Once the beating heart of Montreal’s textile industry, the District Central is experiencing a powerful resurgence.
Thanks to strong entrepreneurial mobilization and a sustainable vision led by the District Central Business Development Corporation (SDC), this iconic neighborhood is positioning itself as a cornerstone of modern urban manufacturing.
With short supply chains, local craftsmanship, and economic resilience, the District Central offers an inspiring model for revitalization.
Located in the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, District Central is more than just a geographic area—it is a symbol of a productive, creative, and resilient Montreal.
Historically known for its Chabanel sector, once a hub for fashion and textiles, the neighborhood has been undergoing a renaissance driven by a collective desire to bring local production back to life.
Since 2016, the SDC District Central has brought together nearly 800 businesses, most of which operate in design, textiles, and manufacturing.
This concentration of economic actors creates a dynamic ecosystem where proximity between suppliers, workshops, and clients fosters responsiveness, collaboration, and sustainability.
In a global context marked by fragile supply chains and persistent inflation, the District Central model stands out as a local and viable solution.
The SDC’s approach emphasizes short supply chains, the promotion of artisanal trades (weavers, tailors, pattern makers), and the relocalization of production.
Key Figures:
800 businesses active in the District Central
Over 25,000 workers in the area
Approximately $3.8 billion CAD in annual revenue
3 main activity hubs: design, technology, and urban manufacturing
SDC’s goal: to make District Central Montreal’s third economic hub, after downtown and the Saint-Laurent borough
District Central shows how a neighborhood can reinvent itself by leveraging its historical strengths, entrepreneurial fabric, and forward-looking vision.
Today, it stands as a model of sustainable urban manufacturing, where innovation meets tradition in support of a strong and inclusive local economy.