The State of the Art in Japanese Outerwear: Freewheelers and Co 2012-13 Collection!

[DavidJones]

Interesting Thanks for posting.

 

[Ishmael]

Thought there may be some interest in this. John Lofgren has a charity sale on his The Few jackets to raise funds for the Tohoku Earthquake relief. Good looking jackets.

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/speedway-shop/c/0000000511/

 

[indigoeagle]

Indigo Eagle, thanks for that link. I'm really liking these boots.

http://www.phaeton-co.com/?pid=52849358

Haha, when I was browsing their site yesterday, remembering our conversation on the RRL Ridgeway ropers, I was thinking you might like these.
Yes, they're pretty unique. Great stuff on that site.

 

[indigoeagle]

The OJ ones are not too shabby either.
http://www.phaeton-co.com/?pid=55336174
Alas, biggest size is 9.

 

[Ishmael]

Yeah, IE, I really like the two tone pecos. The OJs not so much.

I'm still looking for the perfect roper / pecos boot. I'd like something like these, but with square toe, thinner soles and a cuban heel.

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/mavazi/riosofmercedes_010?s-id=top_normal_browsehist

 

[indigoeagle]

Yeah, IE, I really like the two tone pecos. The OJs not so much.

I'm still looking for the perfect roper / pecos boot. I'd like something like these, but with square toe, thinner soles and a cuban heel.

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/mavazi/riosofmercedes_010?s-id=top_normal_browsehist

Perhaps you should order here.
http://www.beckboots.com/Beck Custom.htm

 

[Sloan1874]

I really some of those upper colour combinations, the turquoise, gold and black is particularly lovely. However, I'm not sure I could get away with them anywhere in Glasgow other than at its version of The Grand Ole Opry (it really does exist).

 

[Ishmael]

I need to make a trip to Texas.

A couple of stores have posted pics of the Brodovitch A-1 in cordouroy. Not the best pics, and I'm sure not to everyone's liking, but this really is an interesting fabric.

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/speedway-shop/1231026/

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/old-goat/10001313/

 

[Plumbline]

Of course you could ... I once saw a guy in full "Roy Rogers" get up in the Cart Bar in Pollok ...... he seemed oblivious to the fact that he was rather ... unique

I have a couple of Scully shirts ( ostentatiously western) that I wear regularly out ..... you'd fit right in with the Rockabilly crown Soanie

 

[Ishmael]

Hickorees in Brooklyn is carrying quite a bit of the FW lineup and it appears to be selling quite well.

This pea coat is so good.

http://www.hickorees.com/brand/freewheelers/product/1913-us-navy-overcoat

 

[IXL]

I really some of those upper colour combinations, the turquoise, gold and black is particularly lovely. However, I'm not sure I could get away with them anywhere in Glasgow other than at its version of The Grand Ole Opry (it really does exist).

"Grand Ole Opry in Glasgow"....that just made me giggle.

 

[IXL]

Of course you could ... I once saw a guy in full "Roy Rogers" get up in the Cart Bar in Pollok ...... he seemed oblivious to the fact that he was rather ... unique

I have a couple of Scully shirts ( ostentatiously western) that I wear regularly out ..... you'd fit right in with the Rockabilly crown Soanie

There is a place in the Stockyards, in Oklahoma City, that carries all the Scully line. Many of us wear their clothing while engaging in Cowboy Action Shooting matches, or maybe just going to church.....

 

[Blackadder]

But that, my friend, is the nub of the issue. Yes they were produced in the US, and yes, they were selfedge. But the very LAST thing they were was "high end". They were "workwear", sold at workwear prices. The idea that workwear could ever be high end was, in the 60's, laughable.

Nowadays, folks who weren't around back then have bought the lie, completely. Jeans are either "vintage" or "designer" - and if they are cheap, they must be crap.

Yes, the Japanese market is, in relative terms, big. But, whichever way you look at it, the rest of the World is a bigger market. But the Japanese manufacturers ignore it. Maybe the rest of the world is less gullible??

It is not just the Japanese. Take a look at Rising Sun repro of Neustadter Brothers and A.B. ELFELT & Co. The former costs Euro 500. There is also the Mr Freedom. As for the prices, in addition to paying for the workmanship, you are paying for the quality control. The cost of the rejects are factored into the prices. Workwear in the old days is not subjected to the QC they have now. Take for example, the Japanese makers will not likely tolerate any un-matched hide on any of their A-2 repros while this lack of QC is said to be more authentic and genuine for the war era. Salesperson at Real McCoy Tokyo went over the Buco J-22 my friend bought inch by inch to make sure there is not a single defect before they let my friend leave with the good. You see all those rejects on Aero sales page, you have to wonder what happened to the Japanese makers' rejects or even LVC's for that matter since its half-belt in the 2003 collection was made by Aero.

 

[SLAB]

okay, this is definitely my favorite version of the brodovitch (and its cheaper than the other versions) pictures from genco clothing

 

[Sloan1874]

Actually, yeah, I really love that. Low-key but really stylish and warm-looking.

 

[Ishmael]

I haven't seen the jacket in person, but I saw their pants in that fabric. One of the more "luxurious" corduroys I've seen, if that makes sense. They call it "printed corduroy fabric". Not sure what that means exactly.

http://www.hickorees.com/brand/free...ey-overalls-work-pants-brown-printed-corduroy

I agree, the A-1 is really nice. But, for some reason, I keep seeing it in my mind as a child's jacket. Maybe too cute and cuddly? Maybe I had something like this as a kid? Who knows.....

 

[SLAB]

well, I do associate corduroy with my childhood; my parents made me wear corduroy pants in the early eighties (which i didnt like to). That said, i can see myself rocking this; I dont see the 'cuteness' of this jacket?

 

[Graemsay]

I'm liking the The Few J-100 a lot. Looking at the measurements, it seems to be cut a bit longer than is typical for a Cafe Racer.

 

[Ishmael]

I'm sure it's just my association of corduroy with childhood that leads to cute and cuddly. I'm sure when the wild FW guys post fit pics I'll change my tune quickly.

The only The FEW jacket I've ever tried on was the Stormers at Mushmans. It was crazy short.

 

[Graemsay]

At 6'3" with a 47" chest, I don't think that I'm going to fit into anything by any of the Japanese makers.

I've got a Good Wear on order, and I'm currently leaning towards getting a Californian Racer, but built a couple of inches longer. So proportionally it'd be something like a 27" or 28" sleeve, and 29" or 30" back. So an extended version of The Few's piece.