Any Canadian who grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s will probably remember the Linda Lundstrom “La Parka” as the prototypical suburban-hockey-mom-driving-the-mini-van-to-practice coat. It’s a type of outerwear that has faded from the Canadian style consciousness, perhaps only remembered in passing as a mid-80s innovation when it was reported that the veteran Canadian designer went into bankruptcy last year (rest assured, her company was bought by silent investor, Eleventh Floor Apparel, and will be showing at Toronto’s LG Fashion Week later this month. Will we see a new and improved “La Parka”? Who knows).

As Canadiana nostalgia increases — in the 90s, we embraced the Inuit parka, in the 00s, it seems that we’re hungry for HBC blanket coats — I’m starting to re-evaluate “La Parka”. The suburban mom qualities are drifting, and I’m becoming attracted to it’s long shapeless silhouette (so Japanese!) and it’s deliberate re-imaging of the parka (which in the 80s, was a very outre winter statement to make).

“La Parka” is a bit of a technical innovation as well, with a double-layered coat system that reflected the fickle nature of Canadian weather. The inner coat was usually a wool duffle with a zip running down the front and complimented by “no tears fur” trim (mid-80s, and faux fur was still gaining acceptance as a viable real fur replacement). Lundstrom built relationships with the Northern Native community, and often had this inner coat accented with a decorative native motif designed by an inuit artist. The outer coat was nylon shell that was wind-proof, machine washable and could be removed and worn separately as a raincoat (and this was all before Mountain Equipment Co-Op). Isn’t this all so practical? When you look at it now, doesn’t it seem so current and relevant for today?

Yeah, i thought so too. Which is why “La Parka” is now on my list of Canadian vintage wants. If anyone has any eBay leads, holla atcha gurl.

(Pencil drawing scanned from Caroline Routh’s In Style: 100 Years of Canadian Fashion).

- Rea McNamara

Tags: "La Parka", Canadian vintage want, Linda Lundstrom, rea mcnamara