Traditional Vests and Jackets from Carol's Boutique

Traditional Vests and Jackets

The vests and jackets in this section are all made using traditional patterns. The vests are with the Tibetan Panel Coat design, a sleeveless coat that is said to be the only truly exclusively Tibetan pattern. The jackets are with the traditional Turkish coat pattern. Both of these patterns are available from Folkwear. Click on the images to see more! Remember, all are one of a kind original pieces.

Prices

I am not listing prices any more. Make me an offer. Base it on what you think the piece is worth, what you might expect to pay for it, and then temper that with what you are able to give me for it. I will let you know if it works for me. I also do custom orders. see The Tradition of Multipiece Clothing

	Ruby Size large to extra large The wool fabrics in this vest are feather soft. It is sized generously large, and it is totally reversible with beautiful cotton prints. Click on it to see the back and inside.
	Green Huntress Size medium Flowing soft velvet in shades of dark green, set off by a wonderful tiger velvet print. The inside is extravagant with lightweight silks and brocade, and the vest can be reversed if you like.
	Deep Purple Size medium large Yes, men can wear my vests! At least some of them. Click on it to see the rest, it is reversible too. That is a soft felted wool in deep purple in the front section.
	Blue Velvet Size medium to med. large. Velvet and vintage, light blues that have a crystal quality, as if light is dancing through them. Inside is one color, a pale green poly-silk satin.
	Lily Aquamarine Size medium large. Named for the vintage fabric in the side panels, a lovely aquamarine with lily patterns in gold. This vest has the classic stand up Tibetan style shoulders. Cotton print lining.
	Rainbow Bridge Medium to med. large This long vest in wool will keep you warm and cozy. Rainbow colors are set off by the deep charcoal and gray of a stormy sky. The lining is a deep clear prism violet silk like poly, there is an interlining of fleece to add absolute luxury and warmth. No pockets, to preserve the clean line of the shape.

Lavenders Blue

small or medium

Two vests in one, completely reversible, this wool shortie is lined with cotton prints and a special batik with a design that is like flowing water.

Big Moon

Size medium

A short wool vest with a big moon on the back. It is lined with cotton prints, size is medium, it has the squared off Tibetan shoulders, framed in velveteen.

Rose Lady

Size medium

A very short vest with an interesting inside too. It can be reversed. the outside is a combination of a lovely hand woven wool, velvets, and a brocade print. Full, dramatic stand up Tibetan style shoulders.

	Heather Medium to med. large This is a very long, very substantial vest with genuine presence you could wear around the homestead on chilly winter days. Equally great for going out in style. It features an interesting heavy cotton brocade (shows mostly in the back), and a beautiful Scottish woven woolen in blue-grays. Can be reversed, there are additional pockets on the inside. (The darker sections are actually a deeper shade of an earth green, not black.)
	Blue Flower Medium small to med. large A long wool vest featuring panels of hand embroidered Pakistani shawl pieces. Cotton lining. Something very cozy and at the same time elegant.
	Shogun Medium to med. large A nice, simple, all wool vest in earthy shades that could be worn by a man or a woman. Beautifully lined with interesting cotton prints.
	Aurora medium to medium large A long woolen vest, in reds and rose pinks. Inspired by and unusual aurora, which was red, and which this is named for. Cotton flannel in the lining.
	Red Tibetan Small to Medium This is one of the first vests I made using the traditional Tibetan pattern. With some metallic brocades in the side panels, this one is closer to the traditional colors for a Tibetan vest, it could be the basis for your custom order.

Earth Tones

medium

Lovely shades of brown wool, medium weight, to keep you warm and beautiful in the cooler months. Lining all cotton, features a dragonfly print. This is not for the coldest weather, it is lighter, for the transitional seasons.

Fall Colors #3

Small

Black and deep red wool, a cotton print lining, it has pockets. features hand embroidered Pakistani shawl pieces in the front and back top.

Wild Red Rose

Medium to med. large

Warm winter coat in black wool, featuring hand embroidered pieces from Pakistani shawls. Similar to but larger, longer and heavier than Fall Colors #3, above.

The Tradition of Multipiece Clothing

The following is a quote from Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das: "The Buddha warned followers of the danger of taking too much from the environment and told them not to pollute lakes and streams, not to hoard wealth and resources. Some 2,500 years ago, monks were encouraged to give something back to nature by planting a tree each month. The noble born Buddha set an example of simplicity for his monastic disciples. He often wore a robe stitched together from different pieces of cast-off clothing, an example still symbolized today by the multipieced yellow monastic robe of the fully ordained monk and nun."

During the time of Lord Buddha, monks had to wander about looking for discarded pieces of materials for use as robes. It was a hard life collecting enough pieces of cloth to make a robe, looking wherever they could find it, even the rubbish-heap, cemetery, and streets. Lord Buddha, realizing the difficulty, gave permission for the monks to accept gifts of cloth. Making their own robes became a kind of practice that trained monks to depend on themselves, to live in simple way, being content with basic needs.

Patchwork was not unusual in ancient Buddhism. Altar hangings have been found in the Cave of a Thousand Buddha's in India. One is estimated to be from the 6th to 9th century AD and is made of squares and rectangles of silk, possibly from torn pieces of travelers clothing left as votives. A painting done in the 14th century depicts a Taoist figure wearing a coat of patches. Moslem religious leaders have also worn patchwork garments.

In keeping with this tradition, Carol has been gathering the woolens in her vests as well as other fabrics from used and vintage sources. The woolens in particular are for the most part taken from coats that have been used. The fabric is sound, but the coat may have been discarded because of a stain, a tear, or being out of style. Carol first takes them completely apart, then washes the pieces in the washing machine in warm water with environmentally friendly soap. Other sources include yard sales and things given to her by other people. The linings also have some re-cycled fabrics, but they also include new cotton prints of the kinds that typically are used for quilting.

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