Random questions to which you seek an answer

[Megatron1505]

I think that whether the newer products "make sense" or not is very much a matter of personal taste, but what doesn't, and hasn't changed is the quality, the thought of the design, and the love and attention which goes into Iron Heart garments.

Some of new stuff might be questionable from a biker aesthetic, but could Iron Heart succeed long term if it just stuck to biker inspired clothing? Take a look at (much as I hate to mention them) Supreme, who undoubtedly started as a brand inspired by, and primarily catering for Skaters. If they had stuck with that they wouldn't have been as successful as they are now (stores in Japan and the UK), this has come at a cost of argument from their original customers questioning if the brand has "sold out" from it's skater roots. I think that the answer is not necessarily that they have sold out, more that they have aged with their clientele, and their tastes (or at least the majority). Iron Heart/ Triple Works, and any other clothing manufacturer has to do the same just to maintain their customer base.

Tastes change in the main, some items will always be classic (straight cut jeans, type 3 jackets, western shirts etc…), but you can't maintain your customer base if that is all you manufacture, when your competitors are offering more and different.

[madmonday]

very true seul, i'm happy to be here.

@Giles:

3. In the early days of our relationship he refused to make something that I knew would sell well, but it just did not fit his aesthetic
4. When we get Triple Works off the ground again you will see a more rational approach to how we brand.  For instance, the Great White and possibly the Big Blue would have been branded Triple Works….

would love more info on 3 & i can see your logic with 4.  growing pains are a good thing, means we you are freckin' growing 

** i notice i tend to write we when talkin about IH & i have to go back & correct it, but you folks do have that impact (on me at least). we'll see how this thing goes 

[madmonday]

mega, glad you are here.  you bring a lot to the conversation.

oh & you forgot to mention the IHW-01 the new Iron Heart classic (we'll see how that holds up in 5/10/15 years

i don't think Iron Heart really care about what the competition is doing.  of course i really don't know, but from the product they usually put out they are going to their own wacky drum.

[bertoni]

I think you're right Megatron. Look at Viberg. They were making boots for lumberjacks up until 7-8 years ago. A call from Nepenthes and everything changed for them. The japanese market opened up along with a whole host of opportunities. The quality is still there but so is the diversity.
I still think one needs to be careful though not to dilute the image or qualkity. Can't see IH making that mistake as everyone involved seems aware of the pitfalls. I guess this forum has it's part to play in all that too which is what makes IH even more special in my eyes.

[Beatle]

qualkity ? word of the day in a highly philosophical conversation

[bertoni]

You just can't beat a bit of qualkity I say.

[Giles]

@madmonday:

would love more info on 3

[Megatron1505]

In a juxtaposed kind of way, I think that IH's success thus far is in no small part down to Haraki and Giles not following "trends". Innovate not imitate as they say, even something like the Deck jacket is a Haraki twist on a classic item (if Samurai had done it, it would have said "Samurai Motor Club" on the back in 18" rhinestone lettering). 

[GimpKid]

Loving Megas analysis.

But has there even been an IH product that has bombed completely? Even if you disagree with the direction, you can't disagree with the sales.

[Megatron1505]

Thanks GK, no idea about any IH products bombing, but I would doubt it.

[Giles]

That is a good question.  Nothing has ever really bombed.  Some stuff sells slowly, and sometimes I get bored of having stuff lying around, so I put it on special offer.  But in every case when I have done that, a few months later, I could have sold them at full price over and over again.

What appears to happen, is that as we get new customers, they see the quality of the stuff and the go through the back catalogue.

The IHJ-01 being a perfect example…..

Oh, I have just thought.  The silver bangles have just not sold........Never mind, Mme B and I have 4 wrists between us.....

[madmonday]

IHSH-10 was the slowest selling shirt per Giles a while back.  i thought it was a dope shirt, but it was cut very slim & i couldn't even squeeze into an XL

& you are right GK, numbers don't lie regardless of the direction of Iron Heart.

