Field Leathers

[Carlos840]

I mean no disrespect, but those prices are high for a new business that has yet to establish that they can deliver consistent quality, sizing and fit. If you are wealthy and you don't mind taking a gamble, perhaps you won't mind but if you are more frugal, probably not...

High new prices and very low used resale value is indeed a risk i am not ready to take again.
Look at the Diamond Dave debacle, his Shinki jackets used to sell for $1400 new, now you would be lucky to get $350 for a used one. My DD J-100 is unsellable because of that, it makes no sens for me to sell it at 1/4 of what i spent on it.
I would be afraid of being stuck in a similar situation again... And like you i am going to wait and see what happens.

Saying that i very much look forward to seeing more from him.

 

[Bfd70]

^this makes sense. There is a lot of flipping on TFL. A marquee brand like Eastman or Freewheelers can always find buyers on bigger platforms like ebay. These until established are likely to re-sell (when that ocd tells you it is a mm too big or the sleeves are 1/16” too short) at 60% value here and maybe not at all elsewhere. I hope it works out and he becomes the Brian the Bootmaker of jackets. Fingers crossed. I’m rooting for a lot of positive reviews.

 

[Mich486]

Which brands hold their value really well on the second hand market? I mean we have all seen how much a brand new Himel went for. Aeros in my experience lose a good 40/50% with almost non wear. The Aero IR in the classifieds is an example. It’s a though market.

 

[JMax]

Which brands hold their value really well on the second hand market? I mean we have all seen how much a brand new Himel went for. Aeros in my experience lose a good 40/50% with almost non wear. The Aero IR in the classifieds is an example. It’s a though market.

In my experience, LW hold their value very well. Langlitz generally hold their value well too. That said, deals where they come in at 50% of original value occasionally do come up, but generally I attribute that to a motivated seller. I agree, it is a tough market even for the jackets of established, top tier makers.

 

[MrProper]

In my experience, LW hold their value very well. Langlitz generally hold their value well too. That said, deals where they come in at 50% of original value occasionally do come up, but generally I attribute that to a motivated seller. I agree, it is a tough market even for the jackets of established, top tier makers.

I think that with many goods, especially clothes, the decline in value is immense. Even if there are some brands that hold the value a little better, latest when they are made to measure, the value is lost.
The likelihood of finding a buyer who exactly needs my measurements is very low and if so, it takes a lot of patience.
When I buy something, I mentally write off the investment and expect a bigger loss if I no longer like it.

 

[dannyk]

In my experience, LW hold their value very well. Langlitz generally hold their value well too. That said, deals where they come in at 50% of original value occasionally do come up, but generally I attribute that to a motivated seller. I agree, it is a tough market even for the jackets of established, top tier makers.

I think part of LW holding value so well is that he’s a smaller maker in terms of volume so they don’t come up as often. Plus with the thick ass hides he uses they tend to look new or new-ish longer. And a lot of langlitz is probably just name. I mean they also make some of the best jackets on the market no doubt, but the name Langlitz means something.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I think part of LW holding value so well is that he’s a smaller maker in terms of volume so they don’t come up as often. Plus with the thick ass hides he uses they tend to look new or new-ish longer. And a lot of langlitz is probably just name. I mean they also make some of the best jackets on the market no doubt, but the name Langlitz means something.

It's not 'just name' - name is everything and the reason a new player needs to earn their reputation or name over time.

 

[dannyk]

It's not 'just name' - name is everything and the reason a new player needs to earn their reputation or name over time.

Oh I don’t disagree. If it came off that way. Just saying the name means something. And the name means something of course because of what legacy they’ve made to tie into your point.

 

[Mawashi]

I agree that he's new and his stuff might not fetch the same as an aero on the 2nd hand market but I'm ok with that as he can make a jacket completely tailored to me and that's something aero won't do.
If it's a fully customised piece I need a buyer to be like me which isn't easy.

Regardless, I do not buy any clothing with the plan B of selling it away. I only sell off stuff if it doesn't fit and that's unlikely with customised pieces unless I put on weight lol.

I'll gladly support Greg but I'll make sure the fit is perfect for me.

 

[JMax]

I don’t go into a purchase thinking about resell either. I just think the brands that are favored here that also hold decent value do so for any number of reasons, one being sustained excellence. No doubt measured differently by different people, but that just furthers the point. LW and LL have been great at many things for many different people for many years.

From what I can tell, and based on posts in this thread, FL is on his way.

 

[Carlos840]

Regardless, I do not buy any clothing with the plan B of selling it away. I only sell off stuff if it doesn't fit and that's unlikely with customised pieces unless I put on weight lol.

I'll gladly support Greg but I'll make sure the fit is perfect for me.

I don’t go into a purchase thinking about resell either.

You guys say that, but have you ever been caught in that specific situation? It sucks.
A tweaked Aero still will get you a big chunk of your money back when sold used, i have also seen custom Langlitz or Himel go for only a few hundred dollars bellow new price.

My first real leather jacket on the other hand was made by "General Leather" (now Cromford in London) i spent £800, tried to resell it on eBay a couple years later, it wouldn't sell with a £100 starting bid, literally 0 interest.
Why? "General leather" is an unknown name in the world.

