Authentic, what qualifies?

[P5640blouson]

Authentic, what qualifies? Between repro, vintage, original continuation and spinoff, what gives any more? There are so many jackets, some made exactly as they where, while some are outright clones by new makers, and yet others are so called replica but don't get all the details right. I just saw recently how Belstaff appears to outright copy jacket designs from other original makes, including the names, no less. Would you call that a replica or a ripoff??

 

[Fiver64]

Would you call that a replica or a ripoff??

I guess that depends on if you own the rights, or are looking to buy! In the art world (which I consider many of these classy jackets) immitation is flattery. IMHO, a "replica" is an exact attempt to copy something from a specific historical period or era. Change a few details (or a lot) and you have changed the essence of the item and now have a "spin-off."

Plenty of room in the jacket world for all tastes, needs, budgets and hobbies, as long as you NEVER try to pass non-original items off as the real deal. For example....... the flood of "authentic WW2 luftwaffe" flight jackets online right now, when clearly, most are not, is a "rip-off," because it deliberately attempts to deceive.

Again, IMHO.......... the replicas are just fine doing what they are trying to do......fill a niche market. In many cases the replicas are built better than rushed, wartime originals, so they are simply appealing to the afficiando who wants "as close as possible." Fair game as long as that's what they say they are.

In the end, these are jackets. Individual tastes for built for individuals. In the grand scheme of things, trinkets to make us feel good. I'm happy!

 

[Seb Lucas]

I wouldn't worry too much if I were you - let the market decide what lasts and what doesn't. Just buy what you like - based on research gained right here.

 

[Edward]

I suppose if you really want to get strict about it, there's othing as authentic as the real thing. for many of us a original jacket isn't practical - we may not, for example, have the svelte frame of a USAAF or RAF pilot of 1940/41 (let's face it, most of us are probably middle aged by now, with all that implies...). Many of us would baulk at wearing a rare, original jacket out every day, and aren't in a financial position to justify owning such a jacket for its own collectability's sake. For those of us in this position, a new jacket is a more realistic option. After that, it's simply a matter of cost-benefit: the accuracy of a Goodwear versus the low price of a US Wings. Wherever on that sliding scale an individual bites will be dictated usually by personal taste (a hardcore reenactor will likely not compromise on detail as readily as those of us simply living out our Steve Macqueen fantasies) and financial position. I know the reason I ended up with a used ELC A2 was simply because of the very significant drop in value of the pound against the dollar, which put the GoodWear I fancied significantly out of reach from what I was comfortable spending. Sure, I could have saved a fw more months, but then I'd have been scared to wear it anywhere, which would rather defeat the point...

(One day, though, one day...)

That being the case, it seems to me that the more choice the better. As long as no-one is being misled to believe that certain lower end products are exactly accurate to the WW2 pattern, they're cool with me. After all, a lot of folks, myself included, got interested in A2s and WW2 flying jackets (even vintage leather jackets more generally) as a result of buying a cheap A2alike. Maybe we shouldn't also forget those who might never be able to afford anything else; sometimes I do think it's easy for all of us to forget how relatively fortunate we really are even to be able to afford that 'once in a blue moon' Aero halfbelt or ELC A2 or whatever, let alone be considered a third or fourth purchase.

 

[Fiver64]

"May fortune favor he foolish."

Maybe we shouldn't also forget those who might never be able to afford anything else; sometimes I do think it's easy for all of us to forget how relatively fortunate we really are even to be able to afford that 'once in a blue moon' Aero halfbelt or ELC A2 or whatever, let alone be considered a third or fourth purchase.

Well said! I still think it's great when one of us scores an item that we are excited about, for whatever reason, "authentic" or not. When posted, we all get to share in the enthusiasm. I think that's cool.