Cou Cou,
Clothing for everybody, that doesn't hurt anybody.
We design clothing that celebrates you, with a dedication to sustainability and unique design. Here at Em & May we want to empower you to feel amazing about what you wear.
Welcome to my little slice of Heaven
My name is Emilie and I’m the founder of Em&May. I wanted to take you back to the very beginning of Em&May. It all started as a little dream back in 2019 while I was still in fashion school in Montreal. Ever since I was a seven-year-old doodling outfit designs, I knew fashion was the industry I wanted to be a part of. The spark for Em & May came when I posted a photo of a red bikini I made—my friends loved it and all wanted one. That’s when I dove in, hunting for scraps of spandex, deadstock, and any fabric I could find to make custom bikinis. I’d post fabric swatches on my story, letting people pick colors and styles. Each bikini was unique, made to fit each person’s vision and shape (and all custom-made!!).
Pretty soon, I realized that standard sizing just wasn’t cutting it. So, I created my own size chart—starting with 15 top sizes based on real measurements (now 27!). It was a game-changer, and it opened up the world of custom sizing. My mission became clear: to design clothing that anyone could feel amazing in.
Since our beginnings, Em & May has grown and transformed so much. We’ve expanded from swimwear into lingerie and ready-to-wear, all produced with a made-to-order business model. This way, we can stay sustainable, making pieces only as they’re needed. From designing to production, marketing, and shipping, everything happens in our Mile End studio, which has truly become my dream space. Being hands-on in every step ensures our commitment to quality and ethical production.
Sustainability has always been at the heart of Em & May. Our fabrics are sourced from deadstock, organic, and recycled fibers, and our hardware is Oeko-Tex 100 certified or repurposed. Even our packaging is 100% recycled. Transparency and authenticity mean everything to us, so we keep you in the loop about how we make each piece, letting you feel confident in what you wear and where it came from.
Em & May started as my passion project, but it’s our incredible team and your support that make it all possible. Thank you for being part of our journey—we’re just getting started, and I’m so excited for what’s next.
At Em & May, we’re all about transparency, sustainability, and ethical production every step of the way. In a world full of fast fashion, we believe real sustainability means creating high-quality pieces that last. Our mission is to make timeless, beautifully crafted items you’ll love for years, encouraging a shift toward mindful shopping. We’re here to keep you in the loop on everything—from where we source materials to how we produce and ship each order. Together, we’re making small but meaningful steps toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Our commitment to sustainability starts with thoughtfully chosen fabrics that are gentle on the planet and your skin. We source our materials in two main ways: for new fabrics, we prioritize Canadian-made, eco-certified options in natural fibers; we also source deadstock fabric to reduce industry waste.
One of our core initiatives is investing in certified fabrics under Oeko-TexⓇ Standard 100, ensuring they’re free from harmful dyes. Our fabric suppliers also prioritize mindful water use in their dyeing processes to reduce pollution in garment production. Even the elastics in all our garments are Oeko-TexⓇ certified. Our swimwear is crafted from ECONYLⓇ regenerated nylon, made from ocean waste. ECONYLⓇ is resistant to chlorine, sunscreen, oil, and with proper care, retains its shape beautifully, offering you pieces built to last.
Our deadstock fabrics are typically available in limited quantities, adding a unique, one-of-a-kind quality to each piece. We also source deadstock laces, trims, and ribbons, giving new life to these materials and helping reduce industry waste. Each piece we create from deadstock is designed to become a timeless staple in your wardrobe, crafted with care for you and the environment.
Sustainability is at the heart of how we make things. At Em & May, every piece is handmade in our Mile End studio in Montreal (our own slice of heaven). This not only means we get to obsess over every little detail, but it also lets us support our team with fair wages and create high-quality pieces that are built to last.
Our made-to-order model means we only make what’s needed, so we avoid overproduction and keep waste to a minimum. Any fabric scraps we may accumulate are given to local designers, used in our zero-waste collections, or repurposed into fun little accessories—nothing goes to waste here! As we grow with the slow fashion movement, we’re always looking for new ways to keep things sustainable and mindful.
Whether you’re having your pieces delivered, picking them up in person, or shopping at our showroom, your items will arrive beautifully wrapped in eco-friendly, recycled packaging. To help minimize our carbon footprint, we also offer local pickup options! Our hang tags and shopping bags are made from recycled paper, shipping boxes from recycled paper, mailers using 100% recycled materials, and our tape is printed on natural gummed kraft paper. Even in the studio, we print invoices and order forms on 100% recycled paper. Our stickers are eco-friendly too, so you can recycle or dispose of everything with minimal waste after unboxing your Em & May order.
If your measurements don’t align with our size chart, don’t worry we got you! By selecting custom sizing you are able to directly input your measurements to ensure the best possible fit. Custom sizing can range from custom inseams, bust adjustments, plus size, and more.
Measure yourself! Bust, waist, hip, crotch-belly button, inseam plus bra, and pant size. Watch our sizing vide on our "sizing" page to learn more.
When selecting your size on the product page choose “Custom Sizing” instead of the typical XXS-4XL. Once in your cart, there is a note option called “Custom Sizing”. There you will be able to add in your measurements!
