Holland & holland

I don't really have much of an opinion on Holland & Holland. My uncle has a few shirts/sweaters and pants he wants to give me made by them. I'm wondering if they are worth a 8 hour train ride( both ways)to pick up?

um, is that cheaper than shipping?

Their guns are better than their clothing. I like their ties, and from what I've seen of the other stuff, it's pretty nice; overpriced in the store, but I guess that wouldn't apply here.

I'm pretty sure It would be cheaper to ship. But he insists I come down. Probaly needs a baby sitter or something or another.

good point about the guns, some of the finest in the world. the clothes can be interesting, but are very steeply priced. i had heard from a guy who works at Turnbull in nyc (which is next door to Holland), that they were going to close that shop because of bad sales. I was prepared for a great sale, but the place seems to still be open.

well, then i guess it depends on how much you like visiting your uncle, and if you have the time to spare. that said, i don't know anything about holland & holland clothes. if they fit, getting them free is probably better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

I'm wondering if they are worth a 8 hour train ride( both ways)to pick up?

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If you're not already aware, Holland & Holland closed the 57th Street store and has relocated to another New York location. Here is the link with regard to the new location http://<a href="http://www.hollandan..._store.htm</a>

 I was prepared for a great sale, but the place seems to still be open.

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Phil,

I walked by the 57th Street in early July. I was surprised to see it closed and empty, with the sign about the gun room.

Yikes. I never had any idea about those prices until I went to the web site. I passed up a H&amp;H Norfolk jacket at the Junior League store about a month ago because I thought it wasn't worth $25. I would have guessed the retail price would have been, say, $350 but it's 4-5 times that. I can't imagine they sell much of anything of that quality at those prices. Maybe they should just stick to guns; never heard a bad word about those.

Well, this is what H&H does best... The 700 Nitro Express, the largest caliber sporting rifle (that's a bit of a joke, it's too big) cartridge in the world. It's about $75.00 a shot. But if you can afford the $175k rifle, I suppose that's no big deal. As for the clothes, hey, they carry a cachet, and I'm sure they're not junk, so if you'd like to see the man, go see your Uncle and consider the H&H stuff gravy. Regards, Huntsman

heck you could always sell the stuff on ebay.

just don't tell your uncle if you do.

I remember meeting a friend of mine from university, who was about to join Holland and Hollland (from a management consultancy) as their brand manager, in order to capitalise on the quality of their shotgun brand. They had always been known as one of the best gunmakers, better than the more famous Purdey's, and the owners had decided to make more money off this brand.

The point is, this is a gunmaker, that has added its brand to clothes, that are probably made by one of the subcontractors that subcontract for a dozen other (lesser) brands. No doubt the guns continue to be made by Holland and Holland's fine craftsmen, but the clothes are not backed up by the same craft tradition, but just have a label sewn in. I'm not saying they are bad quality, but you are buying a label, and if you want the craft tradition, you should go to a specialist clothier's, not to a gunmaker.

I am under the impression that the new 40th Street location will only be a gunroom and not carry its clothing. I imagine the rather high prices they commanded weren't finding enough takers in the States. Incidentally, I found their clothing to be quite good, although not particularly worth the price. The going out of business sale was both an utter madhouse and had stunning deals. I picked up a $1700 walking coat for my girlfriend for $50. It was not worth $1700, but it was worth a lot more than $50. Pants were $20, sweaters (including a $1000 teflon coated cashmere sweater) were $30. All around, the deals that one only really finds in New York City.

Well, this is what H&H does best...

The 700 Nitro Express, the largest caliber sporting rifle (that's a bit of a joke, it's too big) cartridge in the world. It's about $75.00 a shot. But if you can afford the $175k rifle, I suppose that's no big deal. As for the clothes, hey, they carry a cachet, and I'm sure they're not junk, so if you'd like to see the man, go see your Uncle and consider the H&H stuff gravy. Regards, Huntsman

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Well the .700 is made for serious hunting...like when you positively, absolutely need to take down an elephant in one shot. Jon.

Teflon coated cashmere. Now that's something I would have gone for. The clothing really was of very average construction. I didn't much like the H&amp;H buttons either. Sleeper is absolutely right--the clothes were not at all backed by the same sort of grand craftsmanship that goes into the guns.