Field Leathers

[red devil]

I am less critical of the collabs. Basically, sought-after brands offer easy-to-get slots for standardized products.

It´s a bit like Thurston-Bros.: Yes, you can get a stock Vanson, but you can´t specc. the details.

That´s why the Carl-collab doesn´t sit well with me. I am with @Marc mndt: why do a collab and then offer customization?
That must be a slap in the face of clients queueing for a year or so.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Thrston Bros a distributor? At least they are the ons who distribute Thedi in the US?

And then you have some makers that do OEM work for better known brands, that is another concept.

But just tacking on the name of a random reviewer?

 

[Tom71]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Thrston Bros a distributor? At least they are the ons who distribute Thedi in the US?

And then you have some makers that do OEM work for better known brands, that is another concept.

But just tacking on the name of a random reviewer?

Yes, you are right. Maybe I took a misleading example.

I was commenting from a consumer perspective: How can I get a product fast when I would need to wait for months or even years for a MTO product.

I chose TB as an example since they sell standard OTR jackets and thought this was comparable to small makers doing collabs.

 

[red devil]

Yes, you are right. Maybe I took a misleading example.

I was commenting from a consumer perspective: How can I get a product fast when I would need to wait for months or even years for a MTO product.

I chose TB as an example since they sell standard OTR jackets and thought this was comparable to small makers doing collabs.

Agreed, offering a group buy is a good way for small makers to optimise their production ressources, and for buyers to get an item without the hassle of speccing it - quite a few clients just want a shoe or a jacket without delving into details after all.

 

[Zoro]

From my ignorance in the process of making a leather jacket (or a jacket, no matter the material), I could understand prioritizing a collab when you stick to set sizes (collaboration or not). Even if you end up having to put them all together separately and that takes the same effort as a fully custom one, you would be able to have the different pieces cut at once for several jackets of the same size. This could allow for time efficiency and more sales in less times.

This said, now he's moving onto made to measure for this new collaboration, I would be trembling if I was currently waiting on an order. I considered ordering his B3 (it may not be very appreciated here, but I find it gorgeous ) and I know that if I had done it, I would be having second thoughts right now due to this and asking what's up as the new collab looks like "new people skipping the queue".

It's still entirely possible he could be ahead of all the prior orders and fully estimate he'll still deliver within the promised timeframe, but, even if this is the case, it would still feel wrong to bring a new project in between them.

It could also be possible he's estimating (or hoping) this collab will push his business enough to allow him to add someone to the team, which would increase his business and/or decrease his lead times on standing and newer orders.

I don't know, possibilities are endless. Still, there should be open communication with anyone who's still waiting and seeing him offer a product with a far lower lead time than theirs.

 

[El Marro]

It´s a bit like Thurston-Bros.: Yes, you can get a stock Vanson, but you can´t specc. the details.

That’s not actually true. You can order custom Vanson, Aero, and Thedi through Thurston brothers and you can absolutely spec. the details you want.

 

[Tom71]

That’s not actually true. You can order custom Vanson, Aero, and Thedi through Thurston brothers and you can absolutely spec. the details you want.

Ok, I will now fully and unconditionally offer surrender.

I was hinting at the option of quick gratification by taking stock offerings vs. accepting long (at times unplannable) wait times for going custom.
I still think that an attractive collaboration product can scratch the “want” itch without taking away the benefit of bespoke details for the waiting customers.

I accept that my TB example is flawed as they have their own production slot system in place and offer intermediary services of some kind.
Admittedly, as was only thinking about their stock sections.

 

[X83]

I am less critical of the collabs. Basically, sought-after brands offer easy-to-get slots for standardized products.

It´s a bit like Thurston-Bros.: Yes, you can get a stock Vanson, but you can´t specc. the details.

That´s why the Carl-collab doesn´t sit well with me. I am with @Marc mndt: why do a collab and then offer customization?
That must be a slap in the face of clients queueing for a year or so.

I have here my only rough out jacket its funny because I saw Gregs post for the original rough out in brown and did want to purchase it but I always like some form of custom fit and say so for most of my jackets for two reasons one being I want it to be different and second well price wise what we pay for these jackets we should have some say so this is just my opinion in anywise this is a full rough out from Johnson I have posted before its beefy for sure but you can wear no prob out the box I also have a suede jacket but its from brooks brothers and is much more of a fashion jacket im all for a beefy suede jacket as for now I can speak to full rough out being able to take some punishment for sure

 

[Aloysius]

I accept that my TB example is flawed as they have their own production slot system in place and offer intermediary services of some kind.
Admittedly, as was only thinking about their stock sections.

For what it’s worth you’re not entirely wrong.

