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Yes it's the same old problem for the few of us that manufacture or make stuff in the U.K.
It takes time to make bespoke items. Wages in the U'K are higher as are stock prices.
Often on STW you lot are aghast at the price of made to measure curtains (which is what I do for a living). Believe me after making a pair I am often earning less than the national living wage. I can only make things work if people buy the linings or the poles and tracks I can provide to make up the money.
I am proud to say the curtains, cushions and Roman blinds I make last years and years. There in itself is another problem, meaning a customer may not return for quite a few years. Luckily I have many customers.
If you want quality products, made by skilled people, Made in Britain, then there is a price to pay.
I for one am willing to support our economy, support the many small business people (who work very hard) and I think it's money well spent.
Theres making a profit and then theres taking the hit and miss.
Best not cost up your mountain bike then...
They are not taking the “hit and miss”… they are not manufacturing on the same scale or by the same means as a company like Levi… who do you think is making the real money out of selling you jeans?
Theres making a profit and then theres taking the hit and miss.
The vast majority of high street clothing is made in the Far East.
What % profit do you think the likes of New Look make on the stuff they sell? Do you think it is less than what the Hebden Bridge company makes?
Theres making a profit and then theres taking the hit and miss.
How much do you think it costs to make them? How much profit is allowed in your world?
Hardly rolling in cash, you can see their accounts here:
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09958194/filing-history
Hmmm just had a look at these and I’d agree £125 is a looooooot of money. Might be worth it if they last I suppose.
My only issue is that the cut doesn’t look like it’ll fit round my frankly daft sized calves and thighs, nicely sculpted from 30 years of sprinting and mountain biking!
I can’t ever fit into even straight leg normal jeans without them being too tight and cutting circulation off when crouching - would these be similar?
My only issue is that the cut doesn’t look like it’ll fit round my frankly daft sized calves and thighs, nicely sculpted from 30 years of sprinting and mountain biking!
I can’t ever fit into even straight leg normal jeans without them being too tight and cutting circulation off when crouching – would these be similar?
Our mate Steve is a world champion and multi gold Olympic medal winning track cyclist and he can get in our trousers and shorts ok.
https://hebtro.co/2018/04/02/hells-bells-hes-gold-medalist/
Graham, Graham, Graham
They look lovely and I really fancy one of the jackets but while it is still cheaper to post to Yemen than Belgium I'm oot.
Steve's a great guy -- was up here for some years, before he went south for the para cycle training stuff.
I’m all for buying UK designed and made stuff...even when it costs more than buying from the larger retailers. As a small business owner myself, I know how hard it is to make ends meet.
I’ve 4 pairs of HebTro troos and one Garison belt.
All three molskins have worn well with no fabric or manufacturing issues.
My first pair of GVNR canvas trousers developed a flaw in the fabric and to their credit HebTro changed them for their newer fabric version, despite the original pair being almost a year old. The new fabric is better than the original fabric but they’ve not held their colour as well as I’d have liked. I’ve only washed them twice as per the directions but IMO they’ve faded considerably more than I;d have expected. They therefore do not seem as hard wearing as the moleskins. Both pairs of GVNR’s also had the button fly separate, but again and to their credit HebTro repaired them without any issues.
The garison belt is worn almost everyday and will outlast my grandkids.
You get what you pay for. To also have confidence in an engaged and contactable customer service department is something few other retailers can boast about...IMO
To an extent, big calves are genetic right? Length/insertion point can't be changed hence bodybuilders getting implants. So a track sprinter might have big calves but not as big as yer average punter with the right genes (npi).
I'm tempted by those canvas jeans. Expensive but not crazily so. I have a few pair of Norse Projects, I like the heavy Aros and the geography teacher cords, have never paid full price of 125eur though (cords at 255 on the site). I've worn dickies 873/4 most of my life and they can be had for 30 odd quid but they don't last and they're like cardboard when new.
I see you're culling the jacket range, for now, but have you considered a slim fit version of the navy wool coat? I like the idea of a UK made coat, and crucially navy...and if it was slim-fit I'd cough up £200ish. Can't imagine I'm alone in wanting that either.
