RRL halfbelt: pictured (a terrible ripoff?)

[Sir Jacket]

Randomly tried on the above in Liberty's (London) today. Bizarre that they ask £1,500 for it when it's a rather baggy fit and in flimsy leather. Surely any equivalent from the makers regularly discussed here would be better, and possibly custom, for half the price. I can understand a Real McCoy, for example, for that price because it's shinki and has fantastic attention to detail.

What's possibly worst is that it's made in China! Can you imagine the markup from whatever the tailor (I hope it was a tailor) was getting.

It's an anomaly because I love most RRL stuff. Their plaid shirts are second to nine, and I like the brand as a kind of id to Ralph Lauren's preppy usual line (which I wouldn't be seen dead in).

What think?

 

[Harris HTM]

Not bad as a jacket but definitely not worth the price. What kind of leather is it?

 

[Superfluous]

RRL frequently uses Italian steer and horse -- generally robust hides that are similar in quality to other mid-range hides, but not equal to the best hides offered by others.

RRL leather jacket quality is good, but definitely a step below the premier leather jacket manufacturers. Moreover, RRL leather jackets are wildly overpriced priced at MSRP. That said, discounts are readily available, both through RRL sales and through secondary markets. I purchased my RRL leather jacket for greater than a 50% discount.

 

[Sir Jacket]

May have been calfskin, in fact.

At 50%, that looks a lot more reasonable. Arms were oddly baggy.

 

[Benproof]

Honestly...!

Ralph Lauren make very decent quality and beautiful furniture. Their leather desks are stunning. I thought the RRL label was going under for the kind of reasons you indicate...

As for the jacket, it kind of looks like it's the wrong fit/shape/size for you. It is probably built for a Texan buffalo steroid ranch eater with arms the size of thighs and wallets just as large.

 

[Harris HTM]

Yeah, last year I remember I've seen a RRL sort of A2 at a fashion mall in The Hague. It was not bad (though the back was 2-piece, with a vertical stitch if I remember well), but not worth the money.

 

[Blackadder]

Most of RRL leather are now made in China save for a few crossover pieces like the Buzz Rickson's A-2 and the Schott Beck repro. A lot of RRL items ended up on ebay through outlet and staff sale. I remember when the brand started in the 90s all items were made in USA to fill the gap as their Polo line was downgraded and production moved outside the States. Now most items save for denim and boots are in China. Save for the hardware used on RRL which is better, I don't see a lot of difference between a RRL and a Denim & Supply deck jacket. For the last few years, I have only bought a few RRL items during staff sale. Rumour is that they are going to kill the RRL line.

 

[Sir Jacket]

I also only buy during the sale, when everything is half-price or cheaper. Their shirts are well cut, I think.

Wonder if the live makes a profit.

 

[Superfluous]

Rumors of RRL's demise have been floating around for several years, but the brand continues to stay a step ahead of the ax . . . for now. I heard that Ralph was particularly fond of the brand and protected it notwithstanding questionable profitability. Now that Ralph has surrendering control of his company, RRL may not have the protection it once had. I also heard that RRL was going to decrease its production volumes and cut back on its regular sales in order to generate more sales at MSRP. That hasn't occurred yet. Most savvy buyers wait for the sales -- its pretty rare that an item sells out before the sale.

Yes, RRL has shifted most of its production to China. That said, RRL's production quality is still pretty good. China is perfectly capable of producing high quality products. Thus, at the sales prices, RRL remains a good option for generally well made work wear and related styles. Its not on a par with Freewheelers, RMC, TFH, IH, Stevenson Overall, RJB, etc, but it is far, far better than mall brands.

 

[dioscuri]

OP, I like the jacket but can see how you might not like the fit of the arms and shoulders. I own a lot of RRL and find that it fits similar to PRL just slightly slimmer—so you have some extra room through the shoulders with a slightly slimmer fit everywhere else.

