[Closed] Hebden Bridge Trouser Company

[quote=HebTroCo]

We worked exclusively with Shorties until February this year, when it became clear that demand far outstripped their capability to supply all the trousers we needed.

We separated out the needlecord and corduroy, and started to use another local factory less than 25 miles from Hebden Bridge to make these trousers.

This let Shorties concentrate on production of the navy and grey moleskin, our best sellers.

Moving to another factory allowed us to make some fit changes but at a significant cost to us. New pattern drafting is not cheap but customer feedback indicated these changes have improved our product. We reworded our website, so as not to claim everything was made solely in Hebden Bridge.

Orders continued with Shorties in Hebden Bridge.

We took our new pattern back to Shorties and asked them to make them for us. Unfortunately after a number of sample attempts from Shorties, we hadn't had achieved fit or trim results that allowed us to sell trousers from either factory as the same model.

For a time we concentrated our limited resources on developing a new cloth with English Fine Cottons. The Shorties post on our Facebook page discussing a business to business arrangement came as a shock.

In spite of 90% of our moleskin stock, and 60% of total current stock having been made by Shorties, we have respected Shorties request and removed all footage and marketing material which used imagery shot in the Shorties factory building.

Building our company, in solely and irrevocably working with just one supplier does, with hindsight, seem naive and foolish. But we never expected to sell 176 pairs of trousers in 5hrs 10mins either. Let alone go on to be where we are now.

We shall continue to work with crafts people in Hebden Bridge. Ruby Creagh and Tommy Greenwood make our belts in town, Satnam ships everything from the Post Office, Print Bureau do our print, Rachel designs our logos, Kimberley does our repairs and alterations and Sean ships and packs for us.

And in addition to this we have expanded to use other factories in the north of England.

Hope this clears things up.

Cheers

brant & Ed

Shafted.

Can you un-burn a witch?

We reworded our website, so as not to claim everything was made solely in Hebden Bridge.

Does this strike anyone else as a bit weaselly? The overriding impression from their website last week was that everything was made in Hebden Bridge. This is some months after production started elsewhere.

Doesn't say whether or not they still use Shorties though, I suspect not.

Can you un-burn a witch?

yes, you drown the corpse.

Doesn't say whether or not they still use Shorties though, I suspect not.

Seems to imply that they don't (and the rant from Shorties suggests they don't) - but if you placed an order today I guess the trews you'd get would likely have been made by Shorties, in the factory pictured in the town talked about so theres no un-truth to the site as it stood. And that'll continue to be the case until that stock is all sold out. So shorties have been happy to be paid to make that stock but they now want to undermine any attempts for that stock to be sold.

I'll beat a path to their door if I ever want anything made 🙂

Can you un-burn a witch?

I wonder if Shorties can un-burn a bridge.

Doesn't say whether or not they still use Shorties though, I suspect not.

From another Facebook comment:

As the weather was warming we had already concentrated our limited resources on developing a new cloth with English Fine Cottons. This two week delay from the end of May until the 15th June clearly agitated Mr Pickles, and though we hadn't had any communication from him, since his text of the 31st May, his post on our Facebook page discussing a business to business arrangement came as a shock.

In spite of 90% of our moleskin stock, and 60% of total stock that is held at this moment being made by Shorties, we followed his request and removed all footage and marketing material that we were aware of, that used imagery shot in the factory building he leases (having sold it to property developers some years ago).

[b]It is clear from his robust post that it is unlikely we will be working with them again. Though it's in some way rewarding to see that we have spurred him to launch his own direct brand.[/b]

So in essence:Saving Trousertown is achieved by manufacturing somewhere between Leeds and Manchester.

So in essence:Saving Trousertown is achieved by manufacturing somewhere between Leeds and Manchester.

Seems like there's a reason Trousertown doesn't make many pairs of trousers these days...

So in essence:Saving Trousertown is achieved by manufacturing somewhere between Leeds and Manchester.

🙂

Bit like saving the North by investing more in the South East.

So is Hebden Bridge good at making trousers or not..?

And if I wait and buy a pair in 6 months are they saying they'll be better quality than the ones they are making today / have in stock?

Genuine question as I was about to buy a pair until I saw this post, they seem to be saying the factory that has been making them to date can't make them good enough or fast enough?

