Block-Bilt: Website link-Never seen these jackets. Anyone?

[tmitchell59]

I was researching a Block Sportswear company leather jacket. I also used the words Block-Bilt. This website came up. I have never heard or seen any mention of their jackets that I can recall. Anyone know anything more about them? The Jackets look to be very nice reproductions. The website has a 2016 date on it.

 

[handymike]

Block- built made some of the nicest cross-zip jackets in the day.
http://wearekoalasvintage.com/tag/block-bilt-leather-jacket/
I'm caught off guard that I didn't know someone had taken the name.
Could this be Bill Kelso's British partner/ new owner?
Kelso has been the only one using Block branding.
Prices are high for what you're getting IMHO.

 

[nick123]

That would actually be way cool if this was affiliated with BK. Totally classic company. Go A's.

 

[handymike]

"directed by famous lead designer Hiroshi Watanabe and based on original patterns"

Interesting.

 

[tmitchell59]

So this is new stuff? Never heard of the designer. I going to write them and inquire about something. Not many details for high end leather jacket web site. Interesting and somewhat odd.

 

[A-1]

No contact address. That’s conspicuous.
The jackets (and the photos) look very similar to BK.
They don’t look very interesting to me. And the affiliation with BK would be a big minus for me.

 

[ProteinNerd]

No contact address. That’s conspicuous.
The jackets (and the photos) look very similar to BK.
They don’t look very interesting to me. And the affiliation with BK would be a big minus for me.

I Agree, the pictures do look very Bill Kelso-esque.

I have to say, I think they look really nice though, not "I need one of these right now" nice but nice still.

 

[BobJ]

The labels in the jackets say: Styled and made in California.

 

[pawineguy]

The labels in the jackets say: Styled and made in California.

Those are the vintage repro labels.

 

[Carlos840]

I agree, my first thought was "this has a BK look to it!"
The website, the leather, the pictures, it's all very familiar...

Has anybody else noticed how off the shawl collar on The American is? It almost looks square! Pretty sure BK would not get that this wrong.

Not sure how i feel about these Block Bilt, no mention of where the leather is from, or where the jackets are made, no phone number, just a generic "we want to pay homage and make some jackets like they used to..."
Also, googling "Hiroshi Watanabe leather" brings 0 results.

 

[Bunyip]

These guys did some iconic biker jackets back in the day. I don't know if it's the same folks now, or if the name got sold. There a few nice examples of them in Rin Tanakas books. Pretty expensive, doesn't appear that they offer custom, and not too much info/ options on hide.

 

[handymike]

Much like the Simmons Bilt name, the Block Bilt was out of use for years. These guys picked it up and "boom" BBv2.0 is born.
I don't believe there is any relation to the CA company. Especially with pricing in £.

 

[Bunyip]

Much like the Simmons Bilt name, the Block Bilt was out of use for years. These guys picked it up and "boom" BBv2.0 is born.
I don't believe there is any relation to the CA company. Especially with pricing in £.

Good point, hadn't thought of the £ v $...

 

[handymike]

It's NOT BK!
It's Simmons Bilt Clothing Co.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Really? Do we know that for a fact?

 

[Edward]

Simmons Bilt, formerly Alexander Leathers, rebranding as Block Bilt?

 

[handymike]

Look up the Whois on Block-bilt.com.

http://whois.domaintools.com/blockbilt.com

 

[Sloan1874]

Interesting. Doesn't look like SB/AL work, though. Maybe BK making for SB? Match made in heaven! It's not listed in Companies House - the Scottish business register - so they've gone out their way to avoid the label being connected to SB.

 

[handymike]

It would explain the "Big British cash infusion" to BK that went unanswered.

 

[zhz]

Look up the Whois on Block-bilt.com.

http://whois.domaintools.com/blockbilt.com

that is the wrong website, the one we talk about is block-bilt.com.