I own the vintage lamb shearling biker jacket from a couple seasons back and the limited buffalo leather jacket based on the old Levis type II jacket. They are both slim; the buffalo jacket quite so... I imagine they used vintage models to size as I cannot image the average American "dad bod" ever fitting into either jacket.

Yeah RRL is hit or miss, but more hits than misses for me, especially if you wait for the annual sale. I hope they keep the brand around.

 

[l0fielectronic]

Its a 'fashion brand' though isn't it, its not about price vs construction.
Its like saying "look at this Prada leather jacket for 1k" Its not about cost/construction/materials as so much as maintaining a 'premium' brand.

 

[BowsTrading]

I bought this jacket for $400 which i thought was a good deal considering its good quality and I love the RRL brand in general. Leather is italian calf

 

[l0fielectronic]

Sounds a good deal. RRL, and even RL, do put out some really nicely designed items, a lot of it vintage styled.
To me to look at the RRP and call something a 'Rip Off' kind of misses the point of how such brands work.

 

[Bullitt]

Saw this jacket at Liberty’s. The quality is good, however I would be able to buy a similar jacket for a lower price. During the sales I would consider it.

The benefit of a brand like RRL is that it is readily available in many shops. You see it, you try it on, you like it, you buy it and wear it immediately. You don’t even have to know anything about jackets or leather quality, because you can trust the brand.

No lurking in online forums, researching small niche labels, contacting manufacturers, ordering online from a foreign county and waiting for months for a jacket you have never seen in real life. It saves time and minimises risk.

That’s why you pay a bit more. For some people this is more convenient.

 

[Harris HTM]

That’s why you pay a bit more. For some people this is more convenient.

Well, a bit more... that's relative. This thing costs 1755e here, according to the RRL site. My latest two aero's (shearling lined LHB and vicenza happy days, both new and custom-made) cost less in total.

 

[devilish]

Don't get me started on Ralph Lauren. To me he is the worst kind of hypocrite. His entire brand is based on the 'Good Ol' US of A' and yet 99% of it is made in China or elsewhere. And don't tell me that 'Well, his overseas workers are treated fairly'. [Bartender edit:expletive deleted] He is exploiting them for every penny he can get.
If you are going to wave the Stars and Stripes as much as he does then put your effing money where your mouth is and support American workers! Even the U.S. Olympic team uniforms he designed were made in China!!!!

 

[Bullitt]

Well, a bit more... that's relative. This thing costs 1755e here, according to the RRL site. My latest two aero's (shearling lined LHB and vicenza happy days, both new and custom-made) cost less in total.

It is all relative. For some people this is not a lot of money, especially in London or New York or any other capital where RRL products are sold.

I wouldn’t buy it. I visited the Aero factory two weeks ago and ordered a jacket there.

 

[willyto]

Some RRL shops have closed. That has to mean something. You don't go around closing shops if everything is going perfectly fine.

 

[Blackadder]

I have bought a lot of their products since the 80s and I didn't mind paying the premium then.
Regardless of country of origin, the quality of Ralph Lauren products has gone downhill. About a year ago, I tried on a pair of RRL jeans (made in USA) and the Lee style front pocket rivet just popped off. Same goes their purple label shirts and suits. The quality of the cloth simply are not the same as before. I used to like shopping at Ralph Lauren especially during the Friends and Family sale. Well, My friend and I just went to their friends and family sale at 40% off the outlet price 2 days ago and we came out empty handed.

 

[Sir Jacket]

Don't get me started on Ralph Lauren. To me he is the worst kind of hypocrite. His entire brand is based on the 'Good Ol' US of A' and yet 99% of it is made in China or elsewhere. And don't tell me that 'Well, his overseas workers are treated fairly'. [Bartender edit:expletive deleted] He is exploiting them for every penny he can get.
If you are going to wave the Stars and Stripes as much as he does then put your effing money where your mouth is and support American workers! Even the U.S. Olympic team uniforms he designed were made in China!!!!

This was kind of my point. Was a bit galling for £1,500+. This has been discussed on the FL before but part of our interest in niche apparel, I think, is a consideration of how it is made, which includes by whom.