The parka
My process started with the M-51 Fishtail Parka as a foundational historical garment. I analysed the core components and their contexts, along with the inspirational garments that informed the parka. This allowed me to identify what was important, and in this instance, I found that soldiers wore the parka as their outermost layer. Meaning their gear remained underneath due to the extreme climate.
From here, I identified broader contexts. Mod culture kicked off as an expression of the love of modern jazz, also being inspired by the sharp dressing of Ska musicians at the time. From here I linked this musical inspiration to something of my own. Heavy metal culture is something I have been brought up around and learning about. I found similarities in ethos and non-conformity between the groups.
My ideation came from identifying what I am drawn to from my inspirations. I brought the soldiers’ gear to the outside, inspired by the hardware and straps seen in heavy metal culture, while keeping sharp silhouettes and functionality.