Local Designer Spotlight: Aparent Clothing
You can throw hoodies on over jeans and under snowboard jackets. They’re undeniably comfortable and in Revelstoke, they’re acceptable at most places you go. Aparent Clothing is a brand that started in Revelstoke and specializes in this style.
Their product is on the higher-end of the spectrum. Each one is unique and they have a long sport-fit rather than the regular baggy style. The hoodies are hand-made in Canada and get the eco-tick, made with some vintage-upcycled fabric.
The Revelstoke Mountaineer chatted with designer Melanie Parent about who the hoodies appeal to and their price-point.
Revelstoke Mountaineer: How would you describe Revelstoke’s style?
Melanie Parent: There’s so many different type of people that come and goes it’s hard to say if Revy has a particular style.
The first thing that comes to mind is Muck boots – ha! – you can definitely tell who lives in Revelstoke by looking at their shoes!
RM: What’s the story behind the Aparent name?
MP: I was looking for a name for a very long time. One day I was talking to a stranger who suggested using my name for my brand and he came up with Apparent.
I quite liked it but there was already a clothing company called Apparent on Facebook so I didn’t pursue it. The name came up again 6 months later through a friend so this time I went for it and I just took a “P” out. My last name is Parent so it work. All my creations are made by a Parent – ha ha!
What is it about Aparent that appeals to people?
Aparent appeals to people for the different styles, the fit and the sewing quality.
They also like that each pieces are a one of a kind artistic creation so they know no one else will be walking down the street with the same sweater.
Who are your customers?
I have a wide range of customers but mainly between 21 to 40 years old.
[They are] mostly outdoor people and artists who are into taking care of our planet and like to buy locally made.
Hoodies appear to be your main focus. At $150–$200 they’re on the higher end of the pricing scale. Why is that?
My hoodies are on the higher end pricing scale for a few different reasons.
First of all, the material prices are quite high as I can’t buy in large quantities yet due to the size of my business.
All the hoodies are sewn in Canada with Canadian wages. All my creations are one of a kind, which is more time consuming to create each piece.
I also buy all my supplies (labels, thread, hang tags) in Canada making the cost higher.
The prices vary on the amount of time it takes to make a hoody. For example my $200 zip-up hoodies are quilted (made of two layers of cloth held in place by lines of stitching), which I have to draw each lines on the fabric by hand and then stitch it before I even start making the hoody so some of those creations can take up to eight hours from start to finish product.
Is Aparent doing anything new that we can get excited about?
Yes! I just started making totes made of upcycled fabric (unwanted unused materials that people discarded).
They are only available at the Revelstoke market at this point but will eventually be available on my website.
I’m also getting ready for summer and I got some new exciting fabric made of hemp and recycled polyester which is lighter weight, drapes beautifully and get softer as you wash it!
Is there a sustainability philosophy behind the brand?
The idea behind Aparent was to create a clothing company in a healthier way then most brands out there.
[That includes] buying local to help reduce my carbon footprint, operating locally overseeing of environmental impacts and assuring safe and fair working conditions for our communities.
My top priority is quality sewing to make your garment last and create hoodies that don’t go out of style so you can wear it for years to come.
Check it out: www.aparentclothing.com
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