EAT Magazine July | August 2021

Daniel Mason and stitching together a business from scratch.

WORDS Adrian Paradis

PHOTOGRAPHY Johann Vincent

To some, aprons might invoke associations of frilly flower prints and a 1950s aesthetic. Not that there’s anything wrong with flower prints and a wholesome grandmother aesthetic, but to the initiated, a clean, crisp apron has been a sign of professionalism in crafts and trades for centuries. Looking into an open kitchen, it’s common to see a team wearing stylish matching aprons with embossed logos, and at least one particularly snazzy individual who splurged on a custom design. This is where Daniel Mason and 80 Stitch Aprons come in.

Mason has been in the restaurant industry for 11 years, three of them in Victoria working in locations such as the Oak Bay Marina, the Village Butcher, and, more recently, The London Chef helping to teach cooking classes. Having worked in kitchens for more than a decade, he’s familiar with the envy of seeing a co-worker arrive at work with a shiny new custom apron.

Mason started 80 Stitch Aprons in the early days of 2020, not knowing it would soon be his sole occupation. When the pandemic affected his employment at the time, he pivoted (as so many did in 2020) to sewing custom aprons and masks full-time. “My dad used to sew my mom’s maternity clothes in Northwest Territories because they didn’t have the stores around there,” says Mason. “I went to him, and he taught me the basics of sewing. I started practicing and making aprons and eventually got to where I am now.” Mason set up a small studio and spent a long time making aprons for himself before he was confident enough to sell anything. “I was constantly working on it,” he says. “I was watching videos and talking to people who have experience in the industry and learned that way. I’ve always loved the cooking industry and I wanted to stay in it somehow. But I didn’t know if I’d make it as a chef.” 80 Stitch Aprons presented a way for Mason to still have a part in the industry he loves, but now he’s using the connections and experience he gained from a new perspective.

All of Mason’s aprons are custom-made. They start with a conversation to help him understand what his client wants and from there he makes something unique. Customers choose between denim or leather fronts as well as variations of straps and colours. On the inside of each apron is usually a print fabric tailored to the client— something personal to them. Everything from citrus fruits to motor bikes have appeared on the reverse of his aprons.

Part of the appeal of 80 Stitch Aprons is the underground nature of them. Mason’s popularity is due mostly to word-of-mouth, making his work something of a rare commodity and all the more alluring. “I haven’t had a ton of time to promote the business, I’ve been too busy sewing,” he says. “People just see these aprons and love them, so

Daniel Mason of 80 Stitches Aprons

Daniel Mason of 80 Stitches Aprons it seems a bit exclusive right now.” Because of the custom nature of Mason’s aprons, the price for one of his pieces will vary. A custom denim apron will start at $175, and the leather options will be more expensive from there.

Adding to the appeal of these aprons is the emphasis on sustainable and local materials. Mason says he is using locally sourced leather from Pat Bay Leather Ltd. and almost all his materials are sustainable— cotton instead of polyester and brass fittings on his leather, which is easier to recycle than aluminum or steel. Everything he makes is stylish but also long-lasting. Mason points out that cooking as a career has not always been viewed as a glamorous or popular undertaking; however, much like aprons, there has been a shift in this perspective in recent years. The rise of celebrity chefs and big TV personalities brought a level of spectacle and style to the industry. “In an open kitchen or a fine dining restaurant, you want to show off a bit and have a nicer apron,” says Mason.

The finished product!

Back detail on an apron

Donning a crisp clean apron will likely continue to be a universal sign of hard work and professionalism, but the style of the garment itself will no doubt continue to change. And while Mason’s pieces are probably not your typical 1950s grandmother’s aprons, they could likely come close if you asked him.