RRL- really that good?

[zacharge]

Hey all,

I was wondering what your thoughts were on RRL, in particular, the “newer” pieces that are made in China? I recently browsed their website and saw some jackets exceeding the 1500USD mark and was quite blown away. Manufactured in China and selling for that much?

I figured early collections were USA made?

Thanks!

 

[Aloysius]

Plenty of good stuff and less good stuff. Country of manufacture isn't particularly tied to what's good or not.

 

[zacharge]

Plenty of good stuff and less good stuff. Country of manufacture isn't particularly tied to what's good or not.

That’s very true. I’ve been caught up in the idea that “made in China” etc meant cheap and low quality (an idea I’m sure many people have). Trying to break out of that

 

[Aloysius]

That’s very true. I’ve been caught up in the idea that “made in China” etc meant cheap and low quality (an idea I’m sure many people have). Trying to break out of that

The reality is that for things like shirts, for example, factories in the US are either very small and high end, like Mercer's little operation or sort of uniform quality stuff on the low end. The in between is relatively unaddressed and kind of difficult to bring about. There are those Brooks Brothers owned factories but they don't do the level of finishing an RL shirt tends to have. Likewise in the UK, there's Turnbull & Asser's factory (which is way too expensive to use for such a thing) but the mid tier providers are kind of gone.

You do see them using UK and US suppliers where that works most effectively, like the work boots are benchmade in England and the western boots are made in Texas.

 

[MickeyPunch]

That’s very true. I’ve been caught up in the idea that “made in China” etc meant cheap and low quality (an idea I’m sure many people have). Trying to break out of that

Yeah the issue is not quality. iPhones are made in China.

The real issue is that the labour is cheaper in China (and working conditions…), but that often doesn’t get translated into the prices.

FWIW I have one of RRL’s hand knit belted cardigans which is made in China and it’s amazing, the design, mix of yarns (51% linen, 15% wool, 11% mulberry silk, 10% cotton, 9% tussah silk, 4% alpaca) and being hand knit make it a really unique piece. There aren’t many similar options out there, brands like Chamula or Kanata perhaps but I don’t like their design and materials as much.

 

[Tom71]

Yeah the issue is not quality. iPhones are made in China.

The real issue is that the labour is cheaper in China, but that often doesn’t get translated into the prices.

FWIW I have one of RRL’s hand knit belted cardigans which is made in China and it’s amazing, the design, mix of yarns (51% linen, 15% wool, 11% mulberry silk, 10% cotton, 9% tussah silk, 4% alpaca) and being hand knit make it a really unique piece. There aren’t many similar options out there, brands like Chamula or Kanata perhaps but I don’t like their design and materials as much.

Exactly this!

Perfectly ok to support “Made in (enter country of your preference)”, if your are ok with the upcharge. Not so much ok to demand more social protection from local producers and then buying elsewhere because of the “ridiculous local prices”.