Himel Bros jacket, 1st winter update

[Will Zach]

Those reading this thread who are interested in a made-to-measure, quality leather jacket should consider giving their business to the likes of Field Leathers, Regius, Sheeley, Good Wear, Lost Worlds (not sure if LW does MTM), Thedi, and any other artisan who stands behind his work. Plenty of info on those at TFL.

 

[ton312]

Well now I'm feeling the same guilt that I felt when I initially got the re make and another didn't. Didn't really enjoy the jacket until months later after I forgot about the whole thing.

I also don't know if I'm first class, according to @red devil someone pushed him into remaking me the jacket.

I would think the purchase of a second jacket had something to do with it...but maybe you had help from a super(fluous) hero. In any case, you shouldn't be the one with feelings of guilt.

 

[ton312]

Those reading this thread who are interested in a made-to-measure, quality leather jacket should consider giving their business to the likes of Field Leathers, Regius, Sheeley, Good Wear, Lost Worlds (not sure if LW does MTM), Thedi, and any other artisan who stands behind his work. Plenty of info on those at TFL.

Aero, Johnson Leathers, Simmons Bilt, langlitz, Vanson......

 

[red devil]

I also don't know if I'm first class, according to @red devil someone pushed him into remaking me the jacket.

As I said, I would not be surprised if that were the case, but this is just speculation.

 

[Damon141]

Definitely a class system for remakes, Jeo clearly has a substantial collection and was a repeat Himel customer, Carlos was offered a remake and one search on TFL will reveal he has been collecting for years and owned everything under the sun.

This poor guy had his Himel Imperial adjusted instead of remade. I'm no expert but I have seen plenty of sale jackets on Aeros page and Field Leather's page and they don't seem to adjust them, they just start over
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/himel-bros-imperial-fit.109138/
It didn't turn out well for him and he ended up selling.
Can't please everyone I guess

 

[jeo]

I would think the purchase of a second jacket had something to do with it...but maybe you had help from a super(fluous) hero. In any case, you shouldn't be the one with feelings of guilt.

I guess I'll never know.

I appreciate you saying that Ton.

 

[Damon141]

I guess I'll never know.

I appreciate you saying that Ton.

Definitely not your fault he acts this way. These errors are his and his employees fault when they let them leave the shop.
Money over everything

 

[torfjord]

Well now I'm feeling the same guilt that I felt when I initially got the re make and another didn't. Didn't really enjoy the jacket until months later after I forgot about the whole thing.

I also don't know if I'm first class, according to @red devil someone pushed him into remaking me the jacket.

That you have this feeling of guilt speaks about your character, it shows that you care for others. That Dave Himel acts without shame speaks about his character.
Regardless, he’s the one who should feel guilt and shame, not you.

 

[Damon141]

That you have this feeling of guilt speaks about your character, it shows that you care for others. That Dave Himel acts without shame speaks about his character.
Regardless, he’s the one who should feel guilt and shame, not you.

Yep, he has the same ruthless approach to business as a slumlord landlord who doesn't fix anything in his properties

 

[Imuricecreamman]

It just boggles the mind that he spends all this time digging out old jackets, photographing them, sets up a video shoot, edits it, posts it, all rather than sorting the problem....smh...

 

[Will Zach]

Maybe he has put out more jackets with sloppy stitching and he is concerned that if he remakes this one he will have to remake many more, now that the cat is out of the bag. But a more likely scenario is that he has simply dug in, feeling that he has been wronged by the public disclosure of his sloppy work, which he clearly hasn't. He just feels that way. People post photos of defective products all over the net, I am not sure why Himel should be exempt.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

There's no doubt Dave brought a lot of this on himself with the brash statements, POV, poor big picture thinking, etc. lets get that out of the way first.

But there's a lot of extra salt in these posts. Don't know how many of us would react if something bad we did at work was publicly discussed. Feels like some of you are starting to go after his livelihood and potentially the people that work there too. I'm going to say it straight up, this feels very cancel culture/woke type BS to me. Obviously not in a political or cultural sense, but what you're expecting the end game to be.