Too many coats are a bit 'bin-liner' fit 🙂
Just a thought.
anyone else catch the hebtroco mention on 6 music just now? 🙂
lass on The Chain said her husband was wearing a hebtroco 'action blanket' in the garage.....
cue a bit if yipyap on them, also a thread ("100 POUNDS FOR A PONCHO?") started on the facebook 'radcliffe and maconie' group (dont judge me, i love them. R&M, not ponchos that is) 😀
I got woken up to twitter pinging at me. That was quite fun.
cue a bit if yipyap on them, also a thread (“100 POUNDS FOR A PONCHO?”) started on the facebook ‘radcliffe and maconie’ group (dont judge me, i love them. R&M, not ponchos that is)
I've requested to join 🙂
I see you’re culling the jacket range, for now, but have you considered a slim fit version of the navy wool coat? I like the idea of a UK made coat, and crucially navy…and if it was slim-fit I’d cough up £200ish. Can’t imagine I’m alone in wanting that either.
New jacket range launching in a few weeks.
@brant - how close is the factory to the river?
It was squeaky bum time this week for many people
☹️
@brant – how close is the factory to the river?
Our action blanket factory is pretty close to the canal and did get some water in this week, but it was largely ok.
As you can find if you dig through this car crash of a thread, we stopped making moleskin trousers in hebden bridge a good few years ago now, after the factory owner decided to launch his own brand making essentially what he was making for us, but with a zip fly.
He did this after he couldn't even keep up with our production, and getting the hump when we had to find another factory to add on additional capacity. All a bit of a mess, and lots of business lessons learned (on both sides I think, certainly on ours).
I story about trying to "save trouser town" without actually owning the factory we were trying to save was hilariously naive, especially as the owner didn't really want the factory saving and was just keeping things going and winding down to retirement.
The mill is now being converted to flats. Much to the annoyance of many of the residents on Melbourne St - which is still, per capita, our best selling street in the world for every year of business so far.
We've just ticked over £2million turnover, have a new staff member working with us on design, have three new jackets, jumpers, merino baselayers, smocks, coats and lots more on the way in the next few months.
Thanks to all the posters on here, and particularly Andrew who posted this thread FIVE YEARS AGO when we were about to launch, which led to what is still our best ever sales day ever (£17000 in 5hrs) though we nearly matched this late last year.
It's got legs.
Awesome, well done Brant and Ed!
three new jackets, jumpers, merino baselayers, smocks, coats a
It’s got legs.
Think you might need to revisit the designs
particularly Andrew who posted this thread FIVE YEARS AGO
Cheers mate.
For the record I now have 4 pairs of pants, 2 rude scarves, 4 pairs of socks and an Action Poncho thing. My Levis are consigned to decorating duty as they have fallen apart. My Founders are still going strong.
The Action Blanket is my favourite. I wasn't expecting it and didn't know what to do with it when it arrived but it has become the go-to item for evening cosy TV watching and I have to fight my lad for it. His latest tactic is to put it on and then fart, if he does that he can have it for the night.
It also allows me to pretend to be Clint Eastwood when nobody is looking.
The mill is now being converted to flats.
I find that quite depressing. At least you tried.
And why did I wait five years?! (Well, I know why, it’s a cost/price thing for me, as for so many other people). I’ve worn my HebTroCo black black black jeans nearly everyday since buying them… all my other jeans feel like misshapen disposable crap in comparison! Save up… buy some… you won’t regret it.
I’ve worn my HebTroCo black black black jeans nearly everyday since buying them… all my other jeans feel like misshapen disposable crap in comparison! Save up… buy some… you won’t regret it.
thanks - means a lot as you're a right fussy bastard.
Fair.
Brant Brant Brant - my action blanket arrived next day this week despite the bad weather. It’s ace - Opel fruits!
Like the idea of a smock. You thought of proper nice slim fitting ventile (single and double layer). Awesome material but left in the dark ages with the traditional box fit and drab colours. When it could be arcteryx with old school material
I saved up for a pair of the 177 jeans and despite initial reservations on price I bloody love them. Pretty much all I’ve worn since buying them. Washed them twice using the bath method outlined on the website.
