Stone island attire is chav.

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

This is a genuine question LJ.
£150 for a T shirt with the badge on the arm, or £350 for a sweatshirt similar.
I accept the fabric innovation and unique colours argument at the top end of their clothing, but seriously do you "get" £150 T shirts?
Surely they are simply there to lure in to the brand people who can't afford the really innovative clothing they seem to make (that I wasn't really aware of), without tarnishing the top end?
Like hiring a car on holiday you could never afford to buy at home.

Of course there's some stuff that's pretty boring and simply a plain t-shirt with a badge on, or whatever, and V_A_N can probably articulate this much better than I can, but this is no different to any luxury brand that typically uses the diffusion lines (or even cosmetics, fragrances glasses etc) as a way to keep a sustainable business, whilst exploring their more experimental and top end lines which they'll sell in much smaller numbers and for a higher price.

People want to "buy into" the label and be seen to wear something with that brand, and so are willing to stump up £150 for a t-shirt if it means they can say they wear a particular label even though they can't afford the top end items. No different from say BMW making 1 series' or M sport body kits cars, for people who can't afford a 7 series or the M series engine but want to own a BMW.

Also as someone else has said there's a lot of fake stuff doing the rounds, particularly Moncler, Canada Goose and SI.

 

[h_m_boro]

I object to £30 for a concert t-shirt, never mind £150.

Buy a Fruit of the Loom tee and sew your bands patch on the sleeve

 

[Uwefuchs]

I mean the average 8-15 year old isn't paying £150 for a jumper or £250+ for a jacket to go with sports direct tracksuit bottoms.

 

[hewielewie]

£150 for a t-shirt!!

 

[indeedido]

Of course there's some stuff that's pretty boring and simply a plain t-shirt with a badge on, or whatever, and V_A_N can probably articulate this much better than I can, but this is no different to any luxury brand that typically uses the diffusion lines (or even cosmetics, fragrances glasses etc) as a way to keep a sustainable business, whilst exploring their more experimental and top end lines which they'll sell in much smaller numbers and for a higher price.

People want to "buy into" the label and be seen to wear something with that brand, and so are willing to stump up £150 for a t-shirt if it means they can say they wear a particular label even though they can't afford the top end items. No different from say BMW making 1 series' or M sport body kits cars, for people who can't afford a 7 series or the M series engine but want to own a BMW.

Also as someone else has said there's a lot of fake stuff doing the rounds, particularly Moncler, Canada Goose and SI.

I'm too heavy to look anything other than ridiculous in most clothing, so its an easy one for me to not get sucked into whether I can justify paying a niche top end price.
I worked with a very big brand and very large extended portfolio for many years and understand the imperatives of protecting the brand/justifying the premium but needing/enjoying huge profit from the base/core, to afford to innovate and lead, as well as pay staff well and satisfy very greedy shareholders.
The BMW parallel is a good one. But it is a fine balance. As soon as your origin is deemed no longer worth it, your brand has changed immeasurably and you are left in danger of looking over-priced and not quite so aspirational where your new sales are. I guess hence £150 plain SI T shirts.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

The BMW parallel is a good one. But it is a fine balance. As soon as your origin is deemed no longer worth it, your brand has changed immeasurably and you are left in danger of looking over-priced and not quite so aspirational where your new sales are. I guess hence £150 plain SI T shirts.

Look at Burberry as an example of when the pendulum swings too far the other way.

Previously a respected British heritage brand trading on their house check, which in turn was so popularised (Danielle Westbrook being a pivotal moment) that they lost their core customer base, and had to pretty much abandon their check for a few years, and think of new ways to appeal to their target market, before slowly reintroducing it back over the last few years.

In the UK Stone Island has arguably gone too far (some of it down to copies) but globally it's still a respected luxury brand, hence why people like Pep and Arteta will happily wear it as it doesn't have the same connotations in Europe / USA / Far East.

 

[Inoffthebar]

I see the OP has lit the fuse and ran, hasn’t responded with what clothing they wear. Not that it matters or is anyone’s business what other people wear or how much they pay for it.

 

[BoroMart]

You're comparing brands like Reiss and Ted Baker with one of the most innovative clothing brands of recent years ? Like comparing tractors with milk.

