One of the first things people ask me when I tell them I make my own parkas is, “Where do you buy sewing supplies in Iqaluit?” The answer: Baffin Electronics. Now don’t let the name fool you; Baffin Electronics has been catering to Iqaluit’s seamstresses and tailors for over 15 years (and yes, they do also sell electronics). Read on to see photos of my fourth parka creation, and find out the who, what, where, and how much of parka sewing supplies.
Parka N°4: This one’s for me!
Parka: Handmade by yours truly
Hat: Burton
Sunglasses: The Jerry Cans
Mitts: Handmade from wolf fur (not by me)
Jeans: American Eagle
Boots: Cougar Boots
All photos by Ornab Momin (my brother!).
Enjoying a warm spring day in my parka.
Yes, after sewing a parka for everyone (read: my boyfriend) and their dogs (read: my dogs), I finally finished one for myself! A simple pullover like Justin’s, but with a few twists. First, the jacket’s exterior is made of Gore-Tex, a high-grade, waterproof, windproof fabric. Second, this parka features my very favourite hood design, called kukukpaa. It’s a pointy, elven design that is both adorable and functional! From what I’ve been told, the kukukpaa hood and back must be made from one single piece of fabric. This minimizes waste and more importantly, because there is no seam between the hood piece and the back piece, makes the entire parka resistant to tearing. Just in case anyone wants to grab you by the kukukpaa if you fall through the ice.
Hard to see in these photos, but proper kukukpaa have no seam between the hood and the back.
Pocket detail.
Coyote ruff around the hood.
Back detail: Reflective tape is a must for visibility!
Baffin Electronics
The Who and the Where
If the words “hallofil” and “space tech” don’t mean anything to you, then you should probably pay the folks at Baffin Electronics a visit. John and Sue, the store’s owners, are all-round sewing stars, though they each have their areas of expertise (sewing machine repair for John, quilting for Sue).
Baffin Electronics, 1557 Federal Road.
The What: Glossary of Parka-Sewing Terminology
A Nunavut parka is generally made out of a few layers of different fabrics, namely:
Commander: A poly-cotton blend that is wind- and water-resistant. It’s used on the exterior of a jacket.
Gore-Tex: Brand-name, high-tech fabric that is waterproof and windproof. It can be used as the exterior shell in lieu of Commander.
Thinsulate: Also called “space tech,” it’s silver on one side and white on the other. This thermal material is used as interlining, meaning it is sewn between the outer fabric and the lining.
Hollofil: A polyester fibre that provides the insulation and lining of the parka. It comes in varying weights and styles.
Winter parkas are usually made up of three layers: Commander (outer shell), Thinsulate (interlining), and hollofil (lining). In my experience, it is rare to find these items in Southern sewing stores. I do, however, regularly buy trim and other sewing accessories while travelling!
Trim on display at Baffin Electronics.
The How Much: Cost Breakdown of a DIY Parka
Spoiler alert: DIY parkas are cheap. Prices below are correct as of October 27, 2014, based on Baffin Electronics’ quote:
Commander: $15.95/m
Gore-Tex: $24.98/m
Thinsulate: $12.98/m
6 oz. hollofil: $15.98/m
8 oz. hollofil: $17.98/m
8 oz. hollofil with built-in windproofing: $29.23/m
Rows of rolls of Commander at Baffin Electronics.
On average, you will need two to three metres of fabric for each layer (two is generally enough). That means that Justin’s parka cost about $94 to make, not including the trim, cuffs, and thread (throw in a generous $20) and the fur (add in another $50-75 for half a coyote pelt). My red parka cost a bit more, because I used Gore-Tex, coming to a whopping total of $114 (plus another $70 for the fur and other details). Yes, that’s right: a winter coat that will keep you warm at -40C but will put you out only $170-200*. Compare that to Canada Goose prices and you have another reason to do it yourself.
*Note that this is just the cost of materials and does not include payment for the pattern design, labour, and skills required to make a parka.
Baffin Electronics is open Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 18:00 and Saturdays from 08:30 to 17:00. And they’re open through lunch!
Just give me a minute while I pick my jaw up off the floor.. Not only is the design striking & stylish the cost breakdown is actually a pleasant surprise!
I would gladly pay $200 for a custom fur-lined parka. The cost is really negligible compared to what’s available from MEC, TNF, Columbia or the other usual suspects.
Now if only I had the sewing skills.. 😉
Thanks Martina! If you don’t want to sew one yourself, there are many awesome seamstresses in Iqaluit/Nunavut who can sew one up for you. Of course, it won’t cost $200 anymore, because of the labour and skill. Totally worth it, though!
Do you have an idea of how much it would cost?
Custom-made parkas really vary in price depending on the seamstress! You’re looking at anywhere between $300-1000+.
Beautiful parka! I’d love to make one too but I’m having trouble finding a pattern. Can that be found at Baffin electronics too? Where did you get you kukukpaa pattern?
Thank you Sarah! I took the parka course at Tukisigiarvik, and the teachers helped me make two patterns. Patterns are a bit hard to come by, so you will have to ask someone you know if they will either help you make a pattern, or give you one of their patterns. Not a very easy answer…I will write a post about parka patterns in the future!
the thinsulate that you used, was it the thinsulate ultra or thinsulate platinum j250 which would be more expensive
Not sure! There is only one type of Thinsulate at Baffin Electronics, and it doesn’t have any other label or information. It’s probably the pretty standard Thinsulate, no the platinum.
Wow. I have loved reading your posts and learning about how a group of you have been making parkas, learning from the masters. Is there any chance you would consider some of your lady experts and coming to Calgary to offer a couple of weekend course on making a parka? I’m sure I could collect enough people to make it a wonderful experience if we got organized. One of my dreams is to learn how to make an authentic parka from someone who truly knows the art. Sadly I can’t afford the several months to step away from work and live up there (tempting as it is!). You’ve done incredibly well for a new sewer. Well done!
Hi Jane! Thank you for reading and commenting. You should contact Elisapi at Tukisigiarvik. If there is funding, it could be a really great opportunity for the parka class instructors to share their knowledge. Can you send me an email? [email protected] and I will give you her email address.
Wow love your parka. My husband and i are consideri g moving with our 4 kids up there in the next 2 years. To learn how to make a parka wiuld be really cost efficient since there would be 6 of us i would have to cloth. Thanks for the tips.