Eastman - a new direction?

[nick123]

Just watched the video and saw the site. That biker is living the life of riley!
Good luck to Eastman.

 

[hpalapdog]

Those two small brass studs on the pocket look a practical touch. I've only ever had two B3s, an original Roughwear redskin and currently an Eastman Perry type B3. Both pockets pull away a bit at the stitching point with use.









Of the leather jackets I like the Windward. A bit expensive yes, but there is a lot more work in one of these than something like an A2 which looks like it was drawn up on the back of a fag packet !

 

[HDRnR]

The Windward is cool but dont know if its 900 quid cool considering I can get a Vanson Arrow for 550 USD.

 

[Sloan1874]

Incidentally, I notice that on the VLJ that BK's also seems to be lining up a post-war biker thing. I'm sure Eastman will be delighted to see that happen...

 

[John Lever]

just checked out the website, it seems only the clothing is made by Eastman, everything else is outsourced for them. I can't help thinking this is firmly made for the Japanese market and fair enough if that's where the big spenders are but I would expect Lewis Leathers would have their name and heritage as a big advantage already in this area. I see they have a civilian B-3 at a massive £1200 tag, the other jackets are influenced by various American styles, would have been good to see a British 1950's type rockers jacket too but overall I wish them all the luck with the new venture. Now again I ask can we have that USN M-444 promised a year ago please?

Hi Paul,
The m444 is due in the Autumn.

 

[Otter]

Now that might be worth waiting for.

 

[Smithy]

Wow that is good news. I've always thought the M-444 is one of the nicest looking sheepskin/shearling flight jackets.

I remember JC made a cracking looking one last year which someone posted here, damn nice looking jacket too.

ELC are dab hands with sheepskin jackets so I have high hopes for their M-444.

 

[bn1966]

Have re-visited the blog and it looks like a very versatile jacket

 

[Capesofwrath]

Just noticed that one of the new Eastman Windward's is on eBay UK.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EASTMAN-LEATHER-ELMC-WINDWARD-JACKET-40-biker-rocker-bobber-usn-rickson-/251447178516?pt=UK_Women_s_Coats_Jackets&hash=item3a8b6b7514

 

[Edward]

Those two small brass studs on the pocket look a practical touch. I've only ever had two B3s, an original Roughwear redskin and currently an Eastman Perry type B3. Both pockets pull away a bit at the stitching point with use.

Agreed. I really do not care for the conch thing, but that's to personal taste. These studs are a very practical addition. I wonder was this ever done as a quick fix for AAF jackets in the field?

Of the leather jackets I like the Windward. A bit expensive yes, but there is a lot more work in one of these than something like an A2 which looks like it was drawn up on the back of a fag packet !

It's definitely a nice jacket. I like the touch of having the pocket flap above the zip on the d(-ish) pocket. Overall similar design territory to the Aero Bootlegger, but sufficiently different to that one to be an interesting jacket in its own right. Looks like it was based on an actual hitorical example of a jacket of this generic type rather than the same one as Aero's but with a few pockets added or subtracted here and there. I'd consider one myself. I can see it being especially nice in a goatskin. Definitely pricey, but then it is aimed at the Japanese market where that's par for the course. Bit of a jump up in price from the Bootlegger, definitely, though to be fair probably no more so, proportionately, than has always been the case between Aero A2s and the equivalents from the ELC lineup.

Somebody above madethe comment about these being very American in style and wodnering about British rocker style jackets. Although in its heyday really already a backwards-looking movement (insofar as it could be called a movement), the British rocker jackets of the early sixties definitely have a distinct feel to them, markedly different from the late forties / early 50s styles associated with the likes of The Wild One et al. I'd suspect the market for these is smaller, a bit more regional and largely already cornered by Lewis - though I could be very wrong, of course. Could also be as simple as ELC just wanting to stick to a specific period rather than expand forwards in time to the Sixties.

Incidentally, I notice that on the VLJ that BK's also seems to be lining up a post-war biker thing. I'm sure Eastman will be delighted to see that happen...

Interesting move. I've only seen the very little of their civilian jackets that they post here; had assumed that VLJ was providing their primary market nowadays as their website hasn't added anything new (at least as of very recently) since they went over to contract repros instead of purely house jackets. Maybe the market for A2s just isn't what it was, hence a number of companies expanding their civilian lines, or maybe that market has stayed the same size but reahed saturation point with the number of players?

 

[havocpaul]

Thank you John, a year overdue then! Hope it'll be worth the wait after they teased us on their blog a year ago....Guess this biker range took precedent, I like motorcycle leathers but nothing blew me away, prefer the British biker style personally. Will we see a civvie Irvin added in the same style as that B-3 I wonder?

