Modern Kuspuk Ideas

There are literally a hundred styles of kuspuks and I love them all. But I've seen a few really cute ideas that I thought were worth sharing. Feel free to add your ideas to the list by commenting below!

Appliques or Patches on the Pocket: I saw a kussuq lady who made kuspuks for her daughters and on the pocket she had iron on patches. One little girl had a red parka with little farm animals on the pocket (a cow, pig, chicken). It was like a red barn with farm animals! A super cute way to combine Midwest living and Alaska. And then another girl had a cute little skull applique on the corner of her black kuspuk. She was a little older and it definitely fit her style.

Fur Trim: I've seen quite a few kuspuks with a very small amount of short haired fur trimming the bottom skirt and wrist cuffs. Not like a parka trim where it's thick. But rather just a thin strip of rabbit or mink.

Zippers on the Pocket: Another kussuq idea! A lady in Bethel added zippers to her kuspuk pockets. The pockets are deep enough to keep stuff in without risking it falling out. But it's still a cute idea to ensure when you bend over everything you're holding doesn't fall to the floor.

Bows on the Hood/Wrist Cuffs: I saw a cute little (I think Innupiaq?) girl who had kuspuk with little bows on the wrist cuffs. And then she also had a little bow on each of the strings that pull the hood tight. I thought it was adorable.

Glitter Trim: Instead of fabric trim, use fabric paint or glitter. You can make intricate designs, like swirls and circles. It looks similar to a fabric trim, except you can experiment with different shapes and mix colors.

Sports Number on Back: I thought this was a cool idea for boys kuspuks. If they are in basketball, cut a jersey-style number from a piece of fabric and sew it to the back of the kuspuk. It'd be a great way to show their team spirit and Alaskan pride at the same time.

Rainpuks: A lady in the southeast makes these adorable rainpuks! Which are waterproof kuspuks. They're more lightweight than parkas, and styled just like a kuspuk, except with a zipper down the middle. And she uses waterproof material.