That loose contrasting-coloured thread in some RTW shoulder seams

[ceaton]

Always wondered... what is this? What is it there for? Should I stop fiddling with it?

 

[Holdfast]

Remove it and you trigger the apocalypse.

Actually, it does nothing practical for the jacket & you should remove it. It's there simply to make the suit look more high-end ("tailor-y&quotand so help the jacket's branding and so achieve a higher price at retail.

 

[teddieriley]

Umm, assuming you own the jacket, you're suppose to remove it before wearing the jacket out in public.

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

Originally Posted by ceaton

Always wondered... what is this? What is it there for? Should I stop fiddling with it?

It's basting thread. It should be removed before wearing, same as the sleeve label and thread holding the pockets closed.

 

[ceaton]

Thanks, Gents. Of course I've always removed it, I've just been secretly afraid that a jacket will fall apart one of these days as a result.

 

[sho'nuff]

No you are not supposed to remove it. How else will you be able to resell it as bnwt?

 

[Journeyman]

Originally Posted by sho'nuff

No you are not supposed to remove it. How else will you be able to resell it as bnwt?

I thought that rule only applied if your name was Brian?!

 

[laphroaig]

I was told by a sales person that it's meant to indicate the jacket has some handwork... because the thread can't be added by machine.

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

Originally Posted by laphroaig

I was told by a sales person that it's meant to indicate the jacket has some handwork... because the thread can't be added by machine.

I wonder if they can sew an entire suit by machine, then stitch a single piece of basting thread by hand, then advertise the suit as having 'hand-work'