 

[GregO]

Regardless of the intended market, I think the Californian is beautiful, especially the collar construction. Would like to see it in black.

 

[rocketeer]

Just noticed that one of the new Eastman Windward's is on eBay UK.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EASTMAN-LEATHER-ELMC-WINDWARD-JACKET-40-biker-rocker-bobber-usn-rickson-/251447178516?pt=UK_Women_s_Coats_Jackets&hash=item3a8b6b7514

Wonder why its on there at that price though? I was in Brighton last week and never saw an Eastman outlet, I dont suppose i went to every store but certainly had a poke around most of the biggest and popular(plus asked a few questions about leather stores).

 

[cordwangler]

Wonder why its on there at that price though? I was in Brighton last week and never saw an Eastman outlet, I dont suppose i went to every store but certainly had a poke around most of the biggest and popular(plus asked a few questions about leather stores).

Peggs & sons maybe, in the lanes. That's the only place I can think of in Brighton that might sell Eastman.

I remember the days you could buy Aero jackets down there in at least a couple of stores.

 

[Edward]

When was that? It'd be nice to be able to see jackets from both in person and try 'em on without a factory visit, but I can well understand how the factory-direct business model often makes much more sense for them in these ecommerce days.

Thank you John, a year overdue then! Hope it'll be worth the wait after they teased us on their blog a year ago....Guess this biker range took precedent, I like motorcycle leathers but nothing blew me away, prefer the British biker style personally. Will we see a civvie Irvin added in the same style as that B-3 I wonder?

I'd be surprised if there was a market for it, bearing in mind that if you want an Irvin with pockets or a couple of other, more civilian features, you could go to ALC or Cirrus. Good quality and cheaper, though taditionally not popular here because when they offer isn't milspec.

 

[RegentSt1965]

Yep, Peggs sell Eastman and Buzz (and Redwing and LVC)

 

[rocketeer]

Peggs & sons maybe, in the lanes. That's the only place I can think of in Brighton that might sell Eastman.

I remember the days you could buy Aero jackets down there in at least a couple of stores.

Just checked there website, they only have a B3 listed and some socks. Saw this shop but did not go in. I did not think this part was considered the 'Lanes', I always thought that was the little passage ways where they sell the antiques.
I did find a large second hand clothing store that had some leathers, Gardener Street I think, had a brown bike jacket, most unusual,A2 collar but zip chest pockets and side pockets also with zips, zip puller on European side, French cycle jacket? A bit small for me, very good condition £175! Nothing cheap there then.

 

[RegentSt1965]

They have more in stock than on the site and have just finished their Sale and, like everyone else, are getting SS14 in. True they are not in the Lanes. A good thing though,as the Lanes has become a parody of itself since its heyday as a warren of antique shops and galleries. The area to the west of the lanes, where Peggs is, has attracted a lot of mid-level high street brands like Fred Perry.
Now, where you might want to go is to the North LAINES (spelt this way) a run of streets like Bond and Gardener etc. much more fun than the tourist dominated LANES. Lots of Vintage stores of varying quality, Jump the Gun - the Mod shop, a whole range of independents, and Gelato Gusto - the best Ice Cream place in Brighton.
For those who don't know Brighton, not for nothing is it called "London by the Sea". Over the 50 years or so since I've been visiting/staying there it seemed it lost its Mojo some while ago only to find it again recently in a big way. See the revamped area under the prom arches, the renovated pier that everyone seems to use on a Sunday for an old fashioned promenade ( more like Naples than UK) the Music scene etc etc.

 

[Stand By]

I've just had received the e-newsletter from ELMC this morning - and so have had my first proper look over the entire catalogue (and seen the prices <gulp!>) - and the video played for me too (my PC would not oblige me the last time I tried) - and having reviewed all the posts here again, I have to ask - what's with that "conch" on the B3 ?!?!? I don't get it.

Although I think the marketing is very well done and polished, the gear itself doesn't do anything for me at all, but I'm sure it'll do very well in the Japanese market - and as so many here have said, it's clearly to whom it's predominantly aimed it.

Me? Looking forward to a spell in the ELC tent (and not the ELMC tent if there ever is such a thing there or at Donnington or some such place) at RAF Duxford this July already - got my flight booked! The last time I was there, it rained cats and dogs - utterly torrential - and I was trapped in there virtually alone and couldn't leave for almost an hour ... it was terrible! ;-)

 

[Edward]

The conch thingies are a cowboy thing.... They certainly tie in with the whole Americana theme of this collection, though I don't care for them myself either. For me they have some dreadfully negative associations, like Bon Jovi. I remember the Eighties. <shudder>