Katy St-Laurent
Katy St-Laurent has always believed in her dreams and aspirations. Bachelor in Communications at Laval University and holder of a master's degree in project management, she had a brief career in pharmaceutical representation before deciding in 2001 to give up her job, her financial security and sell her house to move to Europe to devote herself entirely to her Olympic dream. A few months later, she was already a Canadian Champion, participated in the World Championships and became a member of the national team and a professional cycling team.
Adoring the creation of clothing from
a very young age, her passion continued through bicycle racing. “We weren’t
very feminine in our unisex clothes, so I changed the patterns and made
accessories that gave us style. After a short time, a large majority of the
girls who raced with me on the world circuit wore my colourful cuffs. Quite a
change when the black reigned supreme at that time! “
In 2005, after the Canadian Track
Championships in Calgary, she decided to retire to devote herself to another
ambition: to motivate women in the pursuit of their dreams … with a collection
of clothing that was inspiring and limitless. “I was at the top of a mountain in Banff with my arms in
the air when I had the idea of my slogan: DEPLOY YOUR WINGS.”
Working between television and preparing for the launch of her business, she finances her project by becoming co-host of various programs on RDS, TQS alongside Rodger Brulotte, Marc-André Coallier and Randy Furgesson. She was also a columnist at Salut Bonjour.
The official launch of KSL was celebrated on February 7, 2007. For the past 12 years, she has opened stores in Montreal, Quebec, Bromont, Chicoutimi, Banff, Toronto and Vancouver, but she also gained great visibility by promoting KSL at major events such as the Rogers Cup in Montreal, the Ironmans in Tremblant, Miami and Lake Placid, the Bike Show in NY, Toronto and Vancouver, the Boat Show in West Palm Beach and Miami and the Magic show from Las Vegas.
In 2017, she embarked on the web
shift. "I am at the leading edge of the clothes I create, I must also be
in my business decisions. So I made the difficult decision to close all of my
KSL stores. This allowed me to concentrate my operations in one place and at
the same time be much more available for my children." The entrepreneur
has been a single mom for 8 years. She considers that the best business choices
are those that provide a better quality of life for her family.
At a time when the debates between the web and the retail trade are topical, she says that this shift also allows her to do more of what she likes the most: to meet her customers, give conferences and take more concrete action to motivate more and more women to believe in themselves and achieve their dreams.
In 2011, she launched the first
mobile store in Quebec: the KSL Happiness Truck. Today, 3 more vehicles are
travelling across Quebec, Canada and the United States to introduce KSL and
share the brand’s mission. KSL has the honour of having very committed
ambassadors. “They make such a great difference in the business. We are
welcomed with open arms wherever we go thanks to them”.
Having had her children at the same time as she started her business, Katy understands the concept of active mom. She considers new mothers a lot in the design of her collections. She thinks of her as much for before, during and after pregnancy since she designs clothes that adapt to the silhouette. No need to wear maternity clothing.
Innovative
"I was born to a seamstress mother and an inventor father, I imagine that's why I don't design clothes as we learn in fashion schools. I like to create, invent new ways of dressing, encourage women to consume less while being able to do it better, allow women not to impose limits, to be able to go from their sporting activities to their evening without hassle.''
The designer creates innovative clothes for several reasons. They are transformable, comfortable, stretchy, wrinkle-free and they dry quickly. In addition, all stages of manufacturing are carried out in Quebec. Even the creation of most fabrics.
Innovation is one of the important values of the entrepreneur who designs transformable clothes perfect for an active daily life. The company defies standards. She was the very first to design dresses for the practice of sport. Currently on the KSL website, almost 70 transformable products are available. For example, the Marie-Soleil dress can be worn in more than 40 different ways! These clothes have turned the fashion world upside down, so much so that schools are studying KSL's creations. Moreover, stylist Louise Labrecque says that Katy St-Laurent is the queen of the convertible. KSL was also the first company to launch cycling underwear to limit injuries.
An important mission
“The mission of KSL is to motivate women in the pursuit of their dreams and to encourage you to do more sports to give you the energy to achieve your full potential. Says the entrepreneur passionately. The wing-shaped jewel that each KSL item of clothing wears is a small reminder to women who wear their clothes to accomplish themselves and to believe in themselves. Katy is a positive person, playful, brimming with ideas and above all, energy to realize them. "Spread your wings", the slogan of his company KSL is his life mission. To say that sport occupies a central place in his life is an understatement. She aspires to transmit this taste for movement to as many people as possible, including her children and employees. "Whether it be through meetings on bikes, running or even on the trampoline, I am convinced that active living offers unequaled benefits on all fronts," says the entrepreneur. I literally thrive on the stories of my clients' dreams come true. I receive almost every week beautiful stories of fulfilled dreams motivated by the KSL jewel. This gives me courage too to continue creating new products for her women who have also made the commitment to shine. She wants KSL to become synonymous with surpassing oneself, whether in sports, travel, business, maternity, family, etc.
A 100% Quebec product
The designer strives to make the workforce work here, in Quebec. 100% of its products are made in Quebec, and 50% of the raw material. She is proud to have achieved this feat in the textile sector, a sector of activity in which almost all of the workforce, operations and production of the raw material were exported to Asia and in Central America. What is more, she has managed to keep highly competitive prices for designer clothes. Finally, she strives to be a model for women in Quebec, for entrepreneurs and for single mothers.
Its social commitment
Social involvement takes an important place in his life. She is generous with her heart but also with her legs since she is very involved with the foundations that have cycling events. She is one of the spokespersons for the CIBC Charles Buneau Tour. At the same time, she supervises the participants to help them accomplish their challenge. She has also given her whole heart to the Grand Defi Pierre Lavoie since almost the start of the event.
She also makes it a point of honor to be spokesperson for the Tour of Silence in her region. This tour is to raise awareness about sharing the road and to commemorate cyclists who died on the road.
She is also spokesperson for Maison au Diapason, a palliative care center in Bromont.
From 2012 to 2013, she gave her eyes and her experience as an international athlete to pilot the tandem of Melissa Boisvert, a young blind woman, to help her conquer her Paralympic dream. "This experience was most enriching for me but also for my two children who learned to mix with people with disabilities and learn to give of themselves" explains Katy.
His implication doesn't stop at the bike. She is very involved with the Charles Bruneau Foundation. She has naturally become a big sister and a confidant for many children with cancer in recent years. She likes to sow happiness… she says that these children harvest it with open arms.
His inspirational conferences
Katy has an extraordinary life course. She has had many great trials in her life but has always seen the positive side of each situation and found the way to achieve her dreams and spread her wings. Through his life stories, learn that it is important to have dreams, to visualize them, to make decisions in the right way, to go ahead and believe in us. The entrepreneur has also given several conferences in numerous universities, companies, networks of businesswomen and Chambers of Commerce to publicize her commitments and life course. She was also invited in November 2019 to Tahiti to talk about her career and motivate business people, doctors and even politicians from French Polynesia to live their dreams.
Through her social commitment, her sports and business achievements and during her conferences, she strives to demonstrate to all women that there is room for them at all levels. "Breaking taboos, saying the real things, helping people to see clearly and to realize themselves authentically, that's my reason for being.