Comments on: Pattern puzzle: Parrot jacket 2 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/ How to start a clothing line or run the one you have, better. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:49:13 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Homage or plagiarism pt.2 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-21074 Homage or plagiarism pt.2 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:10:14 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-21074 [...] All versions of the EW parrot jacket I saw were pretty cool. Original EWMC jackets are here and here. People also left links to more in [...] [...] All versions of the EW parrot jacket I saw were pretty cool. Original EWMC jackets are here and here. People also left links to more in [...]

]]> By: Clara Rico http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-13961 Clara Rico Tue, 19 May 2009 23:25:36 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-13961 Its funny that the fit was awful. The first think I thought when I saw "wren" 3777 was that that is the way to do a stylish yoke over the BP for fitting without darts. In fact, all the lines seem to be placed for improving fit. Its funny that the fit was awful. The first think I thought when I saw “wren” 3777 was that that is the way to do a stylish yoke over the BP for fitting without darts. In fact, all the lines seem to be placed for improving fit.

]]> By: crystal http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-11530 crystal Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:39:37 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-11530 Hi, I know I'm wayyyyy behind all of you!! I just wanted to comment that I recently had the privilege of purchasing the EWMI "smoke" jacket at a thrift shop. I listed it on ebay and it went for a whopping $2360.00!! I was very happy with the outcome & it sold to a Japanese buyer. I really thought it would go to an American. I then found out that the buyer has a vintage store online & he's selling an EWMI for over $20,000!! I guess they are in really high demand there. I just could never imagine that a thrift store bargain of $20 would sell for over 2grand!!!!!!!!! I hated getting rid of it and contemplated keeping it, but the sleeves were too long. It was an art form, the piece work was amazing & the color was to die for! Hi, I know I’m wayyyyy behind all of you!! I just wanted to comment that I recently had the privilege of purchasing the EWMI “smoke” jacket at a thrift shop. I listed it on ebay and it went for a whopping $2360.00!! I was very happy with the outcome & it sold to a Japanese buyer. I really thought it would go to an American. I then found out that the buyer has a vintage store online & he’s selling an EWMI for over $20,000!! I guess they are in really high demand there. I just could never imagine that a thrift store bargain of $20 would sell for over 2grand!!!!!!!!! I hated getting rid of it and contemplated keeping it, but the sleeves were too long. It was an art form, the piece work was amazing & the color was to die for!

]]> By: WDC http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-9435 WDC Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:55:19 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-9435 Hi there ive got one of these jackets in the parrot design, the colours on mine are silver, pink, blue and the leather is almost glittery, like shiny. I was just wondering if its one of the more rare designs and if its worth anything? its it good condition, apart from wear because of its age, oh yeah its got had written on the label the size which is a M and the serial number 4124, hop someone can help!! xxx Wendy Hi there ive got one of these jackets in the parrot design, the colours on mine are silver, pink, blue and the leather is almost glittery, like shiny. I was just wondering if its one of the more rare designs and if its worth anything? its it good condition, apart from wear because of its age, oh yeah its got had written on the label the size which is a M and the serial number 4124, hop someone can help!!

