MJF9

^ I suspect it may be a case of 'once bitten, twice shy' Interestingly, I mentioned this to an informed friend for comment... the FW tab is actually burgundy, not red... seems the spectre over tab sewing is real 1998/99 Canes v FW 1937... (Sorry to derail thread but it's linked to the above)

Haha I wasn't tbh Maynard though my memory and knowledge both have limitations!!! Why are some brands ok and others not? (I'd have thought the situation now should be one of consistency)

@Duke Mantee alas too small for me mate or I'd be in there

To compare, I've only got the Freewheelers 1944-45 type 1 and WW2 jeans and the Connors 1946 first part jacket, not strictly WW2 but it uses WW2 denim... and the book. I've never handled any jeans from WW2 era or had a forensic look at the Sugar Cane details yet. After that disclaimer ... a few quick observations... Immediately obvious is the Sugar Cane have no red tab. Not sure why unless the original they copied from had the red tab missing... answers on a postcard please All the denims have grainy character. Different but all nice. Connors is superb denim that fades amazingly well; FW excellent vertical character; Sugar Cane is very irregular, dark and looks very promising (like it a lot). From what I've read, this character is expected. I don't know which is closer to WW2 standard; irrespective I'm not sure Mavis on the till at Waitrose supermarket does either and not one person had has commented... yet!! On the jacket, the fits are interesting to me. The Freewheelers is a jacket - longer and more spacious. The Connors and Sugar Cane are blouses imo - both nice and short. The Connors slimmer through the body, relatively, and the Sugar Cane boxier. They all have their different uses. The Sugar Cane sewing is most wonky by far with loose ends all over the place (which I've cut off). Freewheelers the cleanest and doesn't have that made-by-inexperienced-machinists feel. Sugar Cane have aged the buttons (laurel wreath and donut) on both jeans and blouse compared to the clean and shinier Freewheelers, and they feel slightly less substantial but still sound. Freewheelers hardware (in my experience) is top-notch sturdy. Both are very nice. Callin b_F for a proper jeans comparison 😉 Like my children, I love them all... though they are similar yet different

For comparison on the SC tux Japan retail: Blouse 52000 Yen = ~£272 Jeans 42000 Yen = ~£220 Total 94000 Yen = ~£492 Versus UK retail: £649 £599 Total £1248 Massive difference... not even close... and therefore harder to rationalise through import costs, taxes and overheads... as Japan aint exactly a low cost retail centre either I'm all for supporting 'local' businesses and I've bought previously from CC et al - and would again - but there are limits to that

WW2 denim tux - 1944-45 jeans and 1945-46 flannel lined type 1 / Ironalls shirt / Trailblazer

Had lunch with my lad in the seated area near Hibiscus Rising, a sculpture I’d read about and wanted to see close up. It’s touted as ‘Leeds first public artwork to reflect the cultural diversity of the city’. That’s nice language to describe the abhorrent police racism and brutality in the late 1960s against David Oluwale which is at the root of this. Then a wander around what they’re calling the South Bank end of Leeds. I can see the city is being opened up and this old part of town regenerated and linked into the city centre. A mixture of old red brick and new multi-coloured gaudy blocks whichever way you look. The Teletley's Brewery building... brewers long gone The front of Salem Chapel, dated 1906 The original chapel buildings from 1791, with the city centre in the background I never knew until today Leeds United football club was founded here in 1919 Modern city centre living Love this building

@silencejoe nice... what are you planning to do in Tokyo? Any shopping planned? Enjoy...

I'm sure there'll be cases like this. But also would expect cases where people are that well off that they can afford to pay these prices and get instant denim whether they know or don't know they can get a better deal elsewhere

I think matching belt and shoes look good... they generally age differently so rarely stay in complete lockstep A colour match works too, of course But colour mismatches - such as black belt with brown shoes - look rubbish imo... and are only potentially excusable if you get dressed in the dark!

Years ago I remember CC selling Connors tuxes at a similar price. Looked like had one of each size in jeans and jackets. 'Rare denim'. To the rich folk of Fitzrovia (or elsewhere) it must be the ease of purchase and sufficient wealth that makes them cough up this much... or they are completely clueless... or both... given you could get 2.5 tuxes in Japan for them CC London prices

You could ask Crockett and Jones where they get the leather... buy some, ideally a pre made strap... and then it's over to a legendary Scottish beltmaker for the rest... I did this with John Lofgren... very helpful he was too and boots / belt are a perfect match... as it should ideally be...

👀

^ looking good mate... looks like you've Shredded them!!

1937 jeans... been wearing most weekdays for months... steady progress though I think reasonably stubborn (will take some pics of the 33 jacket and 22 jacket for comparison soon) Plan is to hang on until the summer then wash Really like both the fit and the denim

Freewheelers 30s tux / Warehouse / Russell / Duke Mantee and Rototo (not visible)

Sad news - lovely fella - too young - Ande Whall RIP

He's been hoovering up all the Denime...

Not much freedom though in Alan's case... looks like he sized down... maybe he's old skool Sufu

@Maynard Friedman thanks... forgot my key and locked myself out again 😉

Freewheelers x 2 / Sugar Cane 1943 / Hollows / Lofgren / Rototo (not visible)

Anyone got any tips for cutting off the extra thread as it'll do my head in? Just snip and go? I don't want the jacket unravelling 😉

Click on over to the Freewheelers thread Dr...

As requested by @Dr_Heech... plus others may be interested, sharing some measurements Both worn a bit, especially the S516XX

Right then before and after shots... raw v machine wash 40 C, line dry Both jacket and jeans are roomier than they look, in a good way Will post before and after measurements soon