tour 4 of 8
Kayak clothing from Greenland
Sealskin sprayshirt (akuilisaq)
'I think they look much better, those
of sealskin ... much more genuine.' (Member of the Kayak
Club Nuuk, 1999)
This
sprayshirt of harp seal skin was made by Louisa Reimer from
Ilulissat, and bought from her in July 2000 by Hans Kristian Olsen,
who wore it for training and
competitions.
Because of
its size and the structure of the skin, harp seal is the preferred
material for making kayak clothing. To make it waterproof, the skin
is plucked free of hair, leaving the dark outer layer, the
epidermis, intact. Certain substances are first rubbed on to loosen
the hair, making it easier to remove. Traditionally, ashes were
widely used. Today, Greenlandic seamstresses use a variety of
substances according to personal preference, including soda,
scouring powder and baking
mixtures.
At the lower
edge, where the drawstrings are placed, sprayshirts and
tuiliks (hooded jackets)
are carefully hemmed. Many seamstresses use a running stitch here,
taking care not to make the stitches too small or too close to each
other, ensuring that the drawstrings can be smoothly
tightened.
Other
Views: Bibiane 'Arnaq'
Isaksen from Qaqortoq sewing a sprayshirt of dehaired harp seal
skin. Nanortalik, July 2001.