Paw Print Threads

There’s something special about finding a piece of local history in the middle of nowhere.

We found this vintage GWG Cowboy King jacket sitting in a barn at an estate sale out in rural Alberta, covered in dust and forgotten for decades. The second we saw that red GWG Cowboy King tag, we knew it was something worth saving.

For people outside Western Canada, GWG might just look like another old denim brand. But here in Alberta, especially in Edmonton, GWG was part of the city’s identity for nearly a century.

The Great Western Garment Company was founded in Edmonton in 1911 and went on to become one of the largest clothing manufacturers in Canada. They made durable workwear for farmers, ranchers, oilfield workers, tradespeople, and cowboys across the country. Their Cowboy King line launched in 1929 and became one of the most recognizable western wear brands in Canada.

At its peak, GWG wasn’t just making jeans. During WWII, the company was producing massive amounts of military clothing for the Allied forces right here in Edmonton. Generations of local families worked in those factories sewing garments that would end up all across Canada and beyond.

That’s what makes this jacket even more meaningful to us.

My partner’s grandmother actually worked at GWG sewing garments many years ago, and his mom still has some of the sample pieces she made. So finding this jacket out in an old Alberta barn immediately made us wonder… could she have sewn this herself?

There’s something surreal about holding a piece of history that might have passed through the hands of your own family decades earlier.

GWG eventually became part of Levi’s in the 1960s, and the final Edmonton factory closed in 2004, but the brand still means a lot to people here. Vintage collectors and denim enthusiasts still hunt for old Cowboy King pieces because they represent a uniquely Canadian chapter of workwear history.

This is why we love vintage so much. Every piece has a story stitched into it long before it ends up in your hands.

Have you ever found something in someone else’s collection that somehow felt like a piece of your own history?



https://poshmark.ca/listing/Vintage-1970s-GWG-Cowboy-King-Cropped-Western-Ranchwear-Jacket-Made-In-Canada-69f1524afe4c68ba23d0b293

Meet the curator behind Paw Print Threads. 🐾

My name is Lilly, and I grew up in the woods of Ontario in a community deeply rooted in old settler history, where older traditions, historic homes, family heirlooms, and a strong appreciation for the past were simply part of everyday life. The closest town to us was Port Hope, once known as the antique capital of Ontario, with more than 25 antique stores at the time. Growing up surrounded by that kind of history naturally shaped the way I saw older things and the stories connected to them.

By the time I was a teenager in the early 2000s, vintage had already become part of my identity. I leaned heavily into 1960s and 70s hippy style, thrifted most of my wardrobe long before secondhand fashion became mainstream, and listened to classic rock almost exclusively. Older styles, music, and objects always felt more personal and meaningful to me than anything new.

After moving to Edmonton as an adult, that appreciation evolved into a deeper interest in local history and the character that vintage pieces carry with them. Over time, that lifelong connection to the past became Paw Print Threads, a shop built around nostalgia, preservation, sustainability, and giving old pieces a second life.

Of course, Paw Print Threads wouldn’t really be Paw Print Threads without my rescue crew beside me. Gary is our grumpy old soul, Tubly is the mischievous thief always sneaking off with something he shouldn’t have, RooRoo keeps everyone entertained with his three-legged antics and endlessly affectionate personality, and Kayley brings a constant sense of joy and happiness to the house that somehow makes everything feel lighter. ❤️

To me, vintage has never just been fashion. It’s history you can hold onto.

What era or decade do you feel most connected to? 🎶



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“Vintage” and “antique” are often used interchangeably, but historically and within the collectibles world, they refer to very different categories.

An antique is generally defined as an object that is at least 100 years old. In practical terms, that means authentic antiques today were produced before the mid-1920s. These pieces often reflect pre-industrial or early industrial manufacturing methods, with craftsmanship, materials, and construction techniques that differ substantially from modern production standards.

Vintage, by contrast, typically refers to items that are at least 20 years old but less than 100 years old, particularly pieces that are representative of the design language and cultural aesthetics of their era. In fashion, this could include anything from a 1940s rayon dress to a 1990s single-stitch graphic tee or early 2000s designer sportswear.

The distinction matters because “vintage” is not simply a synonym for “old.” A true vintage piece functions almost as a historical artifact of everyday life. Fabric blends, manufacturing tags, zipper construction, union labels, care labels, and even seam finishes can all provide clues about when and where a garment was produced.

Retro is another category entirely. Retro items are contemporary reproductions or modern designs intentionally styled to evoke an earlier period. They may reference vintage aesthetics without possessing historical age or period-specific construction.