xxx

Wendy

]]> By: David Himel http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-9434 David Himel Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:18:08 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-9434 Some of the EW jackets were lined some were not. Often the people wearing the jackets would remove the liners which were a typical burgandy rayon. I suspect the reasons varied but mostly EW was being sold to young skinny hippys who prefered the feel of natural leather on the skin. Rayon liners would increase the "heat" factor wearing the jackets. The "young and skinny" factor often explained the sizing issues. As well people today are just fat compared to the late sixties and early seventies. The big market for these jackets developed and became collected not in North America but in Japan, where ironically people are smaller and not "fat" therefore the EW jackets fit them perfectly. I have owned over 40 EW jackets bought and sold and I can tell you the majority were worn on bare skin as you can see the sweat and oil transfered to the inside of the jackets. EW was not the only hippy jacket company of the era doing these panelled styles. Oshwahkon, Gandalf, Mango Road, William Barry, Natural Comfort, Adam and Eve, and the list goes on and on , all made this style of jacket. What happend was the rise of cheaper leather manufacture in South America and Asia. North American leather companies could no longer compete by the late 1970s with cheaper leather products and much like today moved their production offshore to Japan, Uraguy and Korea where they copied their own designs with inferior leather and sewing practices. It signalled the end of the great hippy era companies. Some of the EW jackets were lined some were not. Often the people wearing the jackets would remove the liners which were a typical burgandy rayon. I suspect the reasons varied but mostly EW was being sold to young skinny hippys who prefered the feel of natural leather on the skin. Rayon liners would increase the “heat” factor wearing the jackets. The “young and skinny” factor often explained the sizing issues. As well people today are just fat compared to the late sixties and early seventies. The big market for these jackets developed and became collected not in North America but in Japan, where ironically people are smaller and not “fat” therefore the EW jackets fit them perfectly. I have owned over 40 EW jackets bought and sold and I can tell you the majority were worn on bare skin as you can see the sweat and oil transfered to the inside of the jackets. EW was not the only hippy jacket company of the era doing these panelled styles. Oshwahkon, Gandalf, Mango Road, William Barry, Natural Comfort, Adam and Eve, and the list goes on and on , all made this style of jacket. What happend was the rise of cheaper leather manufacture in South America and Asia. North American leather companies could no longer compete by the late 1970s with cheaper leather products and much like today moved their production offshore to Japan, Uraguy and Korea where they copied their own designs with inferior leather and sewing practices. It signalled the end of the great hippy era companies.

]]> By: Paul http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-9433 Paul Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:44:11 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-9433 I found an East West musical instruments jacket in the "SMOKE" style. It is lined, so they obviously lined some jackets. I found a $2 bill in the stash pocket. The $2 bill was given to a guy named Jeff in 1977 by A girl named Emily and told him to keep the $2 for luck. This was written on the bill. There it apparently remained until i found this jacket in a local thrift. It is a gorgeous jacket and i sure wish it fit. Any one have any idea of the value? I found an East West musical instruments jacket in the “SMOKE” style. It is lined, so they obviously lined some jackets. I found a $2 bill in the stash pocket. The $2 bill was given to a guy named Jeff in 1977 by A girl named Emily and told him to keep the $2 for luck. This was written on the bill. There it apparently remained until i found this jacket in a local thrift. It is a gorgeous jacket and i sure wish it fit. Any one have any idea of the value?

]]> By: cdbehrle http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-9432 cdbehrle Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:12:34 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-9432 Around 1995, I was handed one of these “Parrot” jackets and asked to replicate it for Patricia Field's in NYC. It was a size medium and I doubt it would have fit a 12 year old in it's day. It was cut sooo small, way, way beyond tight. I set about re-creating it- Keeping it faithful in detail-including the stash pocket under the collar which was a trademark of these jackets! Updating the fit and re-imagining the colors. Shortly thereafter I met one of the (maybe the) original salesmen from EW Musical Instruments. He saw my version, (in metallics) which I called “Swan” (it was numbered too) at a trade show and flipped! He loved it, and could tell right away that the fit had been updated. According to him, he’d sold over $850,000.00 worth of jackets one year and not one of them fit! (I'd have worked my tail off to fit into one of those originals and I'm sure many did!)& between that and the freebies the company gave away to celebs and musician for buzz, EW Musical Instruments went belly up. …and the designer was brilliant. (even in a haze- as noted) He obviously loved the guy’s work and after maybe 20 years was still heartbroken about the company’s demise. This was his story. The original jacket, besides being insanely tiny, was beautifully constructed, all inlay and applique work, unlike "Smoke". It was unlined, and a true classic of 70’s art leathercraft. My version was lined, the front seams were used for fit (original was not) and was finely finished. When the limited run of jackets hit the store, the manager called me to warn me to keep an eye out-a big Euro designer’s head of PR had bought one. Pat Field’s had been having a run of very big designers shopping there that year and copying their merchandise, so they were keeping tabs. I really doubt they ever tried to copy my homage jacket. It took at least 8 hours per piece to build-in production, had tons of hand prep work before stitching and used almost twice the footage that a small fitted jacket would usually take. And it was so much FUN to do! These posts got me looking up old pictures and I am still thrilled with the way my old homage came out! Around 1995, I was handed one of these “Parrot” jackets and asked to replicate it for Patricia Field’s in NYC. It was a size medium and I doubt it would have fit a 12 year old in it’s day. It was cut sooo small, way, way beyond tight. I set about re-creating it- Keeping it faithful in detail-including the stash pocket under the collar which was a trademark of these jackets! Updating the fit and re-imagining the colors.

