Himel: An Existential Review

[navetsea]

but that niche is shrinking, since workwear trend is mostly over, maybe that's why they became reluctant to refund cancellation, or employ a temporary backup sewer, imagine if you have many jackets to finish and the sewer is injured and it break the whole chain of production until his/her recovery.

 

[Marc mndt]

or employ a temporary backup sewer, imagine if you have many jackets to finish and the sewer is injured and it break the whole chain of production until his/her recovery.

I don't think (qualified) leather jacket sewers grow on trees, especially not in first world countries like Canada.

 

[navetsea]

I don't think (qualified) leather jacket sewers grow on trees, especially not in first world countries like Canada.

it's not that different from sewing jeans or waxed canvas. if he is in tailoring business, then he must know local links of tailors, that can help out in time like this.

 

[Brandrea33]

I don't think (qualified) leather jacket sewers grow on trees, especially not in first world countries like Canada.

Which is what I heard the last time I spoke to David, he was actually looking for sewers. I believe he told me he’s currently paying roughly $35 per hour.

If it were that easy, we’d all be doing it lol.

 

[DorKlonn]

it's not that different from sewing jeans or waxed canvas. if he is in tailoring business, then he must know local links of tailors, that can help out in time like this.

i dont think this is true for leather; its a completely different material than woven textiles....

 

[jonbuilder]

I don't think (qualified) leather jacket sewers grow on trees, especially not in first world countries like Canada.

100% on the mark

 

[red devil]

i dont think this is true for leather; its a completely different material than woven textiles....

It depends mostly on the leather... a lot of leather garments are made by people coming from the textiile industy. Precisely because qualified leather workers are scarce.

Is Himel using specialists? Who knows...

 

[Bfd70]

It is marketing, marketing he tried to disguise as having a "deeper" meaning, a lot of people fell for it.




Pretty much. Himel can't compete against the big fashion houses, so he tried to create his brand in a niche group, and by all accounts he is reasonably succesful. No need to go very far, he was put on a pedestal here a few years ago.

It is marketing. Social media allows for free advertising. Make a product and put up cool photos creating an imagined lifestyle. Be sure to use the word artisan.

 

[marker2037]

Himel Bros seeing / presenting themselves as a brand makes total sense to me.

More than once have I talked to guys who are into the 'rugged menswear' scene who thought a Himel Bros jacket is the best leather jacket one can get, the cream of the crop. They thought Himel represents the highest level achievable.

Regardless of whether that's actually true or not, they somehow had this notion without necessarily knowing a whole lot about leather jackets and the different makers currently on the market.

IMO there's only one explanation for that and it's called branding/marketing.

Why else would people spend $50 on this yellow beanie? Because they've bought into the Himel brand.

View attachment 420356

Edit : typo

But that cap was boiled and hand dyed by Dave himself using only the finest turmeric on the planet.

 

[Will Zach]

The fact that Papa Nui sells baseball hats for $120 is proof positive that there are enough people buying into the heritage/luxury/uniqueness scheme.

 

[mumpy]

I am not knowledgeable enough to know but it would be interesting to draw a comparison between leather jacket makers and traditional tailors. If I go down to Savile Row and pay 5k for a suit, will they deliver on time?

If the customer puts up with this then there is no incentive for the business owner to change their attitude.

 

[Marc mndt]

But that cap was boiled and hand dyed by Dave himself using only the finest turmeric on the planet.

Did David Himel the man himself touch the beanie!? Ok that at least doubles the price lol.

Turmeric is the stuff they put in Indian curry right? I'm sure only the finest turmeric was used for these beanies.

 

[dannyk]

This is where Im torn. With inflation material costs are rising. Qualified true skilled workers are hard to find and deserve high wages and benefits. There are some true artisans at work when it comes to our niche. They deserve a hefty paycheck for what they create in todays world. Yet most of these "brands" dont actually pay all that well....or have an HQ in one country but create in another. A lot of them dont actually disclose where all the materials they are using come from. So much of it is branding and marketing and real workwear and real artisan; has converged with branding and fashion and we as consumers are left to try and figure this all out ourselves. Then this starts getting into politics and peoples personal stances on all these matters and then that can be a heated exchange and clash of worldviews. Ultimately though these brands can only charge whatever people are willing to pay for them. Himel is making money or they/he wouldnt exist anymore. As long as people are willing to pay they will just do whatever they want. Same for any company no matter what they make or how they make it. The issue to me is that we as a niche group (outside of cost, outside of cost or personal politics) need to stop thinking certain things make much of a difference. Someone a few posts ago mentioned stitching and stitch counts. Ive seen by our standards ugly and imperfect Vansons beat to hell and keep going like a tank. Ive seen the most intricately and beautifully sewn Japanese brands split at the seams. But guess what Ive seen just the opposite as well. Yes theres shitty mall, fashion, lower tier jackets.....and theres some that do things exceptionally well....but really at the high end it all comes down to personal preference and in terms of durability, or effect they dont make much of a difference. One might look prettier or have better aesthetics but doesnt mean it will last any longer, do better on a bike, etc.... If it makes ya happy go with it and get it. If you can afford, if the brands choices dont bother you be happy. For me personally I go by my budget of course but then all monetary aspects being even I will take an uglier or not as beautiful jacket if I know what its made out of, who made it, where it was made, does the business have a good reputation-before I would take the beautiful jacket made by some narcissist or someone paying slave wages. But Im also not going to judge someone to harshly if they prefer the other jacket or dont/cant make the same call I am. Himels jackets dont do anything for me aesthetically just not my style and what I know about the guy himself turns me off. But if someone has the money, wants the product, loves the jacket then go be happy. Life can be so awful, so miserable, so painful that if this makes you happy please go be happy...you deserve it. Just make sure you do your research places like here for example before buying something to see if the product or brand is really the one that will make you happiest. Then if youre lucky you will have that one good thing and never come back to this forum haha. You dont want to keep chasing a perfect that doesnt exist and waste the money and time we all have just to realize perfect isnt real and you were happy with what you once had and now dont.

