“LA FABRIQUE,” QUÉBEC CITY, QC

Located in the Québec City neighbourhood of Saint Roch, this building was home to Dominion Corset between 1897 and 1988 and renamed “La Fabrique” in 1994. Dominion Corset was one of the largest manufacturers of women’s undergarments in the country and a key player in Canada’s clothing industry during the 20th century. Thousands of women worked there, testifying to the essential contribution of this labour force to the Canadian clothing manufacturing industry. Built in 1871 and rebuilt in 1911, the “La Fabrique” building is a rare example of industrial architecture at the turn of the 20th century in Canada.

Dominion Corset was one of Québec City’s main employers. Founded by businessman Georges-Élie Amyot, the company made a name for itself by creating and manufacturing women’s undergarments. With an international network of distribution counters, it carved out an enviable position among the British Empire’s industrial establishments. The company also has great symbolic value for the women who worked there. A Canadian pioneer in stylish women’s undergarments, the company withstood over 100 years of evolution in the history of women’s fashion.

“La Fabrique,” which stands out with its square medieval-inspired towers and rich ornamentation, was also a highly functional industrial urban complex. The main building was constructed between 1871 and 1916. Architect Georges-Émile Tanguay was principally responsible for the exterior appearance of the building as of 1909 and again after a fire in 1911. The building’s original aesthetic design is representative of the era’s industrial architecture, as well as Victorian eclectic architecture. Roman style references lend it a fortress-like look, while its imposing size and Second Empire characteristics reflect the owners’ awareness of the company’s stature. With wide-open production spaces supported by exposed beams and columns, and numerous rows of windows lighting the space, this industrial building provided maximum flexibility for the rehabilitation work done in 1992-93.

The building has undergone many changes over the years, but the integrity of its facades has been partly preserved. The clock and water towers, the fully decorated facades built of red brick, and the framings of fired white brick all contribute to the building’s distinctive character and recall its industrial use. By its very presence in Saint Roch, “La Fabrique” is a solid reminder of this borough’s industrial age.

-30-