Simmons Bilt

[Corsair42]

Excuse my ignorance here, but what is the difference between all those versions of HH that Sb offers?
Blattwerk, Clayton, Epsom, Metro, Ranger, Lux. I looked at the Horween website and did not see any metro or whatever. Has anybody had any experience with any of these hides?

Blattwerk is very soft & matt, very comfortable & almost a similar drape to suede but with a lot more durability and water resistance from the unique tanning method used (olives & beeswax I think) Not a great deal of pull up if any but a good leather for lighter casual jacket.

Horween Milan is absolutely amazing, all the good stuff you get with CXL but without the negatives. I personally think it's a lot better looking and more comfortable than CXL.

Horween Lux is initially like a slightly more matt CXL, it's a very substantial hide and the teacore starts showing through VERY fast. Unlike some other teacores, losing the top layer of dye doesn't appear to reduce its durability or water resistance. Horween have managed to tan the leather in a way that it retains its durability while very rapidly developing a patina and exposing the teacore. I'm selling a Horween Lux tailgunner in the classifieds currently, it's this one:

 

[Rugby]

Nice! but quite small for me

 

[zebedee]

Yes, of course. Because the 20% UK VAT is included. By the time the jacket arrives in Austria, I also pay 840 GBP + DHL handling fee because there is 20% VAT on import.
For the Tailgunner in CXSH it is about 1000 GBP (585 + 250 + 20% + DHL handling fee).

SB is more expensive for Europeans with the same leather, for UK residents it remains pretty much the same.

This would only change if SB would also deduct the 20% VAT for Europeans.


Then there is the question of whether the SB goat is comparable to the Aero goat. Unfortunately, I have not found any information.

Aero's goat has a softer hand. Simmon's Bilt's goat feels thicker and has a rougher hand. SB's goat is like armour.

 

[TartuWolf]

@sarevook
Let's take some 600gbp jacket as an example.
As far as I understand, when buying from SB the price already includes UK VAT.
So I pay 600 for the jacket and (let's say) 50 for the shipping = 650.
When it arrives to Estonia (EU) then I need to pay both local VAT and customs taxes.
Here's the answer I got from the local customs office here in EE:
"If the sender has valued the shipment at more than €150, a customs duty rate of up to 16% and a VAT of 20% will be added in the case of clothing".
So roughly 35% worst case scenario.
I think VAT applies only to the item, but customs duty applies to both item and shipping cost? Not sure.
Anyway:
600*1.35=810
650*1.35=877.5
Let's say roughly 850gbp.
850-650 = ~200gbp in taxes.
I can get a flight both ways for ~100gbp. Another ~100gbp would allow me to live there for a few days while I fetch the jacket and explore a little bit.
So I would break more or less even.

Anyway - I already found a much better option than any of these two.

 

[Canuck Panda]

It's hard for the British companies after Brexit. They either go through the VAT number tax process or they lose business.

 

[NZJono]

Blattwerk is very soft & matt, very comfortable & almost a similar drape to suede but with a lot more durability and water resistance from the unique tanning method used (olives & beeswax I think) Not a great deal of pull up if any but a good leather for lighter casual jacket.

Horween Milan is absolutely amazing, all the good stuff you get with CXL but without the negatives. I personally think it's a lot better looking and more comfortable than CXL.

Horween Lux is initially like a slightly more matt CXL, it's a very substantial hide and the teacore starts showing through VERY fast. Unlike some other teacores, losing the top layer of dye doesn't appear to reduce its durability or water resistance. Horween have managed to tan the leather in a way that it retains its durability while very rapidly developing a patina and exposing the teacore. I'm selling a Horween Lux tailgunner in the classifieds currently, it's this one: View attachment 498346 View attachment 498347

Nice jacket. I’ve got samples of Blattwerk from SB and the soft Italian horsehide from Aero. They seem very similar if not identical. The Aero soft Italian HH is especially nice.

 

[El Marro]

Anyway - I already found a much better option than any of these two.

Don’t leave me hanging man! Who???

 

[TartuWolf]

@El Marro
Found a mate in UK who will help me out. He'll just make the jacket go from 600gbp to 100gbp for me.

