Hickey Freeman signs with Ralph Lauren

[bourbonbasted]



I hear only Italians know how to make pants.

I hear 5cm cost Corneliani the contract.

 

[TonyThe Tailor]



@TonyThe Tailor: Is it really that easy to transfer designs/construction from one maker to another? Color me skeptical. I have a bad feeling Polo is about to revert to a more relaxed, "Americanized" fit.

It's all about the paper. Especially with today's CAD/CAM cutting, it will be basically a seamless operation. I'm excited about the new things happening at Hickey and have spoken with Granovsky to get his assurance that everything is on the right track.

 

[othertravel]

Really doesn't seem like a huge contract at $1M.

 

[SuitedDx]

I can attest that that HF can make a slim-fitting suit since I have a C series ("Chelsea") suit and it is very close to BB's Fitz cut.

If HF cuts RLP suits close to a C cut, I'm happy.

 

[breakaway01]



Really doesn't seem like a huge contract at $1M.

I assume that this is a small contract with the possibility of more business if HF comes through. Wouldn't make sense for this to be a complete switch on day one.

 

[brokencycle]

I'm sure RL will specify the cut. I think the increasing costs of shipping will increase the amount of domestic manufacturing. We are seeing it in other industries.

 

[alexSF]

I was searching on ebay when I came across this jackets:

So...or Corneliani changed its label, or (all or a part of) sportcoats are already no longer made by Corneliani since last season.

 

[inimitable]



I was searching on ebay when I came across this jackets:

So...or Corneliani changes its label, or (all or a part of) sportcoats are already no longer made by Corneliani since last season.

I saw these labels in the most recent collection. Retail price was about half the Corneliani price so I doubt they are made by them.

 

[alexSF]

Just found this (one month old) article in italian about the "Abital" actual situation (the factory owned by Corneliani where Polo RL garments where made)

http://rassegna-stampa.veneziepost....l_a_rischio_200_posti_di_lavoro/#.U3YzSNJ_tMg

The article says that the contract between RL and Corneliani expired this year after 15 years and they didn't found an economic agreement to renew it, Polo consider Corneliani prices way too high.

So the switch to HF it was probably just an economic decision, more than a "proudly made in usa" thing.