A Quebec costume designer is stepping into the global spotlight at the 2026 Winter Olympics, dressing the world’s best figure skaters as they compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
Mathieu Caron, a former ballroom dancer from Quebec, has been making professional costumes for over a decade. She says her fascination with brilliant fabrics and amazing designs started early.
“I really liked the costumes, all the hats and fabrics. So I decided to go to fashion school,” Caron told Global News.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States compete during the ice skate dance in the free skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.
(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
After studying fashion at LaSalle College in Montreal, Caron launched her own company designing clothing for ballroom dancers. Soon her career expanded into the world of figure skating and ice dancing.
By 2018, his creations had reached the Olympic stage. Caron designed the costumes worn by Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir during their gold medal-winning performance at the Moulin Rouge.
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Now in Milan for the 2026 Winter Games, Caron says 28 athletes from 10 countries have worn his designs. Among them are American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, and Japanese figure skater Ami Nakai.
Caron says each costume can take up to 150 hours to complete, from the first drawing to the last rhinestone. Caron says the process involves working closely with athletes, coaches and choreographers to ensure the design matches the music and enhances movement on the ice.
“We have meetings not only with the athletes but also with the coaches, the producers of the songs and we talk about the music and the idea of the program,” he said.
Her studio team includes other designers, cutters, seamstresses, pattern makers, and painters – all working to bring the clothes to life.
The price reflects the work involved. Caron says costumes typically range from $3,500 to $8,000, depending on the hours required and the complexity of the design.
While figure skating remains a major focus, the designer said he hopes to expand into other creative fields, including Broadway musicals and designing full-body looks for touring artists.
In the meantime, Caron says he feels lucky to see his creations on Olympic ice skating, and in some cases, onto the podium.
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