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    Iron Heart Forum

    Discover our "What Is?" section to learn more about denim!

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

    General Chat
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    • 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
                          • GilesG
                            Giles
                            IHUK Crew
                            Joined:

                            @mclaincausey:

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

                            That's a YKK

                            "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
                            • SeulS
                              Seul
                              Joined:

                              Boom.

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

                                I'm have been putting some Riri on some of my latest Alexanders….......Most of them have been sent back to be YKK'd.....

                                Don't get me wrong, the Riri are exquisite. But they are, how do I put this, a bit girly......

                                "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
                                • mclaincauseyM
                                  mclaincausey
                                  見習いボス
                                  Joined:

                                  @Giles:

                                  @mclaincausey:

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

                                  That's a YKK

                                  Yep, meant to point that out in the post; thanks!

                                  Think it, be it.

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • JCMx800J
                                    JCMx800
                                    Raw and Unwashed
                                    Joined:

                                    I have a Riri zip on my Wallet, its cool for stuff like that, but I can´t imagine an IH product with a Riri zip. The YKK zips on my IH sweats and jackets are really cool and working, never had a problem.

                                    Les Paul -> ProCo Rat -> Super HardOn -> JCM800 Low Input
                                    XXX

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

                                      Never owned a Riri, but the Talon on my superblacks is amazing. for some reason I imagine something like this for the IHSW-10: http://www.talonzippers.com/fasteners/zippers/vintage/

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

                                        Guys, can we just zip it…  😠

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • georgeelG
                                          georgeel
                                          Joined:

                                          What about an IH-634Z ?

                                          IH-888S-142OD

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

                                            Received an vintage 5Brother flannel from @Megatron1505 .
                                            One impressing detail: A collar stay. The stays ensure that the collar lies flat against the collarbone, looking crisp and remaining in the correct place. But they are plastic and not removable.

                                            Can you do a prototype shirt with pockets on the underside of the shirt.
                                            If that works, everybody can decide on his own, to put strips such as brass, ssteel, mother of pearl or nothing in the pockets.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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