Mod to Suedehead - Page 672

Just been reading Mercs Write-up about the Company.They state that they started up in 1967(by which time I had stopped going to Carnaby Street),they also state that in 1970,Suedeheads went to Merc,Carnaby Street-to buy their POW Suits,Dog Tooth Trousers and their Brogues and Loafers.Now,I would like to ask any 60s London based Skin/Suedehead,did you go to that Shop?Because personally speaking-I never went anywhere near there to buyClothing.Or did I miss something?

Never!

I dont post on here much but always follow the thread.

 

We used to shop in the Merc in the 90's, they had a good range of wear, but some of it was questionable. seemed to be cheaply made and not fitting right. not sure about their statement about being there since the 60's. it was owned by some foreign bloke when we used it, a gut from Hartlepool used to work in there. 

First time Ive heard of a Guy from Hartlepool working there, that IS interesting. 

Used to Shop there in the Early to Mid 90's too.

yeah, cant remember his name, my ex is from off the central, she would prob remember his name, think she sort of knew him. this would of been 90 to 93 i guess maybe a little earlier.

It's probably another example of a clothing brand re-writing their history (or in the case of Fred Perry, skinhead history, via Don Letts and Robert Elms) to fit in with their current brand and international image.

 

Several firms are at it: Ben Sherman, Fred Perry, Baracuta -- although probably not Dr Martens or Brutus. It's a relatively recent phenomenon: they were all content to be associated with skins only a few years ago (cf: Paolo Hewitt's official corporate scribblings for both the Ben Sherman and Fred Perry brands).

You bring up an interesting point Re:The Don Letts Fred Perry short.Would be interested to hear your take on the faults of that short.How they re-wrote the history.Serious here,not bein cheeky. 

Its obvious that Dr Marten has joined them. There is a Ben, Fred, Levi's, and DM store on Newbury street in Boston. Needless to say the clothing and footwear in all three stores is atrocious. Rugby makes more convincing throw back threads than any of them. Not surprising, Ralph Lauren still makes real clothing.

I have just joined the forum on the basis of this thread alone. You fellas are inspirational thanks for sharing your knowledge and passion.

The Real Problem is it's Newbury St.Never buy anything on Newbury st. except Newbury comics.

Yep, went in there a couple of years back and was a bit disappointed - luckily I found the Brookes Brothers store nearby - very nice candy stripe button downs, good prices as well.

I could write pages on this, so here's the short version.

 

The series of Fred Perry subculture 'shorts' was, it seems, based largely upon the BBC series 'British style genius'. The films were, however, a poor imitation of the BBC programmes for several reasons. For example, whereas the BBC interviewed several original skinheads such as Jim Cox, and tried to show original clothing and styles both directly and through reconstructions, the Fred Perry films merely made use of self-proclaimed 'experts' such as Robert Elms and bizarrely, a woman whose only contact with skinheads seemed to consist of being attacked by other girls. The archive film used by the BBC was genuine; the Fred Perry film in contrast mixed original and '80s skinhead footage and stills.

 

It's not appropriate to get into politics etc here, but I'd question the accuracy of some of the historical and sociological 'analysis' in the Fred Perry film. It was simplistic and tended to gloss over the realities of '60s Britain, presumably for marketing reasons.

 

In short, the Fred Perry film was little more than a marketing exercise dressed up to look like a historical comment on skinhead culture. It was a mess: it confused eras, styles and ignored issues that would have embarrassed its sponsors.

I understand what your sayin.The woman who talked about skinhead girls attacking hippies wit their shoes is Viv from the Slits and probably like many Brit Punks came out of the Original Skinhead movement as wee ones.Kevin Rowland was also one.I do feel that your correct about Perry shorts imitating British Style Genius(who did a better job) and it seems from what I've learned on this thread that it was a narrow story they told.There might not be enough info on the subject other than oral tradition which is what we are simulating here.I think your response is important here for those who don't know and will see what you have to say.Thanks for the response.

Never so much as passed by the door.

I was in the Levi store in Glasgow yesterday and got talking to a really nice young woman who actually works for the UK Levi company and is interested in the history of Levi as a fashion item - that appears to be part of her remit in the company. I told her about 'the book' (yes, I know it's a long time coming...) and this thread, and about how we had been... er... discussing vigorously how widespread the Levi Trucker jacket was amongst skinheads. I showed her how 'Northern' mods in 1968 would have fastened the buttons on a jacket, how they would have turned up the cuffs once, and so on. She was surprised to hear about the (again northern) fashion of taking the leather label from one's jeans and sewing it above the left breast-pocket of the jacket.

I have sent her a couple of pics from 1969, and have opened a dialogue, just in case she has any archive information, or indeed if the finished book will be of any interest to the company. Who knows - it could be mutually beneficial to promote it. Just speculating here.