Aero Leather Clothing trial update

[tropicalbob]

I'm dusting off my Terry Eagleton and John Reed books as we speak. I wonder if they only let WL in early in the morning "to keep his hand in."

 

[Big J]

From the AL statement posted by Superfluous above;
'We were aware of the assertions and accusations made against William Lauder by his former employer'.

You see, since he's been found guilty in a court of law, they are not 'assertions and accusations', they are 'crimes'.

 

[Big J]

I'm dusting off my Terry Eagleton and John Reed books as we speak. I wonder if they only let WL in early in the morning "to keep his hand in."

Oh! Touché!

 

[AdeeC]

In the evidence it was said he couldn't sew. So what kind of machinist is he?

 

[tropicalbob]

And kudos to Mr. Superfluous for taking the time for the above quotes. It's nice to see the truth once in a while.

 

[Big J]

In the evidence it was said he couldn't sew. So what kind of machinist is he?

They can't both be right.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

In the evidence it was said he couldn't sew. So what kind of machinist is he?

Well..he's definately a pattern cutter with vast knowledge of the jacket making business thus should be well qualified to set up new production from scratch.

 

[Big J]

Well..he's definately a pattern cutter with vast knowledge of the jacket making business thus should be well qualified to set up new production from scratch.

Do inmates stitch mailbags in UK prisons?
He could kind of use the time to 'invest in himself', then he'd have the whole skill set.

 

[Bunyip]

Do inmates stitch mailbags in UK prisons?
He could kind of use the time to 'invest in himself', then he'd have the whole skill set.

Classic! Maybe some bespoke number plates for the car?

 

[AdeeC]

Well..he's definately a pattern cutter with vast knowledge of the jacket making business thus should be well qualified to set up new production from scratch.

That raises the question; Which highly experienced jacket professional was hired by Alexander's to put out almost a full suite of jacket designs that appear similar to Aero products without decades of development experience if not WL?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Surely you mean 'very' similar.

 

[Big J]

Given that in the evidence KC said that WL only designed (what?) two jackets in his time at Aero, does this mean that AL will have to remove product lines if they've been made on patterns that WL stole from Aero?

 

[Superfluous]

Consider this:

1. WL was the Managing Director of Aero for several years. Thus, he has extensive experience managing the operations of a custom leather jacket manufacturing company.

2. WL brought several Aero employees with him to AL. These were the same employees that WL managed at Aero.

3. According to the previously quoted statements, WL helped to create AL.

Yet, according to AL's latest statement, "William Lauder . . . was never employed in any management capacity" at AL.

Really? Does this make sense? He was the managing director at a larger and far more established company (Aero) in the exact same business, AND he brought several of the employees to AL that he previously managed, AND he helped to create AL; yet, he was "never employed in any management capacity" at AL?

Euphemistically speaking, this strains credulity.

 

[Big J]

Consider this:

1. WL was the Managing Director of Aero for several years. Thus, he has extensive experience managing the operations of a custom leather jacket manufacturing company.

2. WL brought several Aero employees with him to AL. These were the same employees that WL managed at Aero.

3. According to the previously quoted statements, WL helped to create AL.

Yet, according to AL's latest statement, "William Lauder . . . was never employed in any management capacity" at AL.

Really? Does this make sense? He was the managing director at a larger and far more established company (Aero) in the exact same business, AND he brought several of the employees to AL that he previously managed, AND he helped to create AL; yet, he was "never employed in any management capacity" at AL?

Euphemistically speaking, this strains credulity.

Yeah, I don't understand thier position at all, and I don't want to speculate due to thier threat of legal action. I don't understand why they don't just throw him under the bus. Why put out bizarre statements?*

* that's a rhetorical question, please don't answer coz they got lawyers and stuff.

 

[ProteinNerd]

have also had contact from our customers informing us that Aero Leathers had sent direct emails to them in regard to the trial outcome and either explicitly or by implication stating that Alexander Leathers was somehow involved in the alleged criminality.

I'm a previous customer of AL and I haven't received an email from Aero......how would they even get the email address of another company's customers?

 

[Capesofwrath]

I came upon that statement yesterday when I was looking at their site. It seems like a perfectly normal legal statement to me. Clearly they are prepared to defend themselves in court if it comes to that.

I should think they have been following this thread too judging by what they wrote about “public forums or dimly lit public slanging match with those vindictive parties...”

Anyway this is where I came in and the trial account has been interesting. Although it was probably what most people thought had happened really, and I don’t think there were any great surprises in it. But I still want AL to survive even if some here would like to dance on its grave. In the US there are a few custom jacket makers in competition now, but in the UK it’s just Aero and AL and i don’t want a monopoly situation where prices are ratcheted up.