Same story with my DD, spent $1400 on it, a few years down the line it is basically worthless.
No one knows about Diamond Dave anymore, no one cares about Diamond Clothing, the jackets aren't even branded.
The group of people to whom a DD is worth something is so small it is basically impossible to sell for decent money.

Even if you don't plan on reselling what you are buying, it is nice to know it isn't worthless the second you open the box.
Your taste in jacket might change, you might need some quick cash, who knows?

Looking back at DD it was basically a hype train that went around in circles in the TFL/VLJ microcosm for a few years.
It was fed by A1's J-21 and the link to John Chapman.
As long as he sold new jackets and the hype train kept on going, used prices where good.
The hype died, used prices fall to the bottom of the sea, he closes shop, used jackets become impossible to sell...

I'm not saying the same thing is going to happen, just that i have been on the TFL hype train before, all i have to show for it are two DD jackets that are impossible to resell without a huge loss.
I am going to watch this one from the station see where it goes... Good luck to all those who jump on. (and good luck to Greg)

 

[JMax]

^^^oh yeah. It is psychologically painful having to sell at a big loss. In fact, it’s partly why my collection at one point was about double what it is now. Not until I said to heck with it was I finally able to start making space in my closet.

Ha, I see your point and concede. Having gone through it, I now “what if” purchases more, especially of new jackets. Perhaps even subconsciously. And part of that calculation is “what if it doesn’t work out”. It’s part of my thought process, though perhaps not the main one.

 

[navetsea]

probably the price has to do with many points of measurement is modifiable? must be harder/ slower to modify a pattern for each order down to sleeve diameter
I think it is wiser to set a price to limit market from the get go especially for start up company like that, rather than receiving many orders because the price seems good, but take forever to deliver, and impatients customers cancel order, or question it as scam etc.
aside from that, price is still linked to quality, exclusivity, and all that extra feeling in the eye of hobbyist

 

[Carlos840]

^^^oh yeah. It is psychologically painful having to sell at a big loss. In fact, it’s partly why my collection at one point was about double what it is now. Not until I said to heck with it was I finally able to start making space in my closet.

Ha, I see your point and concede. Having gone through it, I now “what if” purchases more, especially of new jackets. Perhaps even subconsciously. And part of that calculation is “what if it doesn’t work out”. It’s part of my thought process, though perhaps not the main one.

Maybe i am just jaded by too many jackets and too long on TFL...
I can see how a few years ago i would have been all "This will be my final/ultimate leather jacket, i will never sell it, i will keep it forever and grow old in it, it is definitely worth the money!"
Now i know that it's only a wild dream and the chase never ends. So i want things that i won't get burnt on too much if i change my mind.
Probably part of the reason why i try to buy used much more than i used to, let some other guy take the depreciation hit.

 

[Seb Lucas]

probably the price has to do with many points of measurement is modifiable? must be harder/ slower to modify a pattern for each order down to sleeve diameter
I think it is wiser to set a price to limit market from the get go especially for start up company like that, rather than receiving many orders because the price seems good, but take forever to deliver, and impatients customers cancel order, or question it as scam etc.
aside from that, price is still linked to quality, exclusivity, and all that extra feeling in the eye of hobbyist

No one says he needs to sell cheap. But exclusivity is hard to pull off from the get go. With a start up it could also be argued to begin with a more modest plan - limit the range and the modifications offered and keep the price similar or just a little under your competitors. It will be hard enough to get viable numbers of customers. He is trying to tap an existing market and setting the price too high might be risky - it's kind of like coming on too strong. However, if the reviews are great and the marketing buzz reaches a wider audience, who knows? He'll need to sell a shed-load more than 25 jackets to Lounge members. It's a ballsy move.

 

[MrProper]

With a start up it could also be argued to begin with a more modest plan - limit the range and the modifications offered and keep the price similar or just a little under your competitors

then I probably wouldn't have ordered one. But with fully customized it looks different. Unfortunately, no off-the-shelf jackets fit me and thus the used market is out.

 

[Seb Lucas]

then I probably wouldn't have ordered one. But with fully customized it looks different. Unfortunately, no off-the-shelf jackets fit me and thus the used market is out.

Sure. I can see the appeal of customization.

 

[Mich486]

It is a ballsy move to enter what feels like a pretty mature and saturated market but to me his prices look well aligned with the competitors. I’m not too close to all the costs involved but if you want to sell at less than that it appears you need to move production in a 3rd world country and compromise on materials.

 

[Mich486]

I think what we need and the market lacks in Europe at least is somebody able to repair and restore leathers jackets to a higher standard. I’m not sure if that will bring enough bread to the table but there currently is nobody to turn to.

 

[ton312]

Maybe i am just jaded by too many jackets and too long on TFL...
I can see how a few years ago i would have been all "This will be my final/ultimate leather jacket, i will never sell it, i will keep it forever and grow old in it, it is definitely worth the money!"
Now i know that it's only a wild dream and the chase never ends. So i want things that i won't get burnt on too much if i change my mind.
Probably part of the reason why i try to buy used much more than i used to, let some other guy take the depreciation hit.

Me too. 100%. I wish I had been a bit more patient in the past and let the stuff turn up (as it almost always does) in the previously loved market.