Random Rants
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I just read this in the "Denim You Despise" thread on Superfuture.
**> Iron Heart is an interesting case. I have tremendous respect for the brand and can clearly see that everything they crank out is incredibly well made, but there's just something about it that feels kind of bland to me.
I feel like they have much more of a utilitarian aesthetic than many of the other Japanese Amekaji brands, and they're less interesting to me as a result. However, this probably translates a lot better for overseas markets than some of the more idiosyncratic Japanese stuff so it's a matter of taste, really. Plus, the fact that I just don't think most, if any, of their clothes would fit well on my tall, skinny frame.
Part of the appeal of brands like Flat Head, Redmoon, etc. is that it feel like they have a unique sort of flavor that carries across their whole range of products that resonates with me. In the case of those two, a western vibe that appeals to my Texas heritage, I guess.
As I've said before, I think RJB makes awesome quality clothes but I dislike the who billiard-room look found on a lot (but not all of) their clothes. A Japanese brand I really don't like is Tedman. I find all their devil baby iconography incredibly silly and think they're basically a parody of Amekaji excesses. It annoys me when half an issue of Lightning focuses on them.**
I composed a long reply to post, detailing that I once had similar thoughts until I experienced Iron Heart denim and clothing first hand, and appreciated the unique and stubborn quality of garments that don't give up their colour, shape, and stitching in the first three months you have them…....then I realised I couldn't be arsed to educate this guy as he sounds like a newly graduated university student, who is full of the importance of theory, with no practical experience of what he is professing to be an expert in.
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I dunno, he's entitled to his opinion. IH is most certainly workwear, which doesn't always appeal to all.
My personal opinion is that IH looks most in it's element on someone who's trying to unscrew a seized nut, not on someone sipping coffee out of a cup the size of my left testicle
And this guy's opinion is about the same as mine. IH has a utilitarian look to it. It just doesn't work for him.
Personally, I don't get the Native American motifs of Flat Head, but that's just me. My son is a quarter Native American, and he doesn't really get it either
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I get that he in entitled to his opinion, I just think his opinion is not based on experience. I've owned a fair amount of stuff made by Samurai, Flat Head, Oni, Sugar Cane etc…. but I've settled here for a reason, and based on experience of product. If he'd said something like , "I tried a pair of Iron Hearts, but they just weren't for me", then fair enough, but to dismiss without trying is errrrr.....a little to dismissive for me :-\
Plus, the fucker negs me every time I post a WAYWT, and now I know why, he has his little IH hatred axe to grind, hidden behind his polite rhetoric.
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Plus, the fucker negs me every time I post a WAYWT, and now I know why, he has his little IH hatred axe to grind, hidden behind his polite rhetoric.
Mega, get the fuck outta there
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I like talking about shoes and stuff though
Seriously, I'm not there anywhere near as much as I used to be though, it mostly just annoys me now.
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Eh, I thought the analysis was reasonable. If he doesn't like the utilitarian aesthetic, there's no point in trying on the clothes, so he can't comment on quality or longevity. I kind of agree with most of his points, actually.
The part about the "western" aspects of Flat Head stuff is why I don't like most of their gear. He right on with the Ted Man critique, too. Same could be said for Buzz Rickson's obsession with military motifs.
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I don't think the aesthetic is utilitarian though
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I think I've learned to be more dismissive as I've matured with my purchases. When I first started, Skull Jeans by an Alchemist was pretty hot, and I thought "well, I'm going to look like an asshole in that"
Well, a pair popped up at a price I couldn't resist. The fabric is still one of my favorites to this day…
...but I look like a jerk in them.
I tend to follow my gut when it comes to purchases now, especially since it's a real hassle for me to try things out and then return/sell them
I'm chalking it up to "knowing what I like"
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Meh, maybe I'm just being too dismissive of his opinion
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Though I wouldn't use his skinny/slim physique to merit his reason of dismissing IH's. I can pretty much fit under that category. Personally, TFH give me a more flattering look compared to the IH fit. But I feel as though IH's has a certain aspect to its quality than that of TFH. And the fact that they(IH) focus more on durability aspect rather than glam, is a real bonus for me.
He is entitled to his opinion but I also understand Mega's point of "try it before you judge it." That's what I did, and I fell in love with it. The only thing that really urks me is that it's under the "Denim You Despise" thread. Despise..really??