There's nothing wrong with the originals. I have two pairs and they are indeed the best trousers that I have ever owned.

The issue appears to be that the original factory couldn't produce enough trousers to meet demand or a sample to the modified pattern to standardize the range, then their MD made that rather odd Facebook post.

Always bought Howies trousers but last couple of pairs (now made in China) have fallen to bits in no time. Need a new trouser sponsor

[i]The issue appears to be that the original factory couldn't produce enough trousers to meet demand or a sample to the modified pattern to standardize the range, then their MD made that rather odd Facebook post.[/i]

This, from what I can see.

I'm happy with my two pairs of moleskins and if they start doing a cotton trouser I'd buy them for use in warmer weather...

The issue appears to be that the original factory couldn't produce enough trousers to meet demand or a sample to the modified pattern to standardize the range, then their MD made that rather odd Facebook post.

1. HebTroCo engaged in some extremely sharp marketing practice
2. Shorties overreacted

Fair?

The issue appears to be that the original factory couldn't produce enough trousers to meet demand or a sample to the modified pattern to standardize the range, then their MD made that rather odd Facebook post.

This, from what I can see.

Yeah, that will be it...... Nothing to do with margins at all I should think.

Yep. Brant & Ed's Learjet doesn't run on tap water.

Huh, I'd thought this entire thread was satirical

Does this strike anyone else as a bit weaselly? The overriding impression from their website last week was that everything was made in Hebden Bridge. This is some months after production started elsewhere.

This is the issue for me (not an important one as I'm not their target customer to be fair.

The impression I got from the thread that vanished was that their website re-wording was done after the guy from the factory went public - i.e. up until then, despite the fact that they were sourcing production from elsewhere, they were still claiming it was all made in Hebden.

Does anyone know if that is in fact the case? I.e. does anyone know the chronology between facebook rant and website update? (and I don't mean the compliance with the request to remove stuff, I mean stopping saying that it was all made in Hebden Bridge)?

HebTroCo engaged in some extremely sharp marketing practice

I'm still not clear on what this is referring to.

According to the statement above they changed their website before this erupted.

So in essence:Saving Trousertown is achieved by manufacturing somewhere between Leeds and Manchester

Its still boom time for Hebden Bridge Post Office, seemingly. 🙂

i.e. up until then, despite the fact that they were sourcing production from elsewhere, they were still claiming it was all made in Hebden.

Pretty much everything they are selling is made in Hebden bridge. Other supply arrangements might have been in progress for future stock but the website was a fair reflection of what you would actually get if you bought something right now.

I'm still not clear on what this is referring to.
According to the statement above they changed their website before this erupted.

Does this strike anyone else as a bit weaselly? The overriding impression from their website last week was that everything was made in Hebden Bridge. This is some months after production started elsewhere.

According to the statement above they changed their website before this erupted.

The statement doesn't give any timing relative to the other events.

We worked exclusively with Shorties until February this year, when it became clear that demand far outstripped their capability to supply all the trousers we needed.

So the demand for trousers made in Hebden (a significant usp) was so huge they fulfilled it by making the product not in Hebden.

Hmmmmmmmm

Moving to another factory allowed us to make some fit changes but at a significant cost to us. New pattern drafting is not cheap but customer feedback indicated these changes have improved our product. We reworded our website, so as not to claim everything was made solely in Hebden Bridge.

This implies they changed things when they moved some production to the new factory. That happened several months ago - this bit I know for a fact as Ed told me this in the pub (in Hebden Bridge) several months ago.

This implies they changed things when they moved some production to the new factory. That happened several months ago

Does this strike anyone else as a bit weaselly? The overriding impression from their website [b]last week[/b] was that everything was made in Hebden Bridge. This is some months after production started elsewhere.

The overriding impression from their website last week was that everything was made in Hebden Bridge

That is just another (2nd hand) person's interpretation though isn't it, what did their website [i]actually [/i]say?

I don't actually care either way, but for some reason I do care about things being truthful and accurately reported.. off the internet archive to have a look... 😀

EDIT - wording today fromt he 'about' page

[i]"Everything we make is manufactured by factories and individual crafts people in the north of England."[/i]

Wayback machine doesn't have the 'about' page* archived so anyone got a copy of what it said last week?