 

[Will Zach]

^^
Good point, I see no reason why skilled jacket machinists should not be paid the same hourly rate as car mechanics or plumbers, which is around $100 in the US.

 

[Geekrobot]

But that cap was boiled and hand dyed by Dave himself using only the finest turmeric on the planet.

Did David Himel the man himself touch the beanie!? Ok that at least doubles the price lol.

Turmeric is the stuff they put in Indian curry right? I'm sure only the finest turmeric was used for these beanies.

That legendary beanie is what they tossed in as a consolation prize for my experience. While I know they didn't have to do that, it is useless to me for precisely this reason: why would I want to represent his brand with a beanie after the experience I had?

The jacket is one thing: I had a hand in the decisions made to assemble it, and there's nowhere it screams, "HIMEL!" So I've resolved to just wear the shit outta it and enjoy the fruits of my 'labor' and try to let the frustration fade. But the beanie? It isn't even the turmeric one, just plain old black. Maybe I'll remove the patch and use it, or if anyone wants a Himel Bros. beanie cheap, hit me up...

 

[Carlos840]

But that cap was boiled and hand dyed by Dave himself using only the finest turmeric on the planet.

I heard he knits them himself, sitting by the great lakes, fishing in the Canadian wild whilst wearing a HB leather jacket...

 

[Carlos840]

This is where Im torn. With inflation material costs are rising. Qualified true skilled workers are hard to find and deserve high wages and benefits. There are some true artisans at work when it comes to our niche. They deserve a hefty paycheck for what they create in todays world. Yet most of these "brands" dont actually pay all that well....or have an HQ in one country but create in another. A lot of them dont actually disclose where all the materials they are using come from. So much of it is branding and marketing and real workwear and real artisan; has converged with branding and fashion and we as consumers are left to try and figure this all out ourselves. Then this starts getting into politics and peoples personal stances on all these matters and then that can be a heated exchange and clash of worldviews. Ultimately though these brands can only charge whatever people are willing to pay for them. Himel is making money or they/he wouldnt exist anymore. As long as people are willing to pay they will just do whatever they want. Same for any company no matter what they make or how they make it. The issue to me is that we as a niche group (outside of cost, outside of cost or personal politics) need to stop thinking certain things make much of a difference. Someone a few posts ago mentioned stitching and stitch counts. Ive seen by our standards ugly and imperfect Vansons beat to hell and keep going like a tank. Ive seen the most intricately and beautifully sewn Japanese brands split at the seams. But guess what Ive seen just the opposite as well. Yes theres shitty mall, fashion, lower tier jackets.....and theres some that do things exceptionally well....but really at the high end it all comes down to personal preference and in terms of durability, or effect they dont make much of a difference. One might look prettier or have better aesthetics but doesnt mean it will last any longer, do better on a bike, etc.... If it makes ya happy go with it and get it. If you can afford, if the brands choices dont bother you be happy. For me personally I go by my budget of course but then all monetary aspects being even I will take an uglier or not as beautiful jacket if I know what its made out of, who made it, where it was made, does the business have a good reputation-before I would take the beautiful jacket made by some narcissist or someone paying slave wages. But Im also not going to judge someone to harshly if they prefer the other jacket or dont/cant make the same call I am. Himels jackets dont do anything for me aesthetically just not my style and what I know about the guy himself turns me off. But if someone has the money, wants the product, loves the jacket then go be happy. Life can be so awful, so miserable, so painful that if this makes you happy please go be happy...you deserve it. Just make sure you do your research places like here for example before buying something to see if the product or brand is really the one that will make you happiest. Then if youre lucky you will have that one good thing and never come back to this forum haha. You dont want to keep chasing a perfect that doesnt exist and waste the money and time we all have just to realize perfect isnt real and you were happy with what you once had and now dont.

 

[red devil]

I heard he knits them himself, sitting by the great lakes, fishing in the Canadian wild whilst wearing a HB leather jacket...

"He does like to torture his jacket" was one of his marketing spiel

 

[Canuck Panda]

$35/hr is high in Canada, for sewing type jobs. Non technical labor jobs are usually net $20/hr ish. Canadian dollars.

 

[ton312]

^^
Good point, I see no reason why skilled jacket machinists should not be paid the same hourly rate as car mechanics or plumbers, which is around $100 in the US.

Strong union=good pay. Unfortunately that Union only exists in vintage jackets now.