Started saving for a second pair or a shirt or maybe an action blanket. You should make some casual cycling gear. Mix the old with the new. Keep up the good work 😀
Like the idea of a smock. You thought of proper nice slim fitting ventile (single and double layer). Awesome material but left in the dark ages with the traditional box fit and drab colours. When it could be arcteryx with old school material
Big fans of the Pace Winteractive, but our smock is not a slim fit.
And it’s single layer.
And it’s exactly what we want it to be.
Bit of a vlog about it here
https://hebtro.co/2021/01/16/its-what-we-do/
Pic here
Whilst you’re here @brant, how do your jeans compare in fit to Edwin ED-55’S? They’re my go to, but I fancy a new pair and like what you’ve done with HebTroCo.
Cheers. Our 177 Indigo Taper looks close to that. 13oz Candiani Selvedge.
https://hebtro.co/product/177-indigo-selvedge-denim/
The products are nice, I've had some socks and a blanket and both are good quality no complaints, used all the time etc. I would recommend them. But I still think the jeans are really overpriced.
But I still think the jeans are really overpriced.
They are expensive for jeans if you buy your jeans at high st stores or at the supermarket.
They are, as far as I know, the best value british made Candiani Selvedge denim jeans on the market. Like £100 under what some brands charge.
The products are nice, I’ve had some socks and a blanket and both are good quality no complaints, used all the time etc. I would recommend them. But I still think the jeans are really overpriced.
I think that's unfair. Expensive, yes. Good value, yes. Overpriced suggests they're charging over the odds, which isn't the case imho.
Whilst you’re here @brant, how do your jeans compare in fit to Edwin ED-55’S? They’re my go to, but I fancy a new pair and like what you’ve done with HebTroCo.
I have the V12 and they fit similar to ED55. A bit higher rise, which is bang on for me.
Interesting. I've been playing with the idea of getting some HebCo jeans as they popped up on my Insta. Never knew the gaffa was on here. Can anyone advise on how they look. I'm sold on the quality but I'm eager not to look like a geography teacher/victorian engineer. Usually go for skinnyish jeans.
I initially thought the jeans were expensive until I started looking at some other UK manufacturers. You’re looking at up to £300 from some places. I’d say for the quality they are good value for the money.
Bit of a vlog about it here
Filming in Portrait mode should be a capital punishment offence 😉
I missed the original Kickstarter and the only thing holding me back since then has been the button fly, I prefer a zip. I'm coming round to the idea though, I'll see what's available next time i need new trousers, i have no objections to paying a fair price for quality
@jambourgie - I don't think they make anything that doesn't make you look middle aged. There's a few tapered things but nothing slim. I have some of the straight leg moleskins and they're ok for wearing around the house but I'd not wear them out in company. That also means I can leave the bloody button fly open for nipping to the loo.
Well they are middle aged men marketing their products to a middle aged market so thats not surprising really.
I'd rather like to look middle aged, but that ship sailed years ago. Have a pair of end of line 30% linen Hiit jeans [fairly local to me] and Hebco socks which are excellent They wick well are warm hard wearing and a good fit. Just the right amount of stretch in them. Quality
Skinny jeans look good on a very small number of people regardless of age. This is the most middle aged, predominantly middle class place on the whole internet. Must be a great demographic for them!
Wouldn’t mind a pair but I’ve not been able to fit into any high street jeans since they stopped selling loose fit ones, had to get second hand ones, due to large thighs and calves. Doubt they’d fit me, not everyone is skinny.
Just looked at the washing instructions, are you having a laugh? Don’t spin, drip dry? It’s not the Victorian age any more.... but the worst is:
If you want the best looking jeans wash at 3 to 6 month intervals.
If I left my jeans 3 months before I washed them I’d have Environmental Health round to investigate the toxic fumes coming from my wardrobe.
I’m out!!
It’s not a legal requirement to wash them like that. They won’t come around and repossess them or anything. It’s just the best way to wash and wear jeans. Pretty much always been the case with decent denim to be fair.