The main page makes no specific mention of where the trousers are made on the May snapshot, which IS different to a snapshot from 2016

main page in May 2017

[i]"We will make you ...HebTroCo is about proper British trousers. This is modern workwear – whatever your work may be...."[/i]

main page in 2016

[i]"We will make you...HebTroCo is about proper British trousers. [b]Trousers made in a factory in Hebden Bridge[/b], West Yorkshire, England. This is modern workwear – whatever your work may be...."[/i]

change highlighted, so it does support what they said about having made changes prior to 'the incident' and just being called The Hebden Bridge Trouser company doesn't mean they can't source elsewhere as well, heck they could even do it all elsewhere as long as the company is based there/started there.

The overriding impression from their website last week was that everything was made in Hebden Bridge

The company name is quite a strong push to make that inference...

DUnno about that - plenty of bike shops have a town name in their title

Is it really that important they are made in Hebden Bridge or not?

Huh, I'd thought this entire thread was [b]sartorial[/b]

[quote=Mackem ]Is it really that important they are made in Hebden Bridge or not?

quite a lot of the initial marketing push was about "trousertown", meaning Hebden Bridge.

Perhaps they should move in to clogs.

The valley used to have quite a few clogg factories that have all but gone.

I'm looking for some new trousers. Does anybody have any suggestions on where I might be able to procure a pair or two?

Is it really that important they are made in Hebden Bridge or not?

Not to everyone, but this has clearly been damaging for what had become quite a strong brand.

The statement acknowledges in hindsight it was naive to effectively tie the brand to one supplier - who they've then fallen out with.

Can't blame anyone for that really, but it paints the brand into a bit of a corner.

shot in the factory building he leases (having sold it to property developers some years ago).

Meow!

just being called The Hebden Bridge Trouser company

Point of order, they're not called that.

quite a lot of the initial marketing push was about "trousertown", meaning Hebden Bridge.

I know, but even now a large proportion of the money is going through "trousertown", nonetheless why get so bothered? It was never a charity to help Hebden Bridge, it's 2 blokes making some money and some people getting trousers they like.

Is it really that important they are made in Hebden Bridge or not?

In terms of quality, probably not.

In other ways very much so. There's a growing trend for products to have a backstory, for example they don't necessarily need to be local, but they need to be someone relatable's local. You could buy trousers form M&S, but you don't want to, you just do it out of routine, so HebTroCo give you that little extra push in their direction with a backstory.

See also the demise of sausages, cheese, etc etc. You can't just buy cheap mature cheddar anymore, it has to be Cathedral City. It's probably the same dairy (Arla?) making it, but it's a product form somewhere. Ditto Sausages, it's all 'Debbie and Andrews', Bury, etc. I'd bet you neither Debbie nor Andrew made those sausages, but it's designed to trick you into thinking it's not just another big brand.

it's all a bit pants!

😀

(IGMC)

It's not uncommon to fall out with your suppliers in business, happens all the time.

I'm not saying I disagree, I applaud Brant and Ed for setting up a successful new business and supporting their local producers where possible.

The Hebden Bridge Trouser company

Point of order, they're not called that.

Noted*, however the point stands, even if they were that would not preclude them sourcing trousers from elsewhere.

* And you can surely forgive given the title of this very thread!

Is it really that important they are made in Hebden Bridge or not?

Possibly not to a lot of people. But to be fair, it did seem quite important to them when they launched the brand with a massive dollop of heritage marketing based purely on the location.

HebTroCo is about proper British trousers. Trousers made in a factory in Hebden Bridge,

HebTroCo are aiming to get the town known once again for what it was once so famous for. We want to continue and reinvigorate the manufacturing of trousers in Hebden Bridge and ensure that the tradition remains unbroken.

The HebTroCo aims to bring a trouser brand back to Hebden Bridge. We communicate and operate in modern 21st century ways but we keep traditional manufacturing techniques, allowing the factories and staff to keep working and growing.

We ship directly to you to keep overheads down. No high street rent or glitzy offices. Just brilliant trousers made in Trouser Town by skilled staff, sold directly to you.

I'm sure the trousers are still awesome though, as it sounds like they are still made in a similar way rather than mass produced in a sweatshop
So in that respect, no I don't suppose it does matter.