They have production slots so your jacket gets made in a month or so… but it’s meaningless because they don’t mail it to you until months after that. I got my Thurston custom over three months after Aero made it.

 

[MickeyPunch]

For what it’s worth you’re not entirely wrong.

They have production slots so your jacket gets made in a month or so… but it’s meaningless because they don’t mail it to you until months after that. I got my Thurston custom over three months after Aero made it.

That’s infuriating.

I had some MTO boots made earlier this year, they sent me a video of the boots and then had to wait for like 3 weeks until they decided to ship them when I was thinking a couple of days or so.

Surely shipping is the easiest part of the process?

 

[Tom71]

That’s infuriating.

I had some MTO boots made earlier this year, they sent me a video of the boots and then had to wait for like 3 weeks until they decided to ship them when I was thinking a couple of days or so.

Surely shipping is the easiest part of the process?

Cannot complain in that respect. I got a Chopper from TB, many moons ago. They shipped immediately after the order. Only issue was that the courier refused to do the customs declaration (as I said, a long time ago), so I had to pick it up at the customs office after they decided to notify me two weeks after shipping.

 

[El Marro]

That’s infuriating.

I had some MTO boots made earlier this year, they sent me a video of the boots and then had to wait for like 3 weeks until they decided to ship them when I was thinking a couple of days or so.

Surely shipping is the easiest part of the process?

Man! I have had this experience as well. I had a gunsmith doing some repair and modifications for me and they finished the work early, right before a long holiday weekend. Unfortunately they went home early that day and didn’t get around to shipping it until midway through the following week.
They went from being ahead of schedule to a few days late just like that…

 

[milkbaby]

Does anyone want to talk me out of ordering one of the second edition Carl Murawski x FL type 2 jackets so their wait time isn't lengthened?

I got the first edition in the unlined caramel roughout and really like the trim fit and construction. However I also like the idea of a black version one size up so that I could layer a sweater underneath. I also prefer hand warmer pockets on the outside even though it's not part of the historical type 2 design. Maybe I should just get a different jacket?

It's advertised as 14 to 16 week turnaround, though from reading through this thread, I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if it ended up longer. History has shown that one person artisan brands often fall behind promised lead times easily and even disappear before they deliver items that were paid for...

 

[Marc mndt]

I also prefer hand warmer pockets on the outside

Blasphemy!

 

[Aloysius]

Cannot complain in that respect. I got a Chopper from TB, many moons ago. They shipped immediately after the order. Only issue was that the courier refused to do the customs declaration (as I said, a long time ago), so I had to pick it up at the customs office after they decided to notify me two weeks after shipping.

I think it's not a big deal with Vansons because they charge MSRP. For the Aero I paid like $400 more than direct from the UK. (More like $500 when you add the shipping costs of their internal process.)

 

[FL2021]

Same with the PNW bootmakers. If your customers will pay a year in advance with no refunds, why not take it?

Hopefully he's not behind and using next year's payments to pay the bills.

I know I'm going to get roasted, the reason I went with Greg was because of Carl... His original post about field leathers. Knowing nothing about leather jackets but for some reason I felt compelled. At that time Greg was the maker, a product from the master himself, priceless. I have two jackets from him. Himel is literally down the street from me. My concern was what happens if Greg gets sick, his hands or eyes give out. If he is pre spending the advanced which we all do, so yes. Legitimately valid concerns. On the last order he did not uphold the contract. I had to send him a screenshot of our conversation and I never published it, to respect him. Still there was a denial. I have to say, the jackets he made for me, were beyond my expectations but in the process my confidence was tested, only my family has that privilege. My belief is he is not at a level to understand, and that come with maturity. Does he make a fantastic heirloom? Yes. Is his process fair? No. It's like giving money to my friend because of hard time and then they go on a vacation...and I go what the f__k? So bottom line, if he still cared about his brand, and he made the jacket, I would order again despite. The deposit I'm prepared to lose, the biggest issue is time, so charge me a premium. I would have ordered 3 more if it wasn't for all this bullshit he's putting his original customer's through on this forum, who put him on the
map. I'm a big believer in loyalty, and would support an independent with priority. I really wished he would have not overlooked our value.

 

[officepatina]

For what it’s worth on the MTM portion, he is only offering to cut the sleeves and back length to specified values, and alter the shoulder width slightly if needed. The chest pattern will be one of the standard sizes. I wouldn’t expect this to add a ton of extra time to making a jacket. And I’m guessing volume of orders will be relatively low, but I don’t have any data there.

I’m also not going to criticize a small maker for leveraging a collaboration to generate some quicker cash flow as well as a form of advertising. And it does look like a high quality product.

If he’s not meeting advertised lead times and not communicating well with customers about delays, I totally get frustration there. But I wouldn’t die on the hill of slamming a collaboration.