Blade Runner Deckard's coat fabric

[Risu]

Can anybody point me in the right direction for fabric for Deckard's trench coat? I'm in the very early stages of making one, but I didn't get a whole lot of detail out of the movie or publicity stills I've seen, so I'm a bit stuck. I heard Abbyshot actually did a good job of matching the fabric of the original coat, so if anybody here owns one of their coats and can toss in their 2 cents I'd really appreciate it.

 

[Risu]

Nobody has an Abbyshot coat?

 

[kane2122]

Risu, the original screen used coat was made from egyptian cotton, and heavily weathered by the costume department, the information is on the 5 disc set where Knode and Kaplan discuss the designs and inspiration for this iconic coat.
As for the Abbyshot and Magnoli trench coats, the material has gone through a few variations in its time!......Mr Webber has pictures of his complete deckard costume here on the RPF, the coat he has is a early Magnoli version If I recall correctly? this looks like its made from a fairly heavy wool mix? a later version of the coat looks like its made from a heavy cotton, you can see this material in closeup on Magnolis site! As for Abbyshot her V2 coat seems to have got the material spot on! along with the collar, a lightweight half lined cotton that crumples and hangs like Deckards original coat! Also check the Costumebase and Hellocosplay coats on ebay very cheap! Hope that helps Risu?

Kane2122..................
......................

 

[Risu]

Thanks for the info. I'm really just looking for fabric, not to buy a finished coat. I wouldn't want to waste the pattern I've got.

 

[kane2122]

Risu, well if your going to use your own pattern I would go for cotton, either bought by the metre, or use egyptian cotton sheets! easily found easy to dye! two to three layers of cotton sandwhiched together would give the necessary thickness, and allow the coat to hang right and crumple with wear. You could also line the coat halfway from the top to the waist with a slightly heavier fabric? this would give the coat thickness but still allow it to move and crumple like Deckards! I have a cotton lightweight dressing gown that hangs and creases up like the screen coat, in fact it would be an easy and cheap task to modify this into a Deckard trenchcoat, cheap too!
Off course this all depends on what use you have in mind for the coat? an occasional wearing at conventions or more day to day wear?

The Blade Runner costume department didn't have such a problem, they used various coats on set, depending on the specific scene, lightweight version for stunt work, more detailed for closeup!

Kane2122

 

[MrSinistar]

I didn't know the coat was made out of Egyptian cotton. Learn something everyday, lol.

I remember discussions about the actual color of the coat. Do we happen to know what it is or is it still a mystery?

 

[Risu]

The Egyptian cotton note might help me track some fabric down, but I haven't had any luck finding anything even close in the LA garment district. (of course the place has so many shops it could take months to get through them all.)

The coat would be more for everyday wear, as I plan to give it a shorter collar like Magnoli's so it ends at the chin and I'd like it to be fairly light weight so I could wear it in warmer weather, as I don't see myself moving anywhere with nice cold weather in the immediate future.

 

[sarahcoles]

I like those Egyptian Coats. Men do look good in it

 

[kane2122]

MrSinistar......its a russet colour, pictures were on the Profiles in History site and screenused.com when up for auction, think theres still a photo over on bladezone of the coat before the Christies auction. All the info on the coat is on the the five disc set.

Risu try department stores or something like bed bath and beyond? for large king size egyptian cotton sheets, good size and quality for making into the trench, I've used these before myself!

What's a Egyptian coat?...... :confused :confused

 

[Risu]

Sheets definitely aren't thick enough for the coat. I don't really want to do the whole multiple layers of fabric thing, I'd prefer to keep it straightforward.

 

[sarahcoles]

Yup agree with you mate

 

[kane2122]

Simple!.....look for a Oxford weave pattern with over 600 threads per inch or more, that will give a strong heavy material to work with, without having to double up! takes to dyeing well too!

 

[Risu]

For anybody who's currently looking, Jo-Anne's has a fabric right now that's a cotton twill, on the lighter end of the twill spectrum, and it's a pretty great color match to Deckard's coat. I plan to pick some up from my store in the near future.

 

[Steampunch]

Gotta keep your coat dry...

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