One of the most fascinating aspects of vintage collecting is that it sits at the intersection of fashion history, material culture, and design evolution. Clothing reflects shifts in technology, economics, manufacturing, and social trends just as much as it reflects style.

And of course, age alone does not determine value. Provenance, rarity, condition, craftsmanship, cultural relevance, and collector demand all play a significant role.

What era of fashion or decorative arts do you find most compelling?

Marmot didn’t start as a clothing brand. It started on a glacier.

In 1971, two UC Santa Cruz students, Dave Huntley and Eric Reynolds, met while studying glaciology in Alaska. They bonded over climbing and formed what they called the Marmot Club. It wasn’t exclusive. If you climbed a peak with a member, you were in.

By 1973, that mindset turned into making gear. They began producing their own down vests, parkas, and sleeping bags, all designed from firsthand experience in the mountains. Everything was tested in real conditions, not designed from a distance.

Not long after, Marmot became the first outdoor company to use GORE-TEX in their outerwear. They didn’t just trust it. They tested it in extreme cold, including overnight trials in a commercial freezer, to make sure it actually performed.

That’s what defined Marmot. Gear built for cold, elevation, and exposure. It had to work because it was being used in real mountain environments.

This jacket comes out of that era. Insulated, durable, and made for winter conditions, not trends.

The Alberta, Canada tag makes it even more fitting. This is exactly the kind of climate and terrain Marmot gear was built for.

A true piece of outdoor history that still holds up.

https://poshmark.ca/listing/Vintage-80s-Marmot-Ski-Jacket-Blue-Black-Colorblock-Insulated-Puffer-Coat-Retro-69ed47a1dbd8f0b18e81b9b4

Would you take this back into the mountains, or keep it in the city rotation?

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Founded in 1958 in France, Cacharel built its name on soft tailoring, romantic prints, and effortless everyday pieces that still feel elevated decades later.

This vintage button-up is a perfect example. It features warm brown tones, a subtle geometric print, and that easy drape Cacharel was known for in the 1980s and 1990s.

Real vintage. From France. Not reproduced. Not fast fashion.

Grab it here before it’s gone:
https://poshmark.ca/listing/Vintage-Cacharel-Button-Up-Shirt-Medium-Brown-Geometric-Print-80s-90s-Designer-69ed3ab33509d1ebec503e94

Do you prefer your vintage bold or understated?

Throwback video of RooRoo discovering birds on the tablet.

He has three legs, and the one he’s missing is his front paw, but that didn’t slow him down at all. He sat there gently waving his little nub, fully convinced he was going to catch one.

He has no idea he’s missing anything. He just sees birds and thinks, “I can get those.”

Do you think animals know they’re different, or do they just adapt and keep going?

Bought inventory.

Immediately got distracted.

Now I own a small army of snake rings I refuse to part with… 🐍

Great business decisions all around! 😂

Would YOU keep or resell?

That sound… the second your fingers hit the keys, it pulls you in.

The sharp clack with every press. The resistance. The follow-through. You don’t just type, you feel every word as it lands.

There’s a rhythm to it. Steady. Mechanical. Almost hypnotic. Like the machine is keeping pace with your thoughts.

And somehow, everything else disappears.

No screens. No noise. No endless tabs pulling you in ten different directions.

Just the sound of the keys… and your ideas, coming just a little easier than usual.

Does the sound alone make you want to sit down and write?

This piece and many more dropping in my shops shortly!

Kermit the Frog has always been the calm in the chaos. 🐸

While everything around him is loud, messy, and completely unhinged, he’s just there trying to hold it all together… and somehow still being kind about it.

That’s probably why he’s stuck around for so long. Easygoing, a little sarcastic, but always the one everyone relies on.

This little 80s McDonald’s Happy Meal toy version captures that perfectly. Not perfect, a little worn, but still very much Kermit.

Available here:
https://poshmark.ca/listing/Vintage-1980s-McDonalds-Kermit-Frog-Plush-Muppets-Happy-Meal-Toy-Rare-Collect-69d6b2f22981afbcfa55b791

Just added the sweetest vintage finds to my Poshmark closet. 🐻🎒✨

Both of the Eeyore backpacks are ridiculously cute, but the Sebastian one… I have never come across another like it. It’s such a rare find and has so much personality. 🦀💙

And of course a Zellers Zeddy Bear had to join in, because he clearly thinks he belongs with them. 🧸

Everything is live now if one of these little guys is meant to be yours. 💫

Shop here:
https://poshmark.ca/closet/pawprintthreads