• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

New from ELC

johnwayne

Well-Known Member
Literally just had an email from ELC showing 'new for 2018' - anyone else seen it?
USN N4 (looks to me like M41 parsons jacket but stamped USN) but crikey, £499!! Similarly ''Loftgren' combat boots same price, and chambray shirt at £150!! Can't see them flying off the shelves and proof to me at least, these are rip off prices. To each his own I guess but I'd think twice about paying half those prices.
 

Silver Surfer

Well-Known Member
currently, buz makes one of, if not the best usn chambray shirt on the market, and sells em for a lot less then the lofgren shirt.
 

Tommy

Active Member
And they import the buzz shirts as well?? Surprised, bit disappointed on the price rises on other re-stocks as well to be honest?
 

Persimmon

Well-Known Member
Literally just had an email from ELC showing 'new for 2018' - anyone else seen it?
USN N4 (looks to me like M41 parsons jacket but stamped USN) but crikey, £499!! Similarly ''Loftgren' combat boots same price, and chambray shirt at £150!! Can't see them flying off the shelves and proof to me at least, these are rip off prices. To each his own I guess but I'd think twice about paying half those prices.

Have not got that email.
Any link to the website pages showing the new items ?
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
Unfortunately they're not selling just to enthusiasts any longer, they've gone upscale and are catering to the free-spending Hipster crowd

There's a lot of truth in that.

That N-4 price alone is absolutely f-ing ridiculous, as JW says rip-off pricing. If you're willing to spend that much on what is essentially an M-41 you've not only got more money than sense, you're also that one whom other people opine is born every minute, and as thick as a brick.
 

dmar836

Well-Known Member
I am still convinced that Mash, Japan stuff was showing up as ELC. Same great quality just marked up. Wish I would have thought of that first!
Dave
 

Tommy

Active Member
ATF is making a lot of this Navy stuff for a fraction of the price, too.

Yeah the only thing is ATF get there stuff made much more cheaply in a factory I belive would pay their staff a lot less than JL and ELC.

But, ELC are charging too much for this. If it was nearer £300, ok, but this is too much. I know John Lofgren is a craftsman, as are Gary and his Team. But I can't see these flying out.

The sweaters have all gone up by £25-30 recently. I had really been after an A1 Mechanics, to go with my USN/ GOB one. That was £99 just over a year ago. It is a really warm, really bulletproof construction. But it has also become quite bobbly/ shaggy over the last few months, despite never being washed, just aired. If that's the case with the A1, I don't know if I can justify £135 for it?
 

stanier

Well-Known Member
In fairness I think ELC (along with the other top end makers) pretty much across the board has always felt expensive (certainly to me!) and these latest items are continuing that trend. If you want the gear (from them) you pay the price.

My observation (and personal take) is the Lofgren combat boots aren’t as nice as the Buzz Rickson M-42’s which can be had for £100 less from the same source. Of course you can get ATF or WWII impressions versions for a lot less than that, but having had these too and although there’s nothing wrong with them from a durability point of view, I know the BR M-42’s are a lot nicer with all the little details. If these things matter (and they do to me) you pay the price, the cheaper stuff just ends up being more cost as you journey towards getting the high priced stuff. Made that mistake too often.

The Lofgren items feel like they’re still in the range if Lofgren items on the elmc site for some time. For example their engineer boots have been £699 and shirts £150 for as long as I can remember. So the combat boots and chambray don’t feel like a major leap even if comparable items can be had for less.

The A-1 (as I recall I paid 64.99 for my first one 10 years or so ago) is I think is made in Japan (possibly by MASH or one of their suppliers) and maybe rising in price due to exchange rates and usual inflation.

Interestingly a glimmer of good news is what I’ve found you can sell on items for can make the prices seem much better value. From my experience auctioning on eBay I made a profit on an A-1 and recovered 60+% of the price of a worn pair (needed a resole and reheel) of Buzz M-42’s and put the proceeds to a new pair which was less of an outlay than getting the resole and reheel done. And the buyers were very happy with their purchases.

Can’t comment on an N-1, I must be the only one who thinks their ‘orrible! (Sorry!) but I suspect there’s a similar story.