G responded while i was typing this.  of course i won't delete my post.  yeah put them all on special 

[madmonday]

@simon626:

What is the best shop to send in your jeans for repairs? Particularly crotch blowout?

why not take it into SE?

[yen]

@simon626:

What is the best shop to send in your jeans for repairs? Particularly crotch blowout?

If you are in the uk id recommend http://www.thedenimdoctor.co.uk/

[jimmy]

Mega is doing such a good job there really is nothing to add.

From a point of view from someone that does his own clothing line there has been more than couple of occasions where I got the blank look and people questioning why this piece is part of the brand.

Everyone perceive any brand slightly differently but really we are selling a part of us and though clothing, sharing our likes and interests. Not everything I like is going to be to your taste but at the end of the day IH is Haraki's label and if he likes every piece that he makes than in a way they all make sense

[Megatron1505]

Good post Jimmy, by that rationale people with good taste would be successful, people with bad taste wouldn't. Unless, of course, their name happens to be Jean Paul Gaultier, and there are a lot of insane people out there. 

I like Iron Heart because it manages to skirt around the workwear niche, the biker niche, the Americana classic niche, without being pinned down to any of them. There are traditional pieces made with a none traditional twist, and none traditional pieces made in a traditional manner.

[hectic]

Yes, I enjoyed Mega's thoughts too.

Also, and in danger sounding somewhat fanboy/partisan, it also relevant to consider the whole IH buying experience. The cost of IH products is critically augmented with the process of selection and purchase. If I have an issue I emphatically know that I will get good service; similarly I will derive buyers satisfaction from the choosing phase (browsing the forum, discussing cuts etc.).

Would I still buy IH product if it was via an anonymous web order from someone I know nothing about - probably, but the holistic, overall experience is deeply satisfying.

Remember people - shopping is a modern manifestation of ancient hunting/gathering - we need this shit (gene deep) and the more gnarly and visceral the experience, the better it will be.

[shutoko]

Regarding the striped tees, in a way they are more legitimate than flannels. If you look at old biker photos from the 60s/70s you don't see them wearing flannel much; what I heard is that they considered themselves outside of that whole blue collar flannel scene – they were into riding and partying not chopping down trees. You do see them in t-shirts sometimes striped ones. Mostly their clothes are solid colors. The Japanese motorcycle scene gets its inspiration from vintage biker photos in a big way and I couldn't say if the striped Ts are selling better or worse than flannels here but they are being sold at a number of other shops. Schott NYC has some nice ones at their retail store here.

The biggest fad right now in Japanese biker wear is striped pants like the ones Jack Nicholson wore in Rebel Rousers. At the Moon swap meet a couple months ago I would guess that 1/4 of the people there had them it was pretty ridiculous. God forbid Iron Heart ever start producing those…

Edit: Have a look at what these guys are doing, you can see what I mean about copying the vintage biker look: http://vise22.com/blog/2011/09/16–-2011-hi-blue-run-zero.html

[jimmy]

@hectic:

Would I still buy IH product if it was via an anonymous web order from someone I know nothing about - probably, but the holistic, overall experience is deeply satisfying.

Without G, the forum and you guys I properly would just have bought the 634S worn it a bit then put it into my sample archive as reference and moved on.

[injunjack]

I think Shutoko said pretty well the same I would have written, though he has first hand knowledge. I rely what I see on various biker blogs around the world.

re. silver bangles;  might be a pricing issue, or then guys in west just don't wear jewellery. (I do…)

And Shutoko. Striped pants like J.N. had are cool, but to be seen in masses might be too overwhelming
I've been trying to locate them, do you know where to get them?  (Nobody here has them, so they would  be cool, and folks could give me again odd looks about what I'm wearing. It's nice to be only one in Hickory stripe pants in a huge crowd of black and orange clad bikers who are sooooo cooool and badasses. LOL)