Photo courtesy of Tanna Peters
Story last updated at 8/31/2011 - 2:46 pm
JUNEAU - "My job is to make messes," says Bridget Milligan, the owner, designer and seamstress behind the Kodiak Coat Company.
Her job seems more about making high-quality handmade outerwear, so I was a bit skeptical of these first words out of her mouth upon entering the Kodiak Coat workspace. Looking around at the yards of fleece, half-made coats and piles of dyed wool, I thought that for a creative space it was fairly neat and tidy. With her daughter Jasmine Allen around to keep the business running smoothly and assistant Dani Byers at her side, it turns out Milligan can both crank out coats and have time to make creative messes, which for her is where the fun is.
"I'd rather play and make things, but my job is to make coats," she says, slightly wistfully.
Milligan faces the quandary of almost every successful crafter-turned-pro: how to find time to experiment in between creating the money-earning staples. But with a little help she will unleash both a batch of new coats and new crafts this First Friday, as well as welcome jewelry artisan Angie Lawlar to her current storefront above Paradise Café.
Unlike Milligan's coats, which are created in bulk to a specific pattern perfected through 8 to 10 tries or more, each of her new purses and cozy accessories are one-of-a-kind and crafted from reused handbag hardware, up-cycled sweaters and the leftover leather scraps from her newest line of leather outerwear. Breathing a second life into pieces once abandoned by dying, felting and stitching gives her a place to play and creates a dynamic inventory for the store.
Jasmine Allen, always a supporter (and sporter) of her mom's work, quickly realized the potential in these new pieces. "If you purchase a Kodiak Coat they will last five or even 10 years, so you don't necessarily come back to the shop," she said. "We hope with these new pieces it will bring folks back to see what new creations we've made."
Also new to the store and the Juneau scene will be jewelry pieces by Angie Lawlar of steampunkfunk.etsy.com. Her handmade rings, necklaces, and bracelets for both men and women are made from up-cycled leather belts, old railroad nails, antique pocket watches and her own metalworking skills. Sound familiar? The ladies of Kodiak Coats specifically chose Angie's jewelry because it reflected the core values of the shop: quality, history and integrity. With a full stock of coats specifically created to last, it made sense to carry other repurposed items created to live a second life.
These crafters' ideals are the real deal. Over the hour I spent with them the twinkle in their eyes grew as they discussed swinging by the thrift store every day on the way home to find treasured pieces to reinvent, staying up all night from the excitement of creativity, carrying a notebook to fill at any moment, and bouncing new design ideas directly off customers.
To chat with Bridget Milligan or Angie Lawlar and to check out their "mess" (or lack thereof) come down this First Friday, Sept. 2 to 245 Marine Way and pick up some inspiration.
Tanna Peters is a crafter and designer from Juneau. View her latest creations at www.alaskacrafter.com. She may be reached at tanna.craft@gmail.com.
