After roughly 40 hours of meticulous work spread out over almost four weeks, Fort SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 Michel Labine has successfully recreated a traditional M茅tis capote.

The garment has already been turning heads around town and online.

SA国际影视传媒淪ince I started this, a lot of people have come back to me and said they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know they were that popular and they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know they came in all different colours,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� Labine said soon after finishing the project. SA国际影视传媒淢ost of the people that you talk to didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know what they are.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think that the motivation [to make it] was to keep the tradition alive.SA国际影视传媒�

Capotes are knee-length parkas that have been worn by LabineSA国际影视传媒檚 M茅tis forebears since the 1800s, when they were first created by trappers who were looking for new ways to stay warm in the frigid winter months. They are fashioned out of wool HudsonSA国际影视传媒檚 Bay blankets, and feature a range of decorations and customizations, depending on the tastes and requirements of the owner.

SA国际影视传媒淎s soon as the HudsonSA国际影视传媒檚 Bay blankets came to Canada and they started the trading, the M茅tis trappers found that they could use the blankets effectively to make a nice warm jacket or capote, and they started doing that,SA国际影视传媒� Labine said.

He started with a red and black blanket SA国际影视传媒� just like the one his fatherSA国际影视传媒檚 capote was made from SA国际影视传媒� which cost nearly $1,000.

After buying the blanket, he put it through the washing machine and dryer so that he could wash the finished product without shrinking it. When that was done, he took the necessary measurements, and prepared to cut the blanket.

He found some information on capote designs in books in the library, as well as online, but had to make careful alterations to account for his large stature.

SA国际影视传媒淚 had to take the pattern and extrapolate to my size,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 started laying out the pattern on it, and I was really reluctant to make the first cut because I wanted the tag from the HudsonSA国际影视传媒檚 Bay blanket and the stripes to be on the front.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted to make sure that when I finished it, it looked good.SA国际影视传媒�

LabineSA国际影视传媒檚 finished capote features decorative wool stitching, and a large hood, which can be fastened around the neck with two ties.

He said itSA国际影视传媒檚 comfortable, if a little cumbersome.

SA国际影视传媒淚 thought it would be really itchy, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 very nice and comfortable to wear,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 surprised how heavy it is.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 very, very happy with the final product. It looks good for somebody my size.SA国际影视传媒�

He plans to save his capote for SA国际影视传媒渄ress occasions,SA国际影视传媒� such as a Dec. 16 Elders dinner, where he will let his friends and neighbours SA国际影视传媒渉ave a closer lookSA国际影视传媒� at his creation. He also plans to wear the garment to any winter festivals and dog races he attends this season.

This was far from LabineSA国际影视传媒檚 first ambitious undertaking as an artist and craftsperson. He has already created several other traditional garments, and last year, earned a Guinness World Record for creating the worldSA国际影视传媒檚 largest pair of snowshoes.

He has some interesting ideas for his next project. He plans to make a capote for his son and daughter. He also intends to make a pair of traditional moose-hide boots, which will match well with his own capote and a favourite wolf-fur hat.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen ISA国际影视传媒檓 done, itSA国际影视传媒檒l all be part and parcel,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檒l have the whole setup up to demonstrate the fact that ISA国际影视传媒檓 M茅tis.SA国际影视传媒