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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Live Reveal - Thursday 12th of June at 1700BST

    Reddit - Ask me Anything (AMA)

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    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      @jdl1279:

      Wow, that's gotta make folks buying from Japan sting all the more (sorry knowing as I do now I would have dug deeper, promise you'll get the balance in the long run). Do you know with all of that where you end up per pair? Sorry I can be off, profit margins and debt footprints interest me.

      We work on the basis that we do not need to make the same margin off everything we sell.  Margins on silver, leather and the 25oz are awful.  If that was all we sold, we'd go bust.  But we strive for an average margin that is acceptable, so yes, we make more on some items (the IH-634S being a prime example - we make so many of them our costs are reasonably low)…...

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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      • J
        jdl1279
        Joined:

        I am glad there is some room for you after the trials of production. I understand no two things in any business carry the same margins, I have also been in the position where trouble jobs make your end barely worth the effort. The determination to get through the issues, even with a smaller margin, and then continue to expand the offerings in the difficult area is what impresses me. You have to bust your ass to make that work, tons of respect for it.

        Bourbon: because living in Kentucky just makes you want to drink

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        • S
          sabergirl
          見習いボス
          Joined:

          This was so fascinating to read!  Thanks for taking the time, Giles.  I'm interested to know what happens to the scrap denim that can't be salvaged for pockets or other products.

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          • GilesG
            Giles
            IHUK Crew
            Joined:

            We find projects eventually for them….

            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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            • S
              sabergirl
              見習いボス
              Joined:

              Lovely!  It would seem a shame to waste such top quality materials.  I'd love to see what little things y'all have come up with.

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              • mclaincauseyM
                mclaincausey
                見習いボス
                Joined:

                Coasters!

                Think it, be it.

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                • S
                  sabergirl
                  見習いボス
                  Joined:

                  Have there been 25oz. coasters, though?!

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                  • mclaincauseyM
                    mclaincausey
                    見習いボス
                    Joined:

                    Paraffin something would be great

                    Think it, be it.

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                    • seanoconoS
                      seanocono
                      Joined:

                      Just finished reading through the AMA.  Congratulations, Giles.  You knocked that out of the park.  If I weren't a huge fan of IH already, I would be after reading your thoughtful, direct, and informed responses.

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                      • GilesG
                        Giles
                        IHUK Crew
                        Joined:

                        Where is the blushing emoticon when you need one?

                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                        • veloaudioV
                          veloaudio
                          Raw and Unwashed
                          Joined:

                          Well put Sean.  I was trying to think of a good way to sum up my reaction after reading the AMA but you captured my thoughts perfectly. Congrats G and IH on the great exposure.

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                          • irishexpatI
                            irishexpat
                            Joined:

                            @mclaincausey:

                            Coasters!

                            i want some too now.

                            Iron Heart, Empty Wallet

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                            • J
                              jdl1279
                              Joined:

                              ^third, since I saw Seul's my beers seem lonely.

                              Bourbon: because living in Kentucky just makes you want to drink

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                              • 4c4
                                4c
                                Banned
                                Joined:

                                Very cool read…  .
                                I always assumed IH used Supima for the US long staple cotton in the jeans. But then I read this: “OK I heard from Haraki. Fairly adamant reply:
                                "We don't use PIMA in our denim and I won't use it."”

                                I have this burning question about the cotton now. I should start by saying that I’m somewhat obsessed with cotton and am really impressed with the cotton used in my IH jeans and sweatshirt and my cotton obsessions are urging me to find out what variety of cotton IH uses. However, there are a few points about IH cotton that make it wonderfully unique and hard to identify:

                                • It’s not the GE (BT toxin producing or herbicide tolerant) variety…
                                                (which rules out about 90%+ of  US cotton…)
                                • It’s not US Pima AKA Supima (which rules out about 3%)

                                So that leaves about 6-7% which it could be, but it’s long staple cotton (which is rare outside of Supima cotton in the US and rules out all Upland cotton and most of the other 6-7% left over) so it must be some super rare cotton variety that’s not even on the radar of commercial cotton growers…

                                Which all leads to the question: What kind is it? Is it a secret? Is it some rare heirloom or breed of cotton that other companies don’t find cost effective, but IH uses for its extreme durability/softness? A US Zimbabwean cotton equivalent that’s better than Supima?
                                Vary fascinated to hear… certainly no rush though.

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                                • GilesG
                                  Giles
                                  IHUK Crew
                                  Joined:

                                  Haraki & and Ono-san sit down and work out what Haraki needs out of the finished fabric.  There are certain things Haraki just does care about (though Pima is obviously something he is not keen on).  Does X do the job?  Yes.  Good.

                                  I can also tell when he feels a question is unnecessary and he is irritated.  This is one of them.

                                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                                  • FridayF
                                    Friday
                                    Joined:

                                    Congrats on the AMA G-San. Learned a lot.

                                    Tough, heavy and ready! = IRON HEART

                                    ~Shinici Haraki~

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                                    • madmondayM
                                      madmonday
                                      Raw and Unwashed
                                      Joined:

                                      so G$, who ghost wrote those responses on the AMA?  you came off to me very knowledgable, funny, passionate & straight forward . . . . so I know Winchy or Paula had to be taking care of it while you were fishing or getting a pedicure 😉

                                      great job & way to be proactive in reaching a wider audience through the world wide webs

                                      head high, middle finger higher

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                                      • GilesG
                                        Giles
                                        IHUK Crew
                                        Joined:

                                        😉 😉  So this is how it went.  I was in the office for most of the time.  I fired off the responses.  Paula was at home, logged in as me, and she would edit my appalling spelling, grammar, punctuation and typos…...

                                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                                        • FergzF
                                          Fergz
                                          Raw and Unwashed
                                          Joined:

                                          Kudos Giles. I really enjoyed reading the AMA thread. Learned lots of interesting stuff and you came across really well. Down to earth, honest and more than anything passionate. You are where you are because you and the team made it happen. Imagine if Haraki san had not replied to that email! Then again there's a divinity that shapes our ends as The Bard himself would put it.

                                          "Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission"

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                                          • 4c4
                                            4c
                                            Banned
                                            Joined:

                                            @Giles:

                                            Haraki & and Ono-san sit down and work out what Haraki needs out of the finished fabric.  There are certain things Haraki just does care about (though Pima is obviously something he is not keen on).  Does X do the job?  Yes.  Good.

                                            I can also tell when he feels a question is unnecessary and he is irritated.  This is one of them.

                                            Maybe it’s for the best than… There is something about this mystery that is best enjoyed mysterious. What I have learned though is that IH long staple cotton is approximately equivalent to Zimbabwean (another super rare variety virtually unknown to commercial cotton growers), but is US grown and is not US Pima. If I were to hear the name of the cotton chances are it would be incoherent anyway. It’s just cool to know that the cotton is super quality US cotton, but not Supima (better than Supima I assume). This would lead me to believe that the cotton is super rare, superior even to superior Pima (AKA Supima), and virtually iron heart exclusive. This fact is most interesting and makes me even more fascinated and excited about iron heart clothing. 😉

                                            Edit: Comparison between Levis cotton and Iron Heart cotton. Hint: Iron Heart cotton is longer, fluffier, and generally looks more appealing.

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