This 1960s tapa cloth sleeveless overcoat is one of the many Colin Cole garments owned by the Cole-McCondach family, and has been documented as part of a project undertaken by photographer Lily McCondach, Colin Cole's grand-niece. 

Binki Taua (Colin’s sister in law) posted this photo on social media captioned: “This is me in a beautiful Colin Cole tapa cloth coat in the 1960s...unheard of and the only one in the whole world.” Combining a traditional hand painted pacific textile with a modern, streamlined cut with tailored details such as the welt pockets was a unique interpretation which was ahead of its time. 

Comparing the photographs, it can be seen that this coat has been shortened from its original at-the-knee length to a below-hip length.