Dressing for success
Americarna has returned to New Plymouth and Gary Jackson is getting into the spirit of things. But not because of his love of cars. While he loves hot rods and is restoring a car in his garage, Americarna is giving Jackson an opportunity to indulge his other passion – sewing.
The 63-year-old has been making clothes out of American flags. He’s made himself a shirt and daughter Stacey Riddick a 1950s-inspired dress.
It was spotted by a cousin, who came down from Morrinsville for the event, and she decided she wanted one of her own. Jackson won’t charge her, although he does want to join her on this evening’s car cruise through New Plymouth.
An upholsterer by trade, Jackson started his apprenticeship at a New Plymouth Ford dealership in 1971. ‘‘The boss said there’s a spare sewing machine and there’s the scrap bin. If you’ve got a spare moment jump on the machine,’’ Jackson said. So he taught himself to sew. ‘‘I just get pleasure from the creativity.’’
He made dresses for Riddick, now on her 30s, when she was a teenager and wanted to enter the Miss Taranaki competition. Then, years later, Jackson, wife Kresha, and Riddick got involved in rock’n’roll dancing and he started making their costumes. He also makes clothes for Riddick when she competes in Vintage Pin Up.
At the Whanganui Dazzle Ball, Jackson and Riddick, both wearing Jackson’s creations, won the best-dressed crown – one of many prizes he’s won for his outfits. ‘‘I was rapt.’’
Sometimes he uses patterns, other times he just makes it up, he said. ‘‘I get ideas off the internet, Pinterest.’’
Jackson is now thinking of making vintage clothes to sell and is working on a Facebook page, he said.
‘‘I have a name for it – Dolls and Dudes.’’