Bespoke Ventile Smocks

[Razorstrop]

My friend just happens to rather good at making clothes etc etc and after having a discussion over a beer she said she might be intrested in making bespoke Ventile smocks for people on here

She can get whatever colour options Ventile provide ( I believe the heavier the grade, the less choice you have) and can even do custom embroidery , so you can have your name , your club , your shop or even a picture of your mum !.

So for a total fitted smock to your specific measurements and with a colour choice within reason and your choice in the grade used, how much would you be willing to pay??

She dosent want to charge the earth, but I guess she has to make somethign out of it for it to be worth her while.
They would of course be exclusive to bushcraftuk members ( shoud have a word about using the logo, Tony?), as this isnt something she'd do for just anyone

Anyway I thought I'd ask the question and see who says what, but I shall be getting one once I go to the factory and buy some material, when its done I will post pics ( but don't be holding your breath)

Play Nice
Garry

( sorry if this post is in the wrong palce Mod's)

 

[steven andrews]

I would pay £200 for a bespoke smock.

Well, I wouldn't now because I've got a smock, but in theory I would.

 

[innocent bystander]

If only you'd posted this about 3 weeks ago....
Before i went and brought the ventile, smocks for cannibalizing, smock for pattern, and enough material left over for trousers...

 

[Gill]

i already done this with the ventile smocks thingy,everybody on the forums (BB)included wanted ventile.so i sourced everything and made up a good few and they turned out even better than i hoped for.they had all the features everyone was going on about,bellowed pockets,canadian slotted buttons,550 paracord drawstrings to list a few.in my opinion i would rather have this smock than any the ones offered from the company,s that specialise in ventile ,but then again this smock was custom made to my exact requirements.anyway after all that how many did i sell on the forums 0,ZILCH,NANTY a big fat not 1.sold a good few elsewhere though thankfully.if anyone wants a wee swatch at the smocks i done go over to britsh blades,put ventile jackets into the search and look under mine i think it says testing posting or something daft,still not sussed out how to post a piccie.or even give you a link to the ventile picture coming to think of it.

 

[happy camper]

they look good
here's a link to the thread
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?p=185499#post185499

 

[dtalbot]

Razorstrop,
If you want to stay friends you better warn her what evil stuff it is to work with. SWMBO makes wedding dresses for friends for the fun of it and says that ventile is the hardest stuff she has ever worked with,assures me I better make my smock last as I can't afford to hire her to make another (though says £200 might persuade her!)
Cheers
David

 

[innocent bystander]

You mean this one ? :

 

[Razorstrop]

Gill
Thats a decent smock indeed well done on bringing it to life.
The one we are working on is a little simpler then yours, one large pouch pocket at the front, and the heavier duty ventile as reinforcements on the elbows, shoulders and to make the hood. We are going to try and knock one up over the weekend, so with a bit of luck I'll have a piccy to post real soon.

But if no one wants one then thats fine too, it was just offered up to try and help some folk out who dont/cant afford to pay in excess of £200 for an off the shelf number.

Still at least we tried though eh?

Be happy
Garry

 

[Gill]

razorstrop the ones i had made had double ventile on the hood and yoke and also on the arms from above the elbow down.i am glad i had these made my own smock is a pleasure to wear and even more so becaue it is my very own design,whenever you wear it people are always intrigued as to where you got it.

 

[Goose]

Razorstrop,
If you want to stay friends you better warn her what evil stuff it is to work with. SWMBO makes wedding dresses for friends for the fun of it and says that ventile is the hardest stuff she has ever worked with,assures me I better make my smock last as I can't afford to hire her to make another (though says £200 might persuade her!)
Cheers
David

Ventile wedding dresses?
Suppose there is a market for everything!

 

[Graham_S]

if you're making them, and they're not too pricey i'll take one. i was thinking of buying a snowsled anyway.

 

[dtalbot]

Ventile wedding dresses?
Suppose there is a market for everything!

Nope £50 a metre silk and stuff like that, but basically she has sewn just about every fabric there is

 

[CLEM]

Gill,i would have bought one of those smocks of yours for sure had i known about them before i bought my SASS smock a few months ago.

 

[Razorstrop]

Well according to my friend velvet is the most evil , but we will see, but anyway the story is that have ordered the fabric, L24 for the main body of the jacket and L34 for elbow shoulder and hood, problem is it wont be with us until a week today, so hopefully will have some piccys a week monday or so and for those who are coming to the northern meet will be able to see one in real life.
The question still remains how much folk would pay, as a ball park figure?
Remember L24 body L34 reinforcements, fully lined, custom made to your measurements.
The embroidery is going to be an optional extra, cost depending on size of image required
Until you see the smock I know nothing can be set in stone, but shes hoping to keep it well below £150 ( better to come in cheaper then put the wrong price up)

Tailor pimping
Garry

 

[jamesoconnor]

i'd love to order one of the custom smocks. i wouldn't know what price to put on it though!! if its a decent price id definetly take one though!

regards
james

 

[Graham_S]

if it's under £150 i'll definetly have one. although obviously the cheaper the better

 

[MagiKelly]

Are the SASS ventile OG jackets not about £120? If so what is the advantage of the smock over the jacket?

I just managed to get one of their jackets on BB for £60 so am not in the market any more but I am interested in what the advantage of not having it zip open like a jacket is.

 

[Razorstrop]

Well, for one I guess its a style choice and secondly a jacket that dosent open cant get snagged up when wandering , axe/knife working , and thirdly any garment made using technical fabrics benefits for having less stitching in exposed areas, especially on the front of the jacket, even though zips can have a storm flap made over them the fact the stitching is there does compromise the garment, especially with a fabric such as Ventile which functions much better in larger pieces.

Please remember I am not a tailor and am only using what I know from my knowledge/experience of outdoor clothing, and secondly I am only offering these smocks to BCUK folks as an option, I am not or will not be making 1p from them.
At the end of the day when you see one made up , it will either be loved or loathed, but seeing as initially its being made to a design I want for MY smock at the end of the day I will get what I want out of the whole experience, and if folks want one too, thats great if they dont its really no problem, no one here is trying to rip anyone off/profiteer off a fellow bushcrafter.

Feeling a bit defensive for trying to help others out
Garry

 

[bilko]

Razorstrop, I think it's a wonderfull and very generous idea . Is your friend one of our newest members, Liz? ( just wondering).
Right, i'm off to find out the benefits of ventile
The only experience i had with smocks in the army was with the NBC jackets we wore. I never went in for purchasing my own stuff .
The (nuclear biological chemical ) jackets were pretty useful for general purpose and very comfortable too being a one piece style.
There is only one small drawback i can think of but i suspect once i have a quick read up i'll be wrong. That is adding or taking off more layers as necasery in cold/hot weather.

Well done and thanks to your friend as well mate

 

[Razorstrop]

Hi Bilko
Yes the person who is making the smocks is Liz (Emberglow).
The reason why she isnt fielding the questions etc is that she is newer here then me and wouldnt want people to feel that she was here to make a fast buck.Plus it was my idea for her to make me one and my idea to offer them out on here. She is a most competent bushcrafter and has taught me more then I care to admit, but found this place via myself.
Of course any doubts about the dubiosity of our characters will be answered over time, especially with the northern meet coming up ( can't wait)

As for the benefits of Ventile, I suggest you check out www.ventile.co.uk and make your own mind up in the Ventile Gore-tex debate.

Vent-tex..........now that would be intresting
Garry