History, Fashion, Design: Parker McIntosh Historical Tailor/Historical Reproductions

I have watched Parker at many SMOC events, which he usually attends dressed in his own period menswear, including top hats and canes, all made by him. I have also heard him (the very youngest speaker) talk about researching, searching out vintage fabric and tailoring the clothing and accessories here.

He is a young man of many talents, and I was very fortunate to interview him, April 4, at his home, where the magical design process takes place, and where most of his collections are stored. He enjoys collecting and making, both which he began early in his life. He says he always knew he wanted to make things and began with historical schooners like the Bluenose, looking at models, then visually taking them apart, making his own patterns and constructing from them. He wanted his mom, Melanie, to make elaborate Halloween costumes. He wore pith helmets and adored Sherlock Holmes. He loved Woodworking classes and says that wood can be more forgiving than wool. He made a series of Harry Potter like wands, some of which he sold for a buyer's Harry Potter themed wedding. Entrepreneur, Historian, Collector, Tailor, all round Maker, he is a man of many talents. He even sources his vintage material, hand dyes and even adds adjustments to make items easier to wear today. He added a loop to his vintage ties so that they can be added to the top shirt button, instead of having to be hand tied.

Parker recreates and lives history. For five days a year, for Brigade Days, at the Fort Langley Historic Site, he lives in a tent to show how life was during the Fur Trade days. He created all the clothing, equipment. including tent poles and snow shoes and many other artifacts that provide an accurate picture of the times. He volunteers at Hastings Sawmill Museum and recently helped organize a very popular Easter Egg hunt there. He says that is important to teach history, especially Canadian history, and to make it accessible through authentic period costume and setting reproduction. History, economics, politics, culture, geography...so much is revealed through fashion and the photos, illustrations and patterns that go hand in hand with it.

Parker has a collection of early Canadian songs, but also loves Gilbert and Sullivan, especially the Mikado, and I can see him designing and staging for musicals. He says that it all starts with history and then everything comes together through that.

What shapes an amazing talent like this? Family interest in history and travel and lots of nurturing of special interests from a very young age. Mom, Melanie wanted to be an illustrator. She is an Instructor of Fashion Merchandising/Marketing, as well as a collector of vintage sewing machines. It is all in the family, the history, the collecting, the learning and the making. I asked them to pose together, holding favorite pieces. Melanie is holding a 1956 Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine and Parker is holding a tailor's square, antique naturally.