Materials and Making

Psychedelic patterns were one of the most distinctive design styles popular in the 1960s, and certainly the boldest in appearance. All manner of clothing, accessories and textiles were painted or printed with such patterns, as well as furnishing fabrics, wallpapers and packaging. Some of the most successful designs were reserved for women's silk or rayon dresses, or for the new shiny PVC coated raincoats and hats. The swirling eye-catching graphics made simple garments into a canvas and the wearers into human "works of art".

This coat which is on view in the Gallery of Costume has a bold stylised floral pattern in bright yellow, red, green and lilac; and it has a matching wide-brimmed hat. It was made by Pakamac and retailed by Polly of Piccadilly where the donor bought it as a teenager in a mid sixties sale. It was quite an expensive garment, well-made by Pakamac, with heat-sealed seams for weather-proofing. Cheaper raincoats were made of pieces stitched together after placticising which allowed moisture to seep in.

Full item descriptions:

"coat" [1970.183], Pakamac

Related Themes:

High Street Fashion
1960s Fashion