 

[Goel]

I got myself a B6 on a whim and to my surprise it's turned into my favorite winter jacket. Only thing to note is the sleeve opening is rather narrow which might not work with thicker gloves.

 

[Aloysius]

@El Marro
Found a mate in UK who will help me out. He'll just make the jacket go from 600gbp to 100gbp for me.

Is he planning to rob the machinist?

 

[CosmoSix5]

I really wanted the blatwork but after the samples were received I no longer wanted it lol. It was so so soft and flexible. It felt almost like it was fake. I chose the mustang brown for my V2. Waiting on a return email to see if my requirements could be met for production to begin.
For customs/duty I can say I paid $98usd for my Aero last month. It was 1,045£. And a lot of that went right into dhl's pocket. Very reasonable imo. The Simmons V2 is a lot less so I'm guessing around $70ish when it comes.

 

[onstar]

@Moostyle That's great fit for first SB jacket. It took me a few tries to understand how their sizing works. And that leather looks like Shinki mid brown to me. Just saying.

As for their history, well... We all came from somewhere, right? Even the great Edison has been accused of taking things that weren't his.

Here is my brown elg SB V2 with a custom dress collar (Roadster I believe) instead of the round one. It ages well with another brown tone underneath. SB was the only maker I found to provide this type of leather.
View attachment 403821

I like the SBV2 pattern, its short and tapered, so it was logical that I have it in different leather options:
Horween Lux (Very thick, very soft)
View attachment 403823
Clayton Horsehide (A bit too stiff for my taste)
View attachment 403825

I didn't have luck with their Xzip (Daytona). Could be my fault. But I've found them to have straight torso no taper and rather long, though that could be just my incorrect specs. These were my first SB's. And I am getting them tapered (altered), soon.
Horween Lux again. Really an underrated leather.
View attachment 403826

View attachment 403827

There was a case here where a member had similar negative experience with SB Xzip. So best to check on all the dimensions, P2P, waist, hem. Some of the SB patterns have straight torso to almost bell out at the bottom. Like the Montana (Aero Barnstormer copy, but no taper), and their old GT (Belstaff copy, no taper).

View attachment 403828
View attachment 403829

I agree with what RedDevil said about SB. They offer the most interesting leathers at a reasonable price. Just watch out for pattern dimensions. Simply ask for the waist and hem and length dims will solve this problem which I didn't do.

None of my SB jackets (purchased started 3 years ago) resemble any of my Aeros. I wish they were then I wouldn't have to guess on sizing, but they are not the same. SB has slimmer straighter sleeves and higher armholes and straighter body, more Thedi less Aero in terms of fits.

in for the SB

 

[Bfd70]

Really interested in their “city jacket with franklin and poe if anyone has one

 

[Unrefined Vision]

Really interested in their “city jacket with franklin and poe if anyone has one

I ordered one in the Japanese chocolate horsehide, which I believe comes from Shinki for what it's worth. Had a really positive experience with Franklin & Poe. Personally would recommend. Posted about it a while back. You can check it out if you want a little more in-depth.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...ty-chocolate-shinki-from-franklin-poe.119792/

 

[lina]

Really interested in their “city jacket with franklin and poe if anyone has one

I went in the shop and tried one on a year or so ago. A very friendly and helpful staff btw. Jacket fit just a little ****** than expected, leather maybe a little stiffer (though brand new of course). But felt like quality for sure.

 

[onstar]

I went in the shop and tried one on a year or so ago. A very friendly and helpful staff btw. Jacket fit just a little ****** than expected, leather maybe a little stiffer (though brand new of course). But felt like quality for sure.
View attachment 805020

Where is this shop?

 

[Bfd70]

I ordered one in the Japanese chocolate horsehide, which I believe comes from Shinki for what it's worth. Had a really positive experience with Franklin & Poe. Personally would recommend. Posted about it a while back. You can check it out if you want a little more in-depth.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/caamstore-appreciation-just-received-some-tasty-chocolate-shinki-from-franklin-poe.119792/

I had their 2 lane browntop. Regret selling it

 

[lina]

Where is this shop?

Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia.

 

[Rugby]

Whereabouts in Fishtown?

 

[lina]

Whereabouts in Fishtown?

Google Maps will tell you exactly.