My post isn’t meant to defend ELC, but rather just be a slightly different take. I’ve no doubt there’s some pretty hefty margins in this stuff, but it isn’t just ELC (look at the Superdenim / Real McCoy site!) and I suspect there’s very very small volumes in some items at any price, for example how many folk do you see around in an A-1? And actually look in any high street department store at a 100% quality wool jumper or, again for example, a pair of Loakes leather brogue boots (made in much larger quantities no doubt) - they ain’t cheap! And they won’t have the same resale demand!
 

johnwayne

Well-Known Member
Sorry Alan, think I binned the email but might be able to retrieve on my PC as opposed to my iPad, I'll try.
Further to comments I actually like ELC stuff so not having a go just believe the prices, whoever they are aimed at, are over the top but they obviously feel they can charge those prices. To market gear that faithfully replicates something original you would guess they are aimed at the likes of us here yet the prices seem to be targeted at, as been said the fashionistas out there who probably have no idea why it's even called an N-1.
 

Tommy

Active Member
I think Eastman's work is great, imho other than Goodwear, they make the best millitary repros, though Diamond Dave makes a comparable jacket to Eastman's. However with imports it simply wouldn't be worth my while.

Aero make very good military repros, but to me there stand out work is the work/ motorcycle/ leisure jackets. I would choose one of those over the ELMC range.

I would agree that ELC and Buzz hold their value as well.

I won't even really get into Real McCoys, Freewheelers, etc... Its overpriced compared to Buzz/ Mash.
 

Cobblers161

Well-Known Member
Prices have certainly been creeping up the past few years and this makes items from China and outfits such as ATF, WW2 Imp and WPG far more attractive and for us EU customers well worth the risk re-sizing.

The N4 price is an utter pisstake and anyone considering buying it either has a vast disposable income or needs their head looking at.

The design is far simpler than the M-41, there is no bi-swing back only a simple pleat on the rear panel shoulder seam. I’ve no doubt it’s well made and it appears at first sight to be the best repro I’ve seen but £500’s worth? Not a hope in hell.

ELC made an all round price hike end of last year with an N-1 going up by 20%. How is that even remotely justified? Buzz items in the UK are horrifically overpriced as it is with ELC and American Classics already holding us to ransom. A search on Rakuten returns much more reasonable pricing even with proxy services and shipping factored in.

I’ll be looking at buying from Japan, China and the US in future, it’s worth the risk.
 
Last edited:

stanier

Well-Known Member
I to tend to buy most of my Japanese repro purchases direct from Japan. Usually there in the UK in a couple or three days then languish in flippin’ customs for up to a couple of weeks which can be frustrating but the service from Japan in my experience is impeccable.

The prices are much better these days for some reason and you don’t get the range limitations that you have with Buzz for example.
 

dmar836

Well-Known Member
Dave, in what way?

Matt, If you look up the garment industry conditions - really any of the manufacturing conditions of some, okay most all, of the countries used, you see why it is so cheap. Even the greatest nationalist's wife is in line at Walmart so we all support cheaply made goods.
I know the prices of ELC, etc. are up there but we all live in a certain free world market where supply and demand run the show - to me that's a good thing. Sweaters jumped likely due to the fact they were moving too fast(not that someone needed a new car) and the price will level off and fall on these goods when the market speaks and people simply don't purchase them. If $400 for a cloth jacket was gravy profit, wouldn't I be making them?! If ELC sold this jacket for $149, they would always be out of stock and thread like this would be criticizing ELC saying they can't get it together - need to hire more help, don't respond to emails, etc. This is called bad business and ruins a business faster than raising prices.
 

Tommy

Active Member
Matt, If you look up the garment industry conditions - really any of the manufacturing conditions of some, okay most all, of the countries used, you see why it is so cheap. Even the greatest nationalist's wife is in line at Walmart so we all support cheaply made goods.
I know the prices of ELC, etc. are up there but we all live in a certain free world market where supply and demand run the show - to me that's a good thing. Sweaters jumped likely due to the fact they were moving too fast(not that someone needed a new car) and the price will level off and fall on these goods when the market speaks and people simply don't purchase them. If $400 for a cloth jacket was gravy profit, wouldn't I be making them?! If ELC sold this jacket for $149, they would always be out of stock and thread like this would be criticizing ELC saying they can't get it together - need to hire more help, don't respond to emails, etc. This is called bad business and ruins a business faster than raising prices.

I certainly agree with a lot of this.

Not to get up on my lefty soapbox, but we need strong unions, fair pay and decent working conditions.

In the days of Unionise Garment Makers the quality was so much higher. Goods were not cheap, you only have to look at a vintage ad, but where made to last a life time.

Despite China supposedly being Communist, in reality it works for the capitalist market. I'm not sure how much better working conditions are there than in say the sweatshops of india, etc.?

Ironically I think American Classics have actually frozen/ dropped their prices a tiny bit recently? I think Pike Brothers gear can be had more cheaply at Crazy Man Crazy, but Classics have dropped their prices a little. Same with Buzz and Eastman's which I think Son of a Stag sell a little more cheaply?
 
Top