A Quebec costume designer is getting into the worldwide highlight on the 2026 Winter Olympics, dressing a number of the world’s top figure skaters as they compete on the game’s biggest stage.
Mathieu Caron, a former ballroom dancer from Quebec, has been creating elaborate costumes for greater than a decade. He says his fascination with glittering fabrics and dramatic designs began early.
“I used to be very fascinated by the costumes, all of the bling-bling and the fabrics. So I made a decision to go to fashion school,” Caron told Global News.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the USA compete through the ice dancing free skate in figure skating on 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 his company designing clothing for ballroom dancers. His work soon expanded into the figure skating and ice dancing world.
By 2018, his creations had reached the Olympic podium. Caron designed the costumes worn by Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir during their gold medal-winning performance set to Moulin Rouge.
Get day by day National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Now in Milan for the 2026 Winter Games, Caron says 28 athletes from 10 countries are wearing his designs. Amongst them are American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, in addition to Japanese skater Ami Nakai.
Caron says each costume can take as much as 150 hours to finish, from the primary sketch to the ultimate rhinestone. Caron says the method involves close collaboration with athletes, coaches and choreographers to make sure the design complements the music and enhances movement on the ice.
“We have now meetings with athletes, but in addition with the coaches, choreographers. We talk in regards to the music and the vision of this system,” he said.
His studio team includes other designers, cutters, seamstresses, pattern makers, and painters — all working to bring the clothes to life.
The value reflects the labour 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 stays a central focus, the designer said he hopes to expand into other creative fields, including Broadway musicals and designing full looks for touring artists.
For now, Caron says he feels fortunate to see his creations glide across Olympic ice, and in some cases, onto the rostrum.
For the complete story, watch the video above.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.