Shortly thereafter I met one of the (maybe the) original salesmen from EW Musical Instruments. He saw my version, (in metallics) which I called “Swan” (it was numbered too) at a trade show and flipped! He loved it, and could tell right away that the fit had been updated.

According to him, he’d sold over $850,000.00 worth of jackets one year and not one of them fit! (I’d have worked my tail off to fit into one of those originals and I’m sure many did!)& between that and the freebies the company gave away to celebs and musician for buzz, EW Musical Instruments went belly up. …and the designer was brilliant. (even in a haze- as noted) He obviously loved the guy’s work and after maybe 20 years was still heartbroken about the company’s demise. This was his story.

The original jacket, besides being insanely tiny, was beautifully constructed, all inlay and applique work, unlike “Smoke”.
It was unlined, and a true classic of 70’s art leathercraft. My version was lined, the front seams were used for fit (original was not) and was finely finished.

When the limited run of jackets hit the store, the manager called me to warn me to keep an eye out-a big Euro designer’s head of PR had bought one. Pat Field’s had been having a run of very big designers shopping there that year and copying their merchandise, so they were keeping tabs.
I really doubt they ever tried to copy my homage jacket. It took at least 8 hours per piece to build-in production, had tons of hand prep work before stitching and used almost twice the footage that a small fitted jacket would usually take.

And it was so much FUN to do! These posts got me looking up old pictures and I am still thrilled with the way my old homage came out!

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-9431 Suzanne Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:37:30 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-9431 That first jacket is GORGEOUS. If I were a rich movie star I would buy that in a heartbeat. It is a work of art. That first jacket is GORGEOUS. If I were a rich movie star I would buy that in a heartbeat. It is a work of art.

]]> By: nadine http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-9430 nadine Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:00:41 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-9430 PURE BLISS! Thanks for the morning article. You have to understand that the leather jacket construction utilized by East West is a step up from leather accessory construction. I.E. using glue instead of fusible. I don't think there was anything better than stiff pellon back in the early 70's. I have also seen a factory on the east coast that made leather bomber jackets and did production for Burberry using heavy chipboard (080 chip) patterns and cutting with a long blade like a bookbinding knife. This was the old school way of doing it when you didn't own a clicker (hydraulic cutter). Since class is starting for me tomorrow, I'll send a photo of how leather knives are used in cutting accessories. E/W Instruments apparently took a similar approach. LOVE IT! PURE BLISS! Thanks for the morning article. You have to understand that the leather jacket construction utilized by East West is a step up from leather accessory construction. I.E. using glue instead of fusible. I don’t think there was anything better than stiff pellon back in the early 70’s. I have also seen a factory on the east coast that made leather bomber jackets and did production for Burberry using heavy chipboard (080 chip) patterns and cutting with a long blade like a bookbinding knife. This was the old school way of doing it when you didn’t own a clicker (hydraulic cutter). Since class is starting for me tomorrow, I’ll send a photo of how leather knives are used in cutting accessories. E/W Instruments apparently took a similar approach. LOVE IT!

]]> By: Heather http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/comment-page-1/#comment-9429 Heather Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:26:37 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/2008/01/pattern_puzzle_parrot_jacket_2/#comment-9429 From the description of the wren it is lined. I would guess that some customers would order without lining to decrease price. If I found the Wren in my size, I would totally buy it. Well, if I had 3 grand to spend on a jacket I would. From the description of the wren it is lined. I would guess that some customers would order without lining to decrease price. If I found the Wren in my size, I would totally buy it. Well, if I had 3 grand to spend on a jacket I would.

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