Fashion Review: The Archives – Inquiries of Oddities by George Parkinson
Picture yourself in a library, reading a classic novel and dressed up for a nice evening out. What are you wearing?
If you’re lucky enough to know George Parkinson, you’re wearing a mixture of antique oranges, pinks and teals – which is exactly how he portrays an academic woman’s night out in his The Archive: Inquires of Oddities show.
Comprised of shimmering fabrics, George didn’t scrimp when it came to his designs. Known for his meticulous work and quality, George produced a line for a special night out which is easily worked into a woman’s work wear wardrobe.
The story as to how George came about these designs is amazing – but I’m going to make you wait because you need to know that George’s clothes were so cute and comfy in-person that his models were all trying to sneak a sample, as well as women from a variety of age groups. These pieces are classic with a little trend popped in here and there.
“Print pants are a relatable trend and they don’t have to be $1,200 pants,” George said as he went on to explain that this line has a nicer fabric and a higher price point because of it ($180-$280 for a dress). But the cuts are great enough that George will customize the fit and use different fabrics for customers wanting the look.
“You can [do these styles] in an affordable color and wash and wear,” he said. And that customization is George’s specialty. If you want it to fit, George is your man,
Although the line wows on the runway, the comments from those who actually wore the clothes were just as impressive. Oftentimes models have a hard time walking, wearing or even getting into designer clothes, but George always has the customer in mind. As he constructs clothes he is thinking about comfort and wearability. He then goes in to add the details to set the piece apart, such as box pleats on sleeves. All his pieces include blind-faced hems, meaning that there is no top-stitching to interfere with the line, thus giving that extra polished look.
Having met the brains behind The Honey Shoe a few months ago, George started to create his line after feeling some frustration for his mom and little sister who wanted sophisticated clothes, but couldn’t seem to find much locally. He then talked to women to find out what they liked, researched mid-century abstract paintings for the color palette and the rest is visually-stunning history.
To say this line isn’t personal would be misleading, even if it wasn’t at first apparent. George’s discovery during the line’s construction was emotionally intriguing as I listened to him tell the story of the clothes’ journey:
As George researched he was drawn to colors and looks. For any designer, the day of the look book shoot is stressful and busy and for George I’m sure it was no different But before the models lined up and the make-up was done, a few older women wanted to share in the joy of the shoot. As they approached George’s work they pointed to the clothes and noticed that they were George’s Great-Grandmother’s favorite colors. Coming from a long line of artists, it seems George got the right genes, but it that wasn’t enough, after selecting a chair for the shoot it was discovered to be a family heirloom as well.
Coincidence? Possibly, but there is no doubt in my mind that George’s love of community, quality clothing and people are traits that runs in his family. He learned from the greats the value of quality and respect, which you’ll see in his current line.
The Archive: Inquires of Oddities collection will stun you with teals, golds and pinks. Intertwined patterns will delight your senses and the fits will last your lifetime and remind you that with George, the client is everything.
The Line: All the clothes are good quality and made to last. I wanted to bring a fresh, new interpretation of daywear to the culture here.
Inspiration: The idea comes from the show’s venue – the McCune Mansion. I went last November and was blown away by the architecture. It was old, but looked brand new.
Utah’s Current Fashion Industry: Being from here, I know there are really talented people trying to make a splash. I’m not sure it is the right time, but people are starting to look back to their communities They are buying local cheese and eggs. If we can think of clothes the same way we can start producing and really grow.
Hopes: I want to see growth of infrastructure. In Utah you are not just a designer. You’re also a seamstress, a pattern maker, a marketer [etc.]. It is overwhelming. If the infrastructure was here, imagine the type of talent we could see…It will take time and investment, but it can happen.
What’s Next for George: I’ll be doing similar things in the future, and I’ll continue to design locally. I want to stay involved in the industry because you
always need to know the standards. I hope to work here…and have my own line [at the same time].
Buy the Line: The pieces can’t be altered due to the finishing process, however, if the size fits, check them out on George’s website. In the future, you’ll also be able to request the cuts in a daily wear fabric.
More on George: Check out our interview with George.
One Last Thing: You’ll want to check out The Honey Shoe Boutique as well!
