Photo: www.iwantigot.geekigirl.com In December 2009 The Bay introduced its new Hudson’s Bay Company collection – an aspirational Canadian lifestyle brand featuring fashion apparel, accessories, home decor and specialty seasonal items. To celebrate the launch of the collection, ten Canadian fashion designers were invited to create one-of-a-kind coats from a Hudson’s Bay Company Point Blanket. Comrags, Erdem Moralioglu, Harricana par Mariouche, Jeremy Laing, Klaxon Howl, Krane, Lida Baday, Pink Tartan, Smythe and Todd Lynn participated. Each was given a Point Blanket in the colour of their choice to create a contemporary coat. There were no limitations on the imagination and creativity the designers brought to the table. The resulting gallery-worthy showcase pieces included a vast range of styles, including: bomber jacket, three-quarter length men’s and women’s car coats, capelet, and a full-length fur-trimmed coat – including one silhouette with a bustle! A special order of 100 units of the Smythe design – a hooded swing coat – was made for sale at the 2010 Winter Olympic Superstore in Vancouver. The coat retailed for $695. Its success may help convince The Bay to once more consider producing blanket coats commercially.
-Via