Story

One family.
Four generations.

100 years of custom tailoring for men and women.
Framed group photo, the German Clothing Academy, Dresden, October 1923, from the Waxman family archives

The German Clothing Academy, Dresden, October 1923.

In 1923, Wolf Waxman left Lodz, Poland to study tailoring in Dresden. His wife Pearl sailed ahead to Montreal in 1925 to find them a home, and Wolf joined her in 1927 once his training was complete.

That same year, he opened his shop at 4615 Parc Avenue, home in the back, workshop in the front. It still stands there today.

The legacy passed down through generations. Hershie introduced tuxedo rentals in the 1950s. Billy added ready to wear collections and our first made to measure suit program in the late ’80s. Today, the fourth generation carries the business forward: Julian oversees daily rental operations, while his brother Miguel took the family craft in a new direction.

After leaving school at 18, Miguel set out to build a made to measure brand for a younger, style driven generation, turning a friend’s idea into a custom piece they couldn’t find anywhere else. In 2019, that vision became MIGSWAX.

1923 to 2027

Over a century, year by year.

1923

Wolf Waxman leaves Lodz for tailoring school in Dresden; two years later, his wife, Pearl, sails ahead to Montreal.

Wolf and Pearl Waxman, studio portraits side by side in a double frame, 1920s
1927

Wolf crosses the Atlantic and opens the house at 4615 Parc Avenue, then Waxman Formal Wear.

Framed photograph, the storefront window dressed with wedding gowns
1932

Harold “Hershie” Waxman is born, the 2nd generation.

Framed portrait, a boy of the house in top hat and tails
1950

Hershie introduces tuxedo rentals.

Framed studio portrait, a young man in a tuxedo with a carnation boutonniere
1963

William “Billy” Waxman is born, the 3rd generation.

Ornate gold frame, pastel portrait of a young boy
1981

Billy joins full time at 18yrs old and hasn’t left since.

Framed photograph, two generations working at the shop counter
1989

Billy incorporates ready to wear collections along with our first made to measure suit program.

Framed photograph, the rental floor lined with tuxedos
1995

Julian “Juls” Waxman is born, the 4th generation.

Framed sepia photo, a young boy riding a horse
1996

Miguel “Migs” Waxman is born, the 4th generation.

Framed photo, young Miguel on a red Ducati with the family boxers
1999

The storefront is renovated, same address, a new face.

The renovated Waxman House showroom, tuxedos on display
2002

A 75th anniversary fashion show marks three quarters of a century on Avenue du Parc.

[ photo: The 75th anniversary show ]
2004

Hershie passes, and his sayings stay on the wall to this day.

Framed photo, Hershie one month before his passing
2014

Miguel joins the house full time, followed by Julian a few years later.

Julian and Miguel Waxman in black tie at the house
2019

MIGSWAX is born: all things made to measure, for a younger, more fashion conscious generation.

Inside a MIGSWAX jacket, the Montreal label and embroidery
2027

One hundred years: one family, one address. A runway show to open the next hundred.

A wedding is a day you never forget. For a hundred years this house has dressed every kind of person, from every background, with equal respect.

And you’ll walk out looking like the best dressed person in the room.

“Whoever walks through our door isn’t a client, they’re family.”

The house rule, four generations on

Come sit at the Fabric Table.

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