, a tightly curated made-to-order and ready-to-wear line, is all about creating accessible luxury, he says. Since launching a year ago with savings from his previous jobs—hence the name—Faulkner has garnered a dedicated fan base for his pared-down version of a capsule wardrobe. There are fewer than a dozen styles, but that’s by design. Each timeless piece—like an oversized double-satin shirt or tapered twill stirrup trousers—is carefully thought out, from the fabric down to the seams. This model allows Faulkner to minimize waste and collaborate with his clients to create something that’s truly one-of-a-kind. “Anybody who starts something now shouldn’t even [need to] claim that it’s sustainable—it wouldn’t make sense to start a company that isn’t [sustainable] today,” he says.

Trust the process

“If there’s one thing that I’ve learned during the pandemic, it’s patience. I don’t mind if it takes a year to create something because now I know that anything I have in mind will happen when I put the work in. You don’t buy a Monthly Payment piece if you want to have it tomorrow morning; it’s for those who understand the process of making something that’s custom.”

Identity crisis

“We have amazing talent in fashion programs [in Montreal], but every time someone gets their diploma, they leave. It would be great to take time to focus on our identity. What is our passion?

Why are we doing this? What is our quality standard? There are so many unanswered questions. If the cycle keeps going, we’re never going to be able to have a real identity that belongs to us as Montrealers, because our aesthetic is different from the rest of Canada’s.”

Knowledge is power

“At some point, I ended up understanding markups and margins. That’s why I wanted to create something I could sell directly to my customers. Even though my products are expensive, I’m transparent [about the costs involved]. When people are scared of luxury, I tell them to feel the fabric and try it on to understand why it is that price. That’s something that comes with the experience of being in the fashion industry—I see things that other people won’t necessarily see, and it’s important to know why you’re buying something.”

Universal appeal

“Every sale I’ve made matters to me because I didn’t have expectations when I started the brand. I always kept in mind that I was in the middle of a pandemic. I’m queer and I’m a person of colour, but I design for everybody. I want to continue for many years, as long as people [still] want to buy. That’s the whole idea behind the brand: I want to make clothes that people want.”

Photography Courtesy of Monthly Payment.
Photographer Mathieu Fortin
Photographer’s Assistant Jeremy Bobrow
Styling Jay Forest
Hair & Makeup Laurie Derasp
Models Ayomikun (Another Species) & Mazir Brunet (Faces Mgmt)