Having owned 75+ jackets (that sounds really crazy to me LOL), I've had some sort of issues with all the brands. My Thedi had a bad zipper that broke after about 30 wears. My Field leather has a quirky patten issue at least for my body shape. Certainly Aero patterns have been discussed over and over. None of that has soured me to those brands. Still own many of them and have orders on the way. Not necessarily because of the customer service response or how the owner spoke about it, but more so because of the bulk of better work.

I mentioned it before a few times and people responded by saying they weren't doing it, but sorry, you are. Some of you are taking a bad example and some other previous bad examples, and slippery slopping it into all the jackets are like that and/or if you like his jackets, you're ignorant. And you're justifying it because Dave makes it pretty easy with his lame statements.

i took a very close look at the Avro I have, which I bought used, btw. So I'm not some rose colored Tribe member who is desperately and blindly trying to defend my luxurious purchase. Overall, the jacket at a new or used price is in the same space as what other jackets I have paid that much for are in (predominantly I'd say my RMCs are the best apples to apples) and although more expensive than my Fields and Thedis, if I'm being fair the HB is superior in some category or another. Leather, liner, hardware are top notch. Craftsmanship at least on my jacket is very nice (amazing details) and 8.5-9/10 stitching. Pattern is fantastic.

Maybe I hit the HB lotto Anyway, don't expect to change any minds.

 

[Will Zach]

Don't know how many of us would react if something bad we did at work was publicly discussed.

If I was promoting my work heavily on the Internet, then yeah, I'd think that it was fair game for criticism if I put out something bad. Unless of course my ego was the size of the solar system.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

If I was promoting my work heavily on the Internet, then yeah, I'd think that it was fair game for criticism if I put out something bad. Unless of course my ego was the size of the solar system.

criticism of course. Lets band together and make sure no one ever buys another HB jacket level? That's ok with you?

 

[Will Zach]

criticism of course. Lets band together and make sure no one ever buys another HB jacket level? That's ok with you?

No, but prospective buyers should have a right to go into the deal with Himel forearmed with knowledge how he reacts to legitimate complaints. Want to take that risk, fine, I would not. I'd rather take a chance on Fields or Regius.

 

[ton312]

There's no doubt Dave brought a lot of this on himself with the brash statements, POV, poor big picture thinking, etc. lets get that out of the way first.

But there's a lot of extra salt in these posts. Don't know how many of us would react if something bad we did at work was publicly discussed. Feels like some of you are starting to go after his livelihood and potentially the people that work there too. I'm going to say it straight up, this feels very cancel culture/woke type BS to me. Obviously not in a political or cultural sense, but what you're expecting the end game to be.

Having owned 75+ jackets (that sounds really crazy to me LOL), I've had some sort of issues with all the brands. My Thedi had a bad zipper that broke after about 30 wears. My Field leather has a quirky patten issue at least for my body shape. Certainly Aero patterns have been discussed over and over. None of that has soured me to those brands. Still own many of them and have orders on the way. Not necessarily because of the customer service response or how the owner spoke about it, but more so because of the bulk of better work.

I mentioned it before a few times and people responded by saying they weren't doing it, but sorry, you are. Some of you are taking a bad example and some other previous bad examples, and slippery slopping it into all the jackets are like that and/or if you like his jackets, you're ignorant. And you're justifying it because Dave makes it pretty easy with his lame statements.

i took a very close look at the Avro I have, which I bought used, btw. So I'm not some rose colored Tribe member who is desperately and blindly trying to defend my luxurious purchase. Overall, the jacket at a new or used price is in the same space as what other jackets I have paid that much for are in (predominantly I'd say my RMCs are the best apples to apples) and although more expensive than my Fields and Thedis, if I'm being fair the HB is superior in some category or another. Leather, liner, hardware are top notch. Craftsmanship at least on my jacket is very nice (amazing details) and 8.5-9/10 stitching. Pattern is fantastic.

Maybe I hit the HB lotto Anyway, don't expect to change any minds.

Sorry friend but no. I saw 4 Himel’s at Mildblend and they all looked like Damon’s jacket. Factually, the number I’ve seen that DON’T look like that (in my experience) are in fact the minority.

