Coatz + Racquet Society + Tuck Shop Co.

COATZ and Tuck Shop collaborated to bring you a special Spring/Summer capsule collection: Racquet Society.  LA based Designer/Artist Anne McCaddon sources vintage textiles to produce the coolest spring jacket we ever did see. Leaning on Tuck Shop's fascination with all things local, designer Lyndsay Borschke designed Racquet Society patches that adorn the jackets.

We asked Coatz founder and designer Anne McCaddon a few questions...

Q: What is Coatz?

A: Coatz is an artist edition of handmade coats. Being a painter and printmaker, Coatz is an extension of my art practice. Every coat uses the same original drafted pattern, but explores different combinations of fabrics and trim. I treat them like three-dimensional collages, and because each coat is one of a kind, they are titled and/or numbered in a series.

  

 

Q: What are Coatz made from?

A: Coatz are made from carefully selected vintage African textiles, specifically cotton strip weave fabric. Most of the textiles I source are from the Dogon people of Mali in West Africa. Each textile showcases original patterns dyed with indigo using resist dye patterns by African artisans. I look for specific qualities in the fabric and prioritize age, originality, and texture.

 

                  

 

Q: When did you start and where did the inspiration come from?

 A: I started in April of 2016, with one coat, The Seeing Eye Coat. The garment design was inspired by combining the traditional painters coat and the Japanese haori (a traditional hip length kimono-like jacket that is worn open.) The first four Coatz I made were sold to good friends, and the interest grew from there. I decided to ride the wave. 

The process of creating Coatz mirrors the attraction to vintage textiles, pattern, and collage I use in my art practice. My recent paintings incorporate prints from vintage novelty fabrics and travel goods and combine painted paper collage as a juxtaposing frame element. 

Also, the designs I find in these vintage African textiles are familiar because I have taught classes in the art of Shibori (a Japanese resist dyeing technique). Certain indigo dyeing techniques are used all over the world which is why you will find similar patterns in African, Japanese, and Indian textiles.

 

              

 

Q: How and where are Coatz made?

A: Coatz are handmade by me in Los Angeles, California.

 

                   

 

Q: Back to the titles, I would like to know more about the Adieu Coat which we have in our Toronto shop. How did you come up with that name?

A: If you look carefully at the right sleeve of the Adieu Coat there is a linear image of a hand. The hand seemed to me as if it was waving, so I came up with a title playing off of “hello and goodbye”. That name manifested itself quickly because as soon as I made it, Tuck Shop ordered it, so it was the perfect title in the end.

                   

Q: Tell us about the Racquet Society Collection - where did the idea originate?

 A: The Racquet Society collection is a collaboration with my husband who is a tennis pro and collector and dealer of historical tennis attire and accessories. His company is called Racquet Society. One day, I came across the sport trim and we envisioned together a Sportcoatz (ha!) out of solid indigo and cream vintage textiles with collectible vintage tennis patches. Next came the idea to hand embroider Racquet Society on the back of the coat reminiscent of vintage jerseys. That’s what piqued Tuck Shop’s interest, and the collaboration was born. Instead of hand embroidering the back, we used wool letters for a varsity sport look and Tuck Shop created the “City of Neighbourhoods” Racquet Society patch for the front of the coat, which showcase 4 cities: Toronto, Muskoka, Rosedale and Summerhill. And voilà!     

            

 

Q: Plans for the future?

A: I’ll just say I was given a generous gift of antique embroidered Indian textiles, and have been collecting avocado skins... Stay tuned!