Woolrich celebrates the iconic Artic Parka, tracing its origins and rediscovering the place where it all started: Alaska. The Northwestern State is full of uncharted territory and unfamiliar to many, so to get a better insight into the region, Woolrich enlisted the help of artist Gia Seo. Gia is a first-generation Korean-American born and raised in Bethel, Alaska, now living in New York; along with her partner, Joshua Melendez, she revisits the vast snowscape of her home state, sharing old memories, hiking through the snow, and finding peace in the natural beauty and quiet of the rural surroundings.
„My parents immigrated from Korea to the US. I grew up in an intimate community, rich in Native indigenous culture that was constantly married into my Korean heritage“ explains Gia.
„I miss everything about Alaska. The friendliness of the people, Yup’ik culture, snow-machining to the Bluffs, eating dried salmon sticks… I grew up cross country skiing on the tundra behind my house.
I still hear the Alaskan nature’s silence ringing in my ears if I get up early enough in the morning in New York. My childhood memories really overwhelm me with gratitude and longing for simpler days.“
Gia, who like many, refers to Alaska as ‚The Last Frontier‘, loves the state’s rugged and untamed wilderness. For nature enthusiasts, Alaska has an allure unlike any other.As a key element of her fit in Alaska, Gia highlights the importance of fleece-lined pockets to protect hands from extreme colds, which is why it’s no surprise that this is her favourite Arctic Parka’s feature.
Woolrich’s parka history dates back to the ’70s when it first invented its Arctic Parka. Since then the brand has revamped its parka pieces, adding more refined details,and varying lengths — all the while remaining high-performance and lightweight, and becoming one of the most recognizable pieces to date.
Parka’s padding is entirely made in real down, while the hood’s freeze-proof ruff is used for its extreme resistance to low temperatures. The sleeves cuffs prevent air from entering and the wide pockets are closed by a button. The upper ‘hand-warmer’ pockets are lined in a cold-proof cloth, that makes the use of gloves unnecessary.
Inside the Parka jacket there is a further waterproof pocket, and a special drawstring fastening keeps the jacket close to the body, to keep the cold outside. Finally, the front two-way zipper is protected by a stuffed hem.
The Parka is an undeniable winter staple that has cemented its place as a protective, functional and comfortable must-have all around the world. With its roots tied to the Arctic archipelagos off of Canada, the parka was born out of necessity and survival against the freezing, wet weather. From being worn by intrepid explorers to its uniform status as workwear attire, and now an essential in our modern-day wardrobes, the parka has weaved its way through all moments of outerwear. Not to mention its cultural milestones, from a staple in the mod-grunge movement in the ’60s and indie in the ’90s to its place in US street and hip-hop culture in the ’80s.
No longer just for exploration, the parka has found its place in urban life, reaching new consumers every season.