Certainly this is not an attempt to cancel his business. His own model of QC and CS will do that on its own. I certainly wouldn’t say people who purchase jackets from Himel are ignorant but I think it’s very fair to assume the jacket will likely not meet the expectation of a $2650 (and up) price tag. By your own admission you purchased yours used, so that likely knocked half the retail cost right off the top. If there were issues with it, of course you’d be more willing to accept them. If there are no such issues, all the better for you.

If you can explain to me why I should buy a jacket that will set me back $3K, when my experience of owning 100’s of jackets spanning decades of manufacture and price points, that are built significantly better, and cost considerably less….I’m all ears.

The real issue at hand is plainly obvious. Doubling down on half assed work, excommunicating customers and crying about being bullied in a fair and open review.
This is not the way.

 

[Fonzie]

criticism of course. Lets band together and make sure no one ever buys another HB jacket level? That's ok with you?

Prospective buyers have the right to know that:

1. He actually doesn’t stand behind his product as he claims, as evidenced here in TFL by multiple customers with issues over the years.

2. His more expensive pricing to the competition is not justified as the superior product that he promises to other brands.
Brands that he’s been publicly criticising and bad mouthing over the years.

3. He openly lies and doesn’t actually do bespoke as he claims, but made to measure or custom, which is a service that many other brands offer at considerably lower prices and in many cases much better product.

4. He publicly belittles and bully dissatisfied customers that ask him for the customer service that he promises beforehand and doesn’t really deliver.

The Fedora Lounge is a place with very knowledgeable members that have the right to voice their opinions, which should serve newer and less informed members as a guiding light in case they are thinking of a leather jacket purchase.

No one here is bullying Dave Himel, he’s the one doing the bullying and digging his own hole.
As far as I’m concerned, it serves him right due to the fact that he’s been critiquing openly brands for years just for the purpose of making himself look better.

Pathetic.

 

[58panheadfan]

After his statement on YouTube for me it looks like an own goal and he seemed helpless to me, I really hope for Monsieur he will turn the corner. As already said, the HB jackets have innovation and found their own place in this niche. But unfortunately, and I kinda feel sorry for Monsieur, he's is own worst enemy. I don't know the reasons, lack of understanding? Bad personality trait (carried over from his days as a vintage leather jacket dealer)? lack of insight? other reasons? Unfortunately he missed the train, it will certainly not get any better for HB, sadly. I really hope for him, his company and the employees that he listens to someone close to him and accepts help.

 

[jeo]

@TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead can correct me if I’m wrong here, but what I think he was trying to say is that justified criticism is welcomed and Himel got ripped but it kept going and going and there’s a point where it’s enough and no further ripping is needed. Anything further doesn’t feel like criticism anymore, it feels like punishment.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Sorry friend but no. I saw 4 Himel’s at Mildblend and they all looked like Damon’s jacket. Factually, the number I’ve seen that DON’T look like that (in my experience) are in fact the minority.

Certainly this is not an attempt to cancel his business. His own model of QC and CS will do that on its own. I certainly wouldn’t say people who purchase jackets from Himel are ignorant but I think it’s very fair to assume the jacket will likely not meet the expectation of a $2650 (and up) price tag. By your own admission you purchased yours used, so that likely knocked half the retail cost right off the top. If there were issues with it, of course you’d be more willing to accept them. If there are no such issues, all the better for you.

If you can explain to me why I should buy a jacket that will set me back $3K, when my experience of owning 100’s of jackets spanning decades of manufacture and price points, that are built significantly better, and cost considerably less….I’m all ears.

The real issue at hand is plainly obvious. Doubling down on half assed work, excommunicating customers and crying about being bullied in a fair and open review.
This is not the way.

I can only speak to the jacket I have in my hand and compare it to similarly priced jackets that I also have in hand. What I paid for them is not relevant since they all cost about the same new. My Avro is in line with my 3 RMCs. Leather quality is about equal. Stitching, edge to RMC. Hardware, edge to HB. Details, big advantage to HB. Pattern, about equal.

If people don't think I'm qualified to make that assessment because I'm in the blind tribe, then I guess there's not much more you'll hear from me about it.

Of course you have your right to think whether HB is worth it or not, whether HB is a jack ass, etc. etc. Everyone does and everyone does it about all kinds of brands and people (leather jacket and other). All I'm saying is this thread has gone over sharing an opinion or a PSA about customer service response or bad sample jackets to something else.