This is a wonderful vintage 1970s parka made by the James Bay Coat & Blanket Corporation using beige coloured blanket wool with Inuit themed appliqués. James Bay is the southernmost part of Hudson’s Bay and was the site of the first Hudson’s Bay trading post in 1668. The James Bay Coat & Blanket Corporation was set up, I believe, during the 1960s, and employed Northern Aboriginal people to stitch and apply appliqués to the coats. This vintage 1970s parka is modelled somewhat on the traditional Inuit coat with a fur trimmed hood and straight cut body with mid thigh length. There is an applied patch pocket built onto either side, each decorated with a snowshoe appliqué and embroidered in yellow, green and orange wool stitching. The back has appliqués featuring a rider on a sled pulled by Husky dogs, a hunter with spear, next to an igloo, facing off with a polar bear The heavy duty vinyl zipper is configured for a man with the pull on the left, but this vintage 1970s parka could be worn by either a man or woman. This vintage 1970s parka is sized as a men’s size 40, so should fit either a medium size for men or maybe a large size for a woman and dependant on whether you need room to wear a sweater or jacket underneath - please check the following measurements for fit, taking the thickness of the wool of this vintage 1970s parka into account:
Shoulders: 17 1/2”
Sleeves: 24 1/2”
Sleeve Inseam: 17 1/2”
Chest: 43”
Waist: 41”
Overall length: 36"" measured at the back from the neck seam
This vintage 1970s parka is lined in a quilted black fabric for extra warmth. This vintage 1970s parka is in excellent condition with no pronounced wear, tear, staining or soiling - even the fur trim on the hood is full and fluffy, but there is a dangling piece of fur at the right front that probably would have attached to protect the neck when the hood is tied closed. There is nothing on the back of the dangling piece to attach it, but. this is minor and mentioned only in the interest of full disclosure - I’m sure that there is some way to deal with this.
This is a really nice example of a vintage 1970s parka / James Bay blanket coat - excellent quality in great shape, sure to be noticed!