Unfunded Liabilities: a/k/a The Cloth Thread

[Bespoke DJP]

By the way, is there anyway to access Loro Piana's different books through the web?

You may start from here my dear fellow:

Loro Piana

http://hallmadden.com

hallmadden.smugmug.com

Best,

Dimitris

 

[Baked Potato]

You may start from here my dear fellow:

Loro Piana

http://hallmadden.com

hallmadden.smugmug.com

Best,

Dimitris

Thank you very much!

 

[Warrant_Buffet]

Has anyone had experience with Bukle Fabrics? I bought a length of 70% wool 30%cashmere jersey (by Loro Piana) from them but my tailor said it's very plasticky

 

[Baked Potato]

While looking through different fabric books for overcoats, I got shown a Japanese dead stock fabric from around the 1940’s at around 900g (100% alpaca, although not the hairy kind, looked like a regular thicker woolen fabric). Perhaps a bit of dumb question as I can’t show you the exact fabric, how’s usually the quality of such fabrics, compared to modern fabrics?

 

[reidd]

While looking through different fabric books for overcoats, I got shown a Japanese dead stock fabric from around the 1940’s at around 900g (100% alpaca, although not the hairy kind, looked like a regular thicker woolen fabric). Perhaps a bit of dumb question as I can’t show you the exact fabric, not how’s usually the quality of such fabrics, compared to modern fabrics?

Terrible. Please refer me to the source of this fabric so I can take it off the poor owner's hands. I would hate them to be burdened by such a thing.

 

[Baked Potato]

Terrible. Please refer me to the source of this fabric so I can take it off the poor owner's hands. I would hate them to be burdened by such a thing.

Haha, I guess I’d be rather stupid if I made a coat in that fabric? Very stupid, right?

 

[Concordia]

Put it in the freezer for a few weeks first. If there are eggs left over, you don't want to find out next year.

 

[camez_]

Has anyone had experience with Bukle Fabrics? I bought a length of 70% wool 30%cashmere jersey (by Loro Piana) from them but my tailor said it's very plasticky

yes, they're legit. you can dm me as well for more info

 

[reidd]

Haha, I guess I’d be rather stupid if I made a coat in that fabric? Very stupid, right?

In all seriousness, it would certainly be an oversimplification to say that vintage fabrics are better, but generally I find them sturdier and better made. Depends on the mill, fiber etc but a 900g alpaca overcoating sounds amazing. Among vintage cloths, exotic fibers are probably where you will see the greatest decline in quality in modern versions vs vintage since these fibers have become so in demand in recent decades.

 

[Baked Potato]

In all seriousness, it would certainly be an oversimplification to say that vintage fabrics are better, but generally I find them sturdier and better made. Depends on the mill, fiber etc but a 900g alpaca overcoating sounds amazing. Among vintage cloths, exotic fibers are probably where you will see the greatest decline in quality in modern versions vs vintage since these fibers have become so in demand in recent decades.

I guess that the lower price of a vintage fabric doesn’t really equal lower quality? It was rather cheap compared to modern fabrics.

 

[bjhofkin]

While looking through different fabric books for overcoats, I got shown a Japanese dead stock fabric from around the 1940’s at around 900g (100% alpaca, although not the hairy kind, looked like a regular thicker woolen fabric). Perhaps a bit of dumb question as I can’t show you the exact fabric, how’s usually the quality of such fabrics, compared to modern fabrics?

Pics or it didn't happen

 

[Baked Potato]

Pics or it didn't happen

You caught me, I lied.
I’ll try to get some photos later on.

 

[bjhofkin]

You caught me, I lied.
I’ll try to get some photos later on.

In the meantime, what's the color/weave/pattern?

 

[double00]

Among vintage cloths, exotic fibers are probably where you will see the greatest decline in quality in modern versions vs vintage since these fibers have become so in demand in recent decades.

i have wondered about this , for example i've had vintage vicuna in the past and i suspect the modern product is better .

otoh with cashmere i would think the opposite is true , but i don't regard camel or alpaca as exotic

 

[Baked Potato]

In the meantime, what's the color/weave/pattern?

They had about four different colours, if I remember correctly. The one I primarily looked at was a brown one.

Stupid enough as I am, I forgot to take a real photo of it. I took a photo of another fabric and the sample of the dead stock one was lying next to it. So here you go, possibly one of the worst low quality photos you'll see from me. The brown one to the right! It looks a bit lighter becuasee of the room lightning. I might be able to get back to you with better photos tomorrow.

Also, is there anyway I could determine the quality of the fabric? It's a bit on the stiffer side, which isn't a surprise considering its weight. Also (as mentioned earlier), it doesn't look like most alpaca fabrics that tend to look very "hairy".