 

[Capesofwrath]

We have also had contact from our customers informing us that Aero Leathers had sent direct emails to them in regard to the trial outcome and either explicitly or by implication stating that Alexander Leathers was somehow involved in the alleged criminality.

I'm a previous customer of AL and I haven't received an email from Aero......how would they even get the email address of another company's customer?

I’ve been a customer of both too and I haven’t had one. I expect he means recent Aero customers may have received them and they are also AL customers so told him. It may just be a few at that.

But of course Aero customers are very often AL customers as well, and most aren’t dedicated fans of either to the exclusion of the other. Although there doesn’t seem to be much on this forum about AL anymore. I haven’t been here much for the last year or so but there used to be quite a few threads where people posted about their AL jackets and I can’t see many now. At first some of the more dedicated Aero fans used to troll those threads but that seemed to calm down after a year or so.....

 

[Big J]

I came upon that statement yesterday when I was looking at their site. It seems like a perfectly normal legal statement to me. Clearly they are prepared to defend themselves in court if it comes to that.

I should think they have been following this thread too judging by what they wrote about “public forums or dimly lit public slanging match with those vindictive parties...”

Anyway this is where I came in and the trial account has been interesting. Although it was probably what most people thought had happened really, and I don’t think there were any great surprises in it. But I still want AL to survive even if some here would like to dance on its grave. In the US there are a few custom jacket makers in competition now, but in the UK it’s just Aero and AL and i don’t want a monopoly situation where prices are ratcheted up.

You forgot Eastman. They're a UK company.

 

[Girl on a Motorcycle]

You know drifterproductions, the seller on eBay and how his Alexander Leather descriptions ran

"ABOUT ALEXANDER LEATHERS:
Alexander leathers is the creation of Sandy Alexander, founder of the Schuh fashion footwear business, and Will Lauder, a leather industry “veteran” with over 30 years experience of design and pattern cutting in the high-quality leather jacket business with Aero leather.
A chance introduction led to a realisation that they both shared a passion for high quality, authentic, vintage style leather jackets.
Will was seeking a new challenge, and a combination of Sandy's retail and business background and Will’s wealth of manufacturing experience in the leather garment industry, led to the the idea for Alexander being conceived and born in Selkirk, Scotland.
Will’s vision is to recreate the ultimate in vintage style leather jackets with an updated modern fit, combining the use of traditional walking foot sewing machines, and authentic high quality leather hides.
Customised added extras include local tartan linings produced by artisan weavers in the neighbouring Scottish borders. These elements combine together such that each and every Alexander garment is individually constructed, from start to finish, by one highly skilled craftsperson. These are the essential ingredients for creating the ultimate leather jacket – the Alexander jacket.." http://www.ebay.com/itm/RJL-LTD-Hor...ander-leathers-CAFE-RACER-sz-44-/121549614047

Well now he runs a letter from Steve Toohey
"A team of seasoned master craftsmen, all specialists in the art of re creating vintage leather jackets with over 262 years experience between them came together in 2012 to form the Alexander Leather Company.
The team at Alexander Leathers share a passion for authentic vintage leather jackets, our primary focus is to recreate the classics of bygone eras using only the best materials available and employing traditional manufacturing techniques coupled with outstanding attention to detail"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fortune-hun...ween-Horsehide-Handmade-RJL-LTD-/111568222345

No mention of Will in Alexander Leather at all.

Notice here that Will is described as AL's production manager
https://www.denimhunters.com/2014/01/made-alexander-leathers-factory-visit/

 

[Superfluous]

Notice here that Will is described as AL's production manager
https://www.denimhunters.com/2014/01/made-alexander-leathers-factory-visit/

"Will is the production manager at Alexander Leathers . . . "

Good catch Girl.

This is entirely consistent with what Carlos posted on May 9:

Funny you should say that, but a couple months ago i had a telephone conversation with Steve Toohey, my brand new Cafe Racer was having issues that needed sorting...As i said he was very nice and a real gentleman when it came to making things right, but he did pretty much blame the issues on his "previous production manager, will" who was not working for them anymore!

According to the DenimHunter's article, AL told Matt Wilson, of DenimHunters, that "Will is the production manager at Alexander Leathers . . . " According to Carlos' post, AL/Steve Toohley told Carlos that Will was AL's "previous production manager." Yet, AL now states that "William Lauder . . . was never employed in any management capacity" at AL.

Riddle me that!