I'm not sure what innovation I'm supposed to see in Stone Island?! Quality-wise, yeah, about the same.

Happy for someone to point me to this "innovation"

 

[BoroMart]

All Saints is really dull, all their gear is monochromatic mainly black, Reiss used to do a nice jumper back in the day, Hugo Boss is totally naff.. unless it’s a black trench coat, Ted Baker is just Stone Island for the over 50s

opinions schminions. Dunno got a nice green All Saints mohair cardi recently, hardly monochromatic

 

[viv_andersons_nana]

I'm not sure what innovation I'm supposed to see in Stone Island?! Quality-wise, yeah, about the same

Read about the history of the designer who founded it, where and why it started, the garment-dyeing and treatments and textiles development. Go into the shop on Brewer Street and feel the pieces, the high-end pieces.

Also the thing about Pep and Arteta and other Europeans being happy to wear Stone Island on the touchline, some of it is to do with this county being absolutely obsessed with class and social status. Other nations don’t engage with or obsess over these things in the same way. Their media behaves differently, etc. If you wear it in Spain or Italy it doesn’t have the same ‘meaning’ as it does here.

A person wear Stone Island? Thug. Shops in Waitrose? Posh. Bought something from Argos? Chav. Eats a Greggs? Chav. Likes football? Hooligan. Reads books? Nerd. Goes to galleries? Gay. Wears M&S? Middle-management type.

We just judge and judge and judge. I remember listening to a David Sedaris podcast once and he said when he first moved to the UK, he met someone who mentioned Waitrose. “What’s Waitrose?” he asked. “What’s Waitrose? Well, it’s… it’s a cut above.”

I mean, it’s just so stupid. We are obsessed with class and judging other people.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

I'm not sure what innovation I'm supposed to see in Stone Island?! Quality-wise, yeah, about the same

"Since the introduction of Tela Stella, Stone Island has become famous for its innovative fabrics. Among the highlights of their experiments (including a jacket made of stainless steel Teflon fibers) is the famed Ice jacket. Originally made from polyester and coated with liquid crystals in 1988, the jacket changes colors based on temperature and was upgraded in 2010 with a new, cutting-edge pigment."

Stone Island's 6th Prototype Research Series Sold Out – Fast

For the 6th instalment of its beloved Prototype Research Series, Stone Island works closely with Kevlar on an otherworldly piece of outerwear.

www.highsnobiety.com

I'm sure Ted Baker has done the same, when the founder wasn't touching up the staff that is.

 

[BoroMart]

Read about the history of the designer who founded it, where and why it started, the garment-dyeing and treatments and textiles development. Go into the shop on Brewer Street and feel the pieces, the high-end pieces.

So they have innovative garment-dyeing and treatment and textile development. What exactly is innovative? What problem have they solved with this "innovation"? If it's so innovative it should be fairly easy to give details.

As for quality, it's fine but not spectacular, no better than higher quality pieces in Boss, or Reiss, or a load of other brands in that mid-tier price range.

 

[BoroMart]

"Since the introduction of Tela Stella, Stone Island has become famous for its innovative fabrics. Among the highlights of their experiments (including a jacket made of stainless steel Teflon fibers) is the famed Ice jacket. Originally made from polyester and coated with liquid crystals in 1988, the jacket changes colors based on temperature and was upgraded in 2010 with a new, cutting-edge pigment."

Stone Island's 6th Prototype Research Series Sold Out – Fast

For the 6th instalment of its beloved Prototype Research Series, Stone Island works closely with Kevlar on an otherworldly piece of outerwear.

www.highsnobiety.com

I'm sure Ted Baker has done the same, when the founder wasn't touching up the staff that is.

and that's the point, all brands do this, Stone Island haven't made some quantum leap in cost, quality or style that deserves to lorded in such a way. Yes they put money into R&D on fabrics, but so do many other companies.

Style-wise, that's a matter of taste, I find their range pretty bland and uninspiring, others think it's mint, that's for the individual to reconcile with themselves.

 

[viv_andersons_nana]

and that's the point, all brands do this, Stone Island haven't made some quantum leap in cost, quality or style that deserves to lorded in such a way. Yes they put money into R&D on fabrics, but so do many other companies.

