Aero Rollneck RAF sweater

[1911 Man]

Seen here:http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/...?page=displayproduct&subcatid=156&prodid=2534

Has anyone owned one? I bought the WPG version last year and sent it back, it was much too coarse and itchy to wear. I felt I was rolling shirtless in a haystack, and that was with a cotton t-shirt underneath. Does Aero's offer the same level of comfort, or is it a little softer, more wearable?

Thank you.

 

[greeny]

Certainly looks the business.

 

[BellyTank]

It's just a nice, off-white roll-neck sweater.
There's nothing historical, or military about it.

Probably a nice sweater.
If you're actually thinking about buying from Scotland, why not call Aero
and ask THEM about it.


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[Alucard73]

If you get an answer from Aero, let us know.

 

[Dreispitz]

I´ve got one, wear it and like it!

 

[jamespibworth@n]

I bought one one of these sub sweaters:

http://www.silvermans.co.uk/Product...YAL+NAVY+SUB+SWEATER/ItemId/9966/Default.aspx

Good value I think.

James

 

[Corto]

I bought a WPG submarine sweater a few years ago. The collar was a little over the top. I felt like Sir Walter Raleigh. Additionally, I thought it was poorly constructed. I'd like to buy another one sometime from a different company. They sure looked cool in "Battle of Britain".

 

[Hawk_Eye]

I used to have one from Eastman, though it was a few sizes too large. Its an excellent sweater. A little scratchy, but not near as much as the WPG, which I also have. Once they are restocked I plan on buying one or two in my size.

 

[Edward]

Do Aero / Eastman manufacture their own, or do they buy them in? They do look remarkably similar to me. Ditto the Silvermans offering.

The first place I saw these (I believe back then, though thed details on the site have changed, they also claimed to be produced by the original manufacturer) was at the Ace Cafe -

http://www.acecafeshop.com/products/219

They're up to GBP65, though, now.

Back about eight years ago they were selling them for £45, and I bought one for my dad for Christmas, for wearing out on the bike. In those days they offered them in both navy and ecru. I see the navy option has been dropped; probably due to the ecru being more popular as the colour seen in all the photos of the Ton Up Boys from back in the day (though I'm sure their were bought cheaply as surplus or otherwise, not premium-priced products!). Shame, as the navy is so much more practical in many ways. It's a beautiful sweater, and these years later still wearing very well indeed. And apparently fantastic out on the bike on a cold morning.

 

[Creeping Past]

65 quid's good value for an all-natural lanolin-rich multi-ply sweater...if, like my Eastman sweater, that's what it is.

 

[Spitfire]

I am also the happy owner of a WPG white rollneck/submarine sweater. And I don't know if scandianvians's got a tougher skin, 'cause I don't find it that scratchy
Anyway, I have completely fallen in love with the sweater from Ace cafe Shop, and ordered one today. It's allready in the post!

 

[BellyTank]

Yes the Ace one is Ace.


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[Edward]

Can anyone confirm whether the Ace sweater is the same one as the Aero? They do look startlingly similar.

Oh.... and I went looking to compare the photos of the Eastman offering, but it's not no their site anymore - have they dropped it from their range?

 

[m000m000]

Is it a Buzz Rickson product? Eastman re-stocks those only once per year in fall/winter, and if they've sold out something in the meantime they remove it from the website untill they get new stock again.

 

[Edward]

When I last saw it, I believe it was listed alongside the USAAF mechanic's sweater, as an Eastman item, though if they are out of stock that woyuld explain its disappearance....

 

[Spitfire]

Is it a Buzz Rickson product? Eastman re-stocks those only once per year in fall/winter, and if they've sold out something in the meantime they remove it from the website untill they get new stock again.

Don't know - I only know that my Ace Cafe Sweater was shipped from US - allthough the Ace Cafe Shop is in UK. Strange....?
Haven't picked it up at the postoffice yet. Maybe I will know a lot more in a few hours.

(Edit)
Now I am so much wiser and forgetful - it wasn't a sweater in the mail - but a vey, very nice navy/white dots silkscarf from Petermans, that I had forgotten all about.
Sweater is still underway - probably from UK!

 

[Speedster]

The Eastman sweater was labelled as an Eastman Leather Clothing and (very incorrectly) RAF AM Aircrew Sweater.

Here's a picture of the label in mine:

And of the sweater:

 

[BellyTank]

That looks a lot like the genuine Royal Navy Sweaters.
The "collar" is NOT (it looks this way in the photo)a turn-down,
rollneck style, same as the RN "Submarine" sweaters.

I presume this is trying to be one of the RN sweaters(?) in which case it is
definitely a viable facsimile.

Mine are out of reach, so I cannot compare but it looks good!


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[Creeping Past]

I've got one of those Eastman sweaters. Mislabelled for 'heritage brand' reasons. But its well constructed, looks great and is very comfortable and warm. Nice sheepy nose, too. If you close your eyes while wearing it, it's like being in the Yorkshire Dales.

 

[H.Johnson]

The ELC 'sweater' and RN Jersey, White

I think this has been covered in depth on another thread. The resemblance between the ELC 'sweater' and a modern issue RN 'Jersey White' (as made by e.g. J.Pick) is so strong that someone suggested that ELC was re-labelling issue jerseys. I don't know about that, but I can see what the poster meant.

On another tack, there are far more wartime photographs of early Army Commandos wearing this garment than RAF personnel. They were issued to Commandos as part of Combined Operations (with the Royal Navy) for the Norwegian Campaign.

So...why aren't they hyped as 'commando sweaters'?

PS - I am informed that the contract with the MOD for 'jerseys, white' has ended and will not be renewed. I am not suggesting that their non-availability from ELC has anything to do with this...