Brand new Orvis Himel jacket for sale on ebay - bid is at $56 - size medium.

[BobJ]

Brand new Orvis Himel jacket for sale on ebay - bid is at $56 - size medium.

I imagine it will go higher, but still might be a good deal for a medium sized guy around here.

LINK: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Orvis-Hime...5&sd=302511251298&_trksid=p5411.c100167.m2940

 

[Guppy]

It has a reserve price, so I imagine it will not be the steal that it currently looks like if it does sell.

 

[tmitchell59]

This one just sold on a Best Offer. I thought about it, but the damage looked to be more than a seam repair.

 

[Harris HTM]

I am no specialist but indeed this does not seem just a seam repair. It seems that it is not the thread that failed but the leather has ripped between the stitch-holes. One could say that with a high stitch-count the stitch-holes are much closer to each other.

This one just sold on a Best Offer. I thought about it, but the damage looked to be more than a seam repair.

 

[Sloan1874]

I suspect the leather has been skived as well - thinned - to get the seams to sit flat. Combined with the high stitch count, you've got serious risk that, under stress, the leather will tear like postage stamp perforations in much the way the eBay example has.

 

[ton312]

Indeed that jacket may as well be repurposed into something else, perhaps a handbag. That leather is torn and I believe we've speculated this possibility around here in the past. This is proof positive. I'd be screaming mad if that were my jacket.

 

[Harris HTM]

I believe we've speculated this possibility around here in the past.

Right to the point. I also remember people arguing against such a possibility.

 

[ton312]

Right to the point. I also remember people arguing against such a possibility.

Me too. It seems the proof is in the pudding. In any case, the rage and sorrow I would feel having spent well over $1K for a such a thing....is hard to measure.

 

[Harris HTM]

Me too. It seems the proof is in the pudding. In any case, the rage and sorrow I would feel having spent well over $1K for a such a thing....is hard to measure.

I had something similar with a 100$ sweater. Believe me, it hurts no matter how it costs. But I guess it hurts more when you spent over 1000$ on a "laser-precision stitched" jacket.

 

[Guppy]

I am no specialist but indeed this does not seem just a seam repair. It seems that it is not the thread that failed but the leather has ripped between the stitch-holes. One could say that with a high stitch-count the stitch-holes are much closer to each other.

It'd be great if David Himel could comment here on this. I don't know what happened to cause that seam failure, but it seems like something that should have been covered by warranty.

 

[ton312]

It'd be great if David Himel could comment here on this. I don't know what happened to cause that seam failure, but it seems like something that should have been covered by warranty.

Given that the leather is torn the entire pattern would have to be reduced in size to recreate that seam. Maybe the dude stuffed himself into it/ hulked out? I don't know but a tear like that simply shouldn't happen. I'm not convinced that damage could be effectively/satisfactorily repaired.

 

[Sloan1874]

Given the 'tear along the perforated line' damage, you'd need to replace the whole panel - expensive and time consuming to the point I reckon it would be cheaper just to make a whole new jacket.

 

[Superfluous]

I have no idea what happened with this jacket, nor will I speculate. I agree that, under normal circumstances, it should not have happened.

I do find it amusing how several members here use a single example of a single seam failure to opine that the design is fundamentally flawed, the stitch holes are too close and/or all similarly designed seams are prone to fail. Himel has hundreds of jackets in circulation and this is the first time I have heard of a seam failing. Therefore, this particular occurrence does not even remotely evidence a shortcoming in the design of the seam or the spacing of the stitch holes.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Me too. It seems the proof is in the pudding. In any case, the rage and sorrow I would feel having spent well over $1K for a such a thing....is hard to measure.

@Benj and I have talked privately about this and speaking for myself at least, I have to now admit that the stitch count is possibly the culprit here.

However, My personal jacket feels perfectly substantial and have no fears about something like this happening.

There are other makers that have stitch count similar to Himel and as @Superfluous said, this is the only time we have seen something like this happen to a Himel jacket.

 

[BobJ]

What is the yellow stuff coning out of this wound?:

 

[ton312]

What is the yellow stuff coning out of this wound?:

I believe that's just the rough out side of the leather. Since it's torn the break is not clean. Additionally, to clarify, my point is not directed exclusively at DH jackets (plenty of makers stitch equally tight). We have argued this possibility in the past with shaved seam joints and higher stitch counts. Some contend this does not have any effect on integrity while others believe the thinner folds and increased perforations in the leather will adversely effect integrity. I believe the latter though I don't think under normal wear and tear it will likely be an issue. I do believe the jacket in question represents a worst case sceanario and also illustrates exactly the kind of failure that is possible with this method of construction.
Conversely, I've seen pictures of Vanson jackets that have slid across pavement and don't lose a seam, but I suppose it's at least fair to assume at some point somebody, somewhere had this same thing happen to a Vanson or Aero what have you.

 

[A-1]

I don’t believe the majority of Himel jacket wearers plan on giving it a concrete slide. Most of them, including other buyers of high-end makers, are buying them for fashionable reasons. I mean, even here there are just a very few people I have seen to put their leather jackets to very hard use. Most of the jackets in this forum look brand new or hardly worn. There is a small amount of real vintage stuff, but just a few who wore the hell out of their leather jackets themselves. I’m not judging, I’m just observing.
My point is that, even if the stitch count might be problem, we won’t see many cases of this happening because most of the Himel customers rather pamper/care for their jackets and treat them like beautiful prestige objects (which they are btw).

 

[Superfluous]

I don’t believe the majority of Himel jacket wearers plan on giving it a concrete slide. Most of them, including other buyers of high-end makers, are buying them for fashionable reasons. I mean, even here there are just a very few people I have seen to put their leather jackets to very hard use.

 

[Fanch]

Most everything I own is babied, including my GW/Himel Ventura. I think that @Superfluous probably has the best take on the situation. One can only speculate what might have happened.

 

[ton312]

I don’t believe the majority of Himel jacket wearers plan on giving it a concrete slide. Most of them, including other buyers of high-end makers, are buying them for fashionable reasons. I mean, even here there are just a very few people I have seen to put their leather jackets to very hard use. Most of the jackets in this forum look brand new or hardly worn. There is a small amount of real vintage stuff, but just a few who wore the hell out of their leather jackets themselves. I’m not judging, I’m just observing.
My point is that, even if the stitch count might be problem, we won’t see many cases of this happening because most of the Himel customers rather pamper/care for their jackets and treat them like beautiful prestige objects (which they are btw).

The initial discussion (from way back when) was IF this type of seam skiving/stitching could potentially cause an increased risk/failure point. I think it only makes sense that the more holes you put into something the weaker it becomes. I would also agree that it's highly UNLIKELY we'll ever see such a thing again...but from the looks of that jacket it wasn't hard use that caused it to fail. It's simply torn leather at a stress point where the skiving and stitching were in fact the culprit.