Style-wise, that's a matter of taste, I find their range pretty bland and uninspiring, others think it's mint, that's for the individual to reconcile with themselves.

All brands don’t it though, that’s sort of the point here. Massimo Osti and Stone Island were at the forefront, Osti led the way in his field. You don’t have to like it but it doesn’t make it untrue. Reiss, for example, do not develop or experiment in the same way. That’s now what they’re into or what that label is about.

 

[Ziggy]

Ah, ladies and gentlemen. All fashion is transitory, but style is for life.
Joni and Hockney in their 70’s

 

[newyddion]

opinions schminions. Dunno got a nice green All Saints mohair cardi recently, hardly monochromatic

Get most of my gear from the chazza shop.. I walked past an all saints store once. Loads of black sewing machines in the window… nah, not for me.

 

[atypical_boro]

Read about the history of the designer who founded it, where and why it started, the garment-dyeing and treatments and textiles development. Go into the shop on Brewer Street and feel the pieces, the high-end pieces.

Also the thing about Pep and Arteta and other Europeans being happy to wear Stone Island on the touchline, some of it is to do with this county being absolutely obsessed with class and social status. Other nations don’t engage with or obsess over these things in the same way. Their media behaves differently, etc. If you wear it in Spain or Italy it doesn’t have the same ‘meaning’ as it does here.

A person wear Stone Island? Thug. Shops in Waitrose? Posh. Bought something from Argos? Chav. Eats a Greggs? Chav. Likes football? Hooligan. Reads books? Nerd. Goes to galleries? Gay. Wears M&S? Middle-management type.

We just judge and judge and judge. I remember listening to a David Sedaris podcast once and he said when he first moved to the UK, he met someone who mentioned Waitrose. “What’s Waitrose?” he asked. “What’s Waitrose? Well, it’s… it’s a cut above.”

I mean, it’s just so stupid. We are obsessed with class and judging other people.

In all honesty Viv I think a lot of these 'judgements' are meant to be tongue in cheek and aren't meant entirely seriously. Its also part of British/ironic humour. The best way to deal with it is to laugh it off in my opinion.

 

[Capybara]

Also, using the word ‘chav’. Look up where it came from, who uses it and why and what and who they mean when they do. It’s a horrible word.

Absolutely this. Not only is it a horrible word, its an out-of-date horrible word. I didn't know it was still used.

 

[Nano]

Look at Burberry as an example of when the pendulum swings too far the other way.

Previously a respected British heritage brand trading on their house check, which in turn was so popularised (Danielle Westbrook being a pivotal moment) that they lost their core customer base, and had to pretty much abandon their check for a few years, and think of new ways to appeal to their target market, before slowly reintroducing it back over the last few years.

In the UK Stone Island has arguably gone too far (some of it down to copies) but globally it's still a respected luxury brand, hence why people like Pep and Arteta will happily wear it as it doesn't have the same connotations in Europe / USA / Far East.

When I started reading this thread I instantly thought of Burberry. Whether you use the word chav or not the fact is that Stone Island is synonymous with the football away days/hooligan culture. People choosing to wear it to go to football matches do so knowing that is why they are wearing it. They might not be hooligans themselves but the quality/innovation or whatever is irrelevant because the only reason people are wearing it is because it is the fashion within that culture.

I wouldn't wear Stone Island gear if it was free because I don't want to give off the impression that I want to be seen as a hooligan. Just like I never would have wanted a Burberry cap. I have always found it funny though that people that want to give off the impression of being a hardman at a footy match are so bothered about what each other is wearing.

I'm really not interested in fashion enough to know or care about interesting fabrics/dyes etc. Even if I was the negatives of being associated with hooliganism massively outweigh the benefits of it being good quality. Personally, if I pay good money for clothes I want it to be quality in the way it feels and lasts but I think there is a limit on that. I think there's a huge difference between a £10 t shirt and a £50 one but I don't think there's much between a £50 and a £150 one. I don't care what other people wear though. It does help me know who to avoid at least. The correlation between having a Stone Island badge on your arm and spending most of the time in the toilets snorting coke is definitely high.

 

[gramercy]

Stone Island and CP Company gear are right behind a private reg starting with B16 or BO55 on my list of things I aspire to own.