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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    We know you love IH, but where do you think we can improve?

    General Chat
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    • S
      Snowy
      Joined:

      I'd like to see YKK zippers dropped from the line up. I know they're strongly functional and of a high grade within YKK's gamut, so highly unlikely, however, I'd like to see other zippers. Maybe a pet peeve of mine, but a non-YKK zippers help sway me to purchases. It shows a blend of form and function, not just one or the other. I'd happily pay a few extra dollars for something without the YKK zipper.

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • GilesG
        Giles
        IHUK Crew
        Joined:

        What's up with YKK? Serious question.

        "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

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • hajdukH
          hajduk
          啓蒙家
          Joined:

          Giles,
          Can it be possible for IHUK, to have human ressources in a near future to propose denim repairs on any IH products? Buttons, holes…full range of repairs. Level SE repairs or IHJP.
          I tried here in Europe, Denim Doc...few ones...nice people, contact. But patches is used and you have to call them, explain every single details, pay an amount included shipping rate quiet big...

          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

          "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have" James Baldwin.

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • GilesG
            Giles
            IHUK Crew
            Joined:

            We are in the process of sorting this out.  We have the singer darning machine now, we just need to get our arse into gear and get it all sorted…...

            "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

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • hajdukH
              hajduk
              啓蒙家
              Joined:

              You know what Giles?
              This is a great news! A really great one!  Seriously!

              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

              "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have" James Baldwin.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • gratefulmelonG
                gratefulmelon
                Joined:

                ^Agreed! I've got a couple pair to send your way for repairs as soon as ya'll are ready.

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • DougNgD
                  DougNg
                  Joined:

                  I've said it before, I'll keep saying it: a Haraki interpretation of the MA-1

                  I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • mclaincauseyM
                    mclaincausey
                    見習いボス
                    Joined:

                    I think YKK is the best zipper company in the world. Extremely vertically integrated, diverse, quality products at good price points. The IH two way on my car coat is outstanding.

                    Think it, be it.

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • S
                      Snowy
                      Joined:

                      @Giles:

                      What's up with YKK? Serious question.

                      @mclaincausey:

                      I think YKK is the best zipper company in the world. Extremely vertically integrated, diverse, quality products at good price points. The IH two way on my car coat is outstanding.

                      MCL, I agree they're the best zipper company in the world. They're a domination for sure, and consistently deliver reliable results on BILLION of items, no doubt there.

                      G, it's definitely emotional/personal. The feel of a Riri or Talon or other high end zipper (esp Riri as I've had a few more of those over the years), the touch is better in the hand, the smoothness when zipping is a 'zing' where you really feel it. I've never felt that with a YKK Zip. The IHSW-02 comes as close as I've had but not quite. Add at/near the price point I like the idea of a subtle show off for those 'in the know'. It's premium quality, best in the world clothing as is, the YKK zip doesn't give/show that nod.

                      It's not for functional reasons in short, and I doubt it'll get traction, but hey, it's the subject of the thread to discuss 🙂

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • S
                        Snowy
                        Joined:

                        On YKK, interestingly enough;
                        Why YKK? - The mysterious Japanese company behind the world’s best zippers.
                        http://www.slate.com/articles/business/branded/2012/04/ykk_zippers_why_so_many_designers_use_them_.html

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • Megatron1505M
                          Megatron1505
                          見習いボス
                          Joined:

                          Having owned Visvim jackets with Riri zippers, and more recently jackets with the modern interpretation of Talon zippers, I would take YKK all day long. The smooth zipping action is nothing compared to the sheer toughness and longevity of YKK, purely down to this they are a much better fit for IH.

                          Made in England, clothed in Japan, fed in America and drunk in Belgium !

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • ChrisC
                            Chris
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined:

                            The IHSH-91 has red bar tacking on the pockets and orange chainstitching on the inside of the placket.  I think it would look better if the colors matched, preferably both red.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • SeulS
                              Seul
                              Joined:

                              ^Legit concern. Same for the 92.

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • S
                                Snowy
                                Joined:

                                @Megatron1505:

                                Having owned Visvim jackets with Riri zippers, and more recently jackets with the modern interpretation of Talon zippers, I would take YKK all day long. The smooth zipping action is nothing compared to the sheer toughness and longevity of YKK, purely down to this they are a much better fit for IH.

                                I get that, my original post still holds true as is too

                                @Snowy:

                                Maybe a pet peeve of mine, but a non-YKK zippers help sway me to purchases. It shows a blend of form and function, not just one or the other. I'd happily pay a few extra dollars for something without the YKK zipper.

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • 4c4
                                  4c
                                  Banned
                                  Joined:

                                  ^ Feel the same way as snowy about YKK zippers.

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • mclaincauseyM
                                    mclaincausey
                                    見習いボス
                                    Joined:

                                    I don't think you can reasonably make broad statements about YKK. They have a hugely diversified portfolio and value chain. For example, the Universal zipper on my IH hoodie was manufactured in Kentucky by an old domestic fastener company, Universal, which was acquired by YKK.

                                    Think it, be it.

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • 4c4
                                      4c
                                      Banned
                                      Joined:

                                      @mclaincausey:

                                      For example, the Universal zipper on my IH hoodie was manufactured in Kentucky by an old domestic fastener company, Universal, which was acquired by YKK.

                                      How on earth did you find that out?? That’s awesome…
                                      Still don’t like how my zipper on my IHSW-10 seems to not want to always stay 100% up on my motorcycle anymore though.  😞

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • mclaincauseyM
                                        mclaincausey
                                        見習いボス
                                        Joined:

                                        I just read the zipper pull. I think I'm wrong about KY, looks to be TN for mass scale manufacture: http://www.universal-fasteners.com/corporate/

                                        I think the Universal on my IH hoodie is FAR better than the aluminum Waldes (made in JP) zipper on the Strike Gold hoodie.

                                        Think it, be it.

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • Megatron1505M
                                          Megatron1505
                                          見習いボス
                                          Joined:

                                          Honestly, I think it's as simple as the zippers which H selects for IH gear really suit them. Siri, Talon, Waldes etc… all tend to be a bit more delicate and refined, putting them on heavy duty gear would not be right in my opinion.

                                          Made in England, clothed in Japan, fed in America and drunk in Belgium !

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • mclaincauseyM
                                            mclaincausey
                                            見習いボス
                                            Joined:

                                            The NOS Talons are beastly though. Particularly the brass one on my RMC deck jacket.

                                            Big fan of the Iron Heart two-way zipper on my McLain. Talk about heavy-duty!

                                            To get the thread back on track, I mentioned elsewhere that there could be community- or IH-driven WAYWT competitions decided by community vote. I think that would be fun. You could do item-specific ones, or ones where you post daily fitpics over some interval…. Just spitballin.

                                            Think it, be it.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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