4 ms·

There are a few excellent UK-made brands out there, although it's on the expensive side it's definitely quality stuff that lasts : Mackintosh, Drake's, Barbour

by Bayart 5y ago

There are a few excellent UK-made brands out there, although it's on the expensive side it's definitely quality stuff that lasts : Mackintosh, Drake's, Barbour (depending on the price range), Sunspel, Private White V.C., John Smedley, Colhay's etc. I'm personally a huge fan of S.E.H Kelly. And of course there are still the venerable shoe makers of Northampshire which in my opinion remain the best industrial ready-to-wear shoemaking in the world (with a few exceptions, namely Carmina and J.M. Weston) : Edward Green, Crockett & Jones, Cheaney, Church's, Grenson etc. I'm myself a regular Crockett & Jones customer as they make the only size + width combination I've found in ready-to-wear that matches my feet really well. Of course it's a rather militant way of looking at clothing and it's all pretty expensive stuff but : - Frankly it's affordable if you've got an engineer's comp. - It keeps its value well on the second-hand market.

Xenoamorphous 5y ago
But then if someone hears what a pair of Edward Green shoes or SEH Kelly coat costs they’d look at you like you’re insane. PS my C&J Islays are probably my favourite boots, and I’ve got a ventile raincoat from Private White. Some day I’ll def buy something from SEH Kelly, although most of their stuff might be too warm for Spain.
yodelshady 5y ago
The heuristic seems to be: have a brand name but *not* one you'll see on the high street. If it is on the high street, it's expensive in order to fund advertising, not higher quality.
- Bayart 5y ago
  You've basically got it right when it comes to marking. All the brands I've mentionned, and really all the reputable clothing / shoeing companies, have a production cost that's around 50% of the retail price. Add in all the miscelanous costs and the final margin isn't that high. For the largest of them "marketing" is having a few stores in key areas (London, Paris, NY) and a stall at some events. If you take that formula and input marketing, you've got luxury companies : great craftsmanship at inflated prices.

by Bayart 5y ago

Xenoamorphous 5y ago

But then if someone hears what a pair of Edward Green shoes or SEH Kelly coat costs they’d look at you like you’re insane. PS my C&J Islays are probably my favourite boots, and I’ve got a ventile raincoat from Private White. Some day I’ll def buy something from SEH Kelly, although most of their stuff might be too warm for Spain.

yodelshady 5y ago

The heuristic seems to be: have a brand name but *not* one you'll see on the high street. If it is on the high street, it's expensive in order to fund advertising, not higher quality.

Bayart 5y ago
You've basically got it right when it comes to marking. All the brands I've mentionned, and really all the reputable clothing / shoeing companies, have a production cost that's around 50% of the retail price. Add in all the miscelanous costs and the final margin isn't that high. For the largest of them "marketing" is having a few stores in key areas (London, Paris, NY) and a stall at some events. If you take that formula and input marketing, you've got luxury companies : great craftsmanship at inflated prices.