Guppy
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,333
- Location
- Cleveland, OH
I intentionally avoided discussing SB’s history in this thread – not because my opinion of SB has diminished over time, but rather, because I sought to avoid the backlash by certain members who favor SB and prefer to move beyond the company’s origins. I bit my tongue when others brought up SB’s alleged use of patterns stolen from Aero and the associated immorality.
I felt much the same as you did, but then I went ahead and bought a SB jacket, much to my own surprise.
My rationale is as follows:
0) I completely respect the opinions of those who would not buy anything from SB under any circumstances.
1) Aero and AL had their day in court. A guilty party went to prison, there was some manner of restitution. It's settled. And in the end, SB was allowed to remain in business.
2) The SB models that are clear ripoffs of Aero patterns, I will not, would never, buy, because of the fact that they stole those patterns. I'm honestly surprised that the courts didn't put a stop to that. I don't know the law in the UK, but arguably, they should have.
On the other hand...
3) I did buy a unique design (so far, a one-off) from SB that could not be obtained anywhere else. So, I guess that's where I draw the line.
4) And it was on sale through their Outlet store. (So, there wasn't as much profit in it for them.)
5) For what it's worth, it's well-made and the materials and execution are as good as anything in my closets, which is saying something.
6) For what it's worth, their customer service, so far as I interacted with them, was quite good.
Most of their non-Aero sourced designs aren't interesting to me, but the Statesman that I bought, I really like. They are also slightly less expensive, and offer different options in terms of leathers, linings, etc.
I'll always think of Aero first, but I do think it's good that there's competition in the market. People who don't want to forgive SB their past don't have to, and I won't argue with them; I'm just stating why I was able to.