By which I mean Community Clothing of course. Now, for me, Blackburn has a lot going for it - my memories of sublime northern soul all-nighters at The Empress Ballroom in the 1980s and the delectable AJ Odudu stimulate the senses on many levels - but I come to sing the praises of the factory workers of this Lancashire former mill town who are doing a roaring trade churning out quality, ethical schmutter. All are of note, but particularly their Raw Denim Straight Cut Selvedge Denim, their knitwear and their sweatshirts. Pricing is about 2-3 times that of places like Uniqlo, but the quality and fit are much superior and they are made in the UK by a company rooted in solid, community values. All in the natural global community should be instinctively offering moral and financial support to such an enterprise, which, to my eyes, is utterly lacking in greed and cynicism. Viva Blackburn! Viva Patrick Grant!
Not sure how they came up twice, can somebody please delete one, but I ought to have put the website address up -
Voila ! https://communityclothing.co.uk/collections/menswear
Nice to see their efforts being discussed. If they have TRSs seal of approval, they must surely be doing something right.
Others - including An Unseen Scene - have mentioned them favourably.
Interested to see that word 'greed', which, to contradict that unpleasant ethos of the 1980s, is not good. Nor is it necessary. But let's hope Community Clothing manage to survive. I was visiting several bookshops around eight or nine years ago where the books were unpriced. They simply wanted a small donation. Maximum of six books per person. It closed down in next to no time. Same with the community bookshop close to where I did my teacher training. No profit - very quickly, no shop.
Very pleased with the navy raincoat I bought from CC. Understated and well put together. Wanted some of the jeans but they never seem to have my size
I like the look of CC and intend to buy a few items shortly
I know many of us are not into logos and in fairness the clothes are not plastered with the CC but the logo was first used in the 1940s for clothing manufacture during the War. Nice touch.
Viva Blackburn
I understand your comments AFS but I am optimistic for Community Clothing, they have been around for several years and have have come through the last two years which has to be a good sign for any business. I’ve already posted about the quality and value of their stuff so agree with everything written by 2RS.
John Lewis carry some CC goods online, not sure about in store, this would suggest to me they’re doing well having a big retailer working with them,
A serious question: Has it ever turned up at Chiltern Street? That is, has Paul stocked it, even just for a short while on a trial basis?
I’ve never seen or heard it mentioned, but most of their range is not really of interest from the Ivy perspective, ‘cooking’ items like sweatshirts are great. CC’s essence is dealing direct with the customer, when I bought my sweatpants they took about four weeks to come and I had the impression they were being made specifically for my order. Supplying John Lewis would be a step up from that way of working.
Not orthodox Ivy for the most part but some of the stuff might fit the direction Chiltern Street is moving in, perhaps. I did note that they do a version of the three stripes blue and red retro sports socks that people on here were talking about years ago. Not really my thing but I might order some other socks from them.
As importing from the US becomes increasingly difficult, I think these guys have saved the day for those of us in the UK. Although I haven't actually seen any of it in person. They have some things that could be perfect for me in the warmer temperatures, so hopefully at some point I will be investing.
Tees,sweats,hoodies,ruggers and some ‘chore pants’ all on the JL website, I’m guessing the prices are the same as buying direct,
John Lewis, though? The kind of store where my first wife's mother would go for 'soft furnishings'.
JL was incredibly innovative - one of the first to follow Heals and stock modern furniture, one of the first to develop an in house range, very early to create their own modern brand identity from scratch. Also the key sponsor of Lucienne Day and put her fabric tapestries on their walls. In last twenty years they have sponsored design students and stocked their designs - the Oliver Hubriak 'Finn' chair was brilliant (and award winning) - I have two. Then Doshi Levien's lamp. Even now they are one of the main sponsors of new design talent.
Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2022-01-30 09:52:24)
Also developed the John Lewis & Co in-house clothing brand using British wools, Mills and refining. They support local producers and in house design. Also developed the Kin range to do modern unfussy clothing at decent prices. Even in these challenging times for their business. You may not appreciate it, but they are worth more than your too quick dismissal AFS. You can be a bit too quick in that way.
Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2022-01-30 09:53:22)
You don't want a company trying to support British design, talent and manufacture? You claim that's exactly what you want. That's why they work with CC. That's the logic you were clearly unaware of.
Actually, I should qualify this. Nothing much interests me or excites me clotheswise nowadays. I'm living in the past. I've turned my attention almost entirely to glass and books. For example, there's been an okay-ish JS shirt on offer for £15 (Ebay), just as there's still a J.Press. Fifteen years ago I'd have bought them both at those prices without batting an eyelid. Better that these clothes are made in Blackburn than China. But that's about as far as my enthusiasm goes. I've no interest in French chore jackets or shoes, Kamakura shirts, Buzz Rickson or - and this grieves me - in most Brooks Brothers offerings. In fact, there's an entire list. I'll be spending most of this year in Russell Athletic, L.L. Bean, Levis and Keds or Astorflex - a very limited pallet indeed.
Probably only a short step from John Lewis to TKMaxx. Oh, and I still hate the Weller/Chiltern Street hocus-pocus.
Slightly off-topic, I bought a golf sweater in a charity shop a couple of weeks ago. Went for a walk along a street less than ten minutes from home and walked past their premises. Slightly tucked away, so I had no idea it was there. Pretty much everything else textiles-wise has gone in the past twenty years, including Jaeger.
So what's the Community Clothing sizing like? Normal?