Stotland Dress Inc.

Listen to sisters Marlene Stotland Cohen and Judy Kaback discuss their father's clothing factory, Stotland Dress Inc., and join them as they recall their wonderful memories of visiting the factory as children. Stotland Dress Inc. was founded in the 1930s by Hyman Stotland and his two brothers, Sol and Lou Stotland. The factory and showrooms were located at 4238 Boulevard Saint Laurent, with the offices, showrooms, and shipping on the ground floor and the manufacturing taking place on the top three floors. During WWII the factory made army uniforms for women, and after the war it expanded by linking up with the American company Teena Paige. Their biggest seller was the shirtmaker dress, which was advertised in the 'Seventeen' magazine. Stotland Dress manufactured dresses and sportswear that was sold right across Canada in all the major department stores – Eaton's, Hudson Bay, Simpson's – and they also sold dresses in Europe and the Caribbean. In 1973 Sol, Lou, and Sydney Stotland bought out Hyman Stotland's interest and moved the factory to 422 Chabanel Street. In 1991, after the deaths of Sol and Lou, Sydney became partners with Pierre Bertrand and the name of the company changed to Glensport Inc. Pierre Bertrand bought out Sydney's share in 2001 and remained in business until 2005.