Read yesterday while buying a Buffalo sp6 that Ben Fogle has bought the company.
Buffalo clothing - Ben Fogle
- Thread starter MikeLA
- Start date
-
BushMoot: Come along to the amazing Summer Moot 31st July - 5th August (extended Moot : 27th July - 8th August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
With a guy called David Skeater under the company name Fog and Sleat limited. Company founded February this year and the deal just happened recently.
Well he wore it a lot on his TV shows. That and a natural fibre coat I believe he had made in a clothing venture he got into. So he kind of has a history in the business.
No idea who the other guy is. The f&g company seems to have a Skeater estate company as a shareholder too so I'm guessing the Skeater guy is majority shareholder and money man (perhaps from an inheritance estate / trust fund source but that could be unkind. fogle is kind of from posh money background so would be possible a posh, rich mate got into business with him.
I hope it works out for them. The brand is so significant in UK outdoors clothing history to go kaput IMHO.
Well he wore it a lot on his TV shows. That and a natural fibre coat I believe he had made in a clothing venture he got into. So he kind of has a history in the business.
No idea who the other guy is. The f&g company seems to have a Skeater estate company as a shareholder too so I'm guessing the Skeater guy is majority shareholder and money man (perhaps from an inheritance estate / trust fund source but that could be unkind. fogle is kind of from posh money background so would be possible a posh, rich mate got into business with him.
I hope it works out for them. The brand is so significant in UK outdoors clothing history to go kaput IMHO.
Yes indeed, now a sign-up form for Buffa.
Their website has been very, very slow for months, and I didn't hear back from a request for a fitting in their Sheffield factory earlier in the year, so this fits in terms of them handing things over.
Cautiously optimistic based on that.
My Buffalo is still going strong from 19 years ago, the only issue with it was a few stray embers which were my own fault.
My Buffalo is still going strong from 19 years ago, the only issue with it was a few stray embers which were my own fault.
I tried a few years back to get a green hooded belay jacket from Buffalo. Like a special. They agreed and settled a price for shipping, then ... nothing. I chased a couple of times, but left it after a bit. Glad to see they now offer the jacket as standard. Trouble is the price has slipped out of my range.
About time it had a kick up the butt, here's hoping it works. I'd indentified that it was heading towards failure. Poor website, no really new modern products or even significant modified designs. Still banging on about old glories/references. Interesting that he's talking about listening to criticisms, sound like the old guard weren't.
Buffalo was functional but not fashionable I expect it will be made in China, and go the way of all good things.
In the video he says they’ll be making their core products in Sheffield.
Things can change.
I don't remember Swanndri being very widespread in the UK until a certain Uncle Mears started wearing it and then overnight - abracadabra - a clone army of 10'000 little bushcraft goblins all wearing a copy-n-paste image of Ray.
Same with the Hat fetish that apparently had been quietly simmering under the social custard skin.
Fjallraven trousers also were an unknown until the disease of idolization became endemic.
Rohan were BIG back in the day , but not so much now - again practical clothing that has fallen off the radar but still good.
I would imagine Mr Fogle knows enough people in the showbiz world to secure some well placed ' gifts ' that will appear on various shows of charismatic social influencers.
Give it time.
Only the core products - which means other stuff won't be (define core?) - until the parents leave the company/voting rights I expect.
It might not be China, that ventile fabric is now german I think. If you cannot get your cost base down then you won't survive the competition
It might not be China, that ventile fabric is now german I think. If you cannot get your cost base down then you won't survive the competition
Rohan clothing lasts forever I have several items in my wardrobe including the iconic bags, it's selling point was that it is very packable, something you can't say about Buffalo.
I agree - but thats apples to pears isn't ??
I Guess my point was - Rohan isn't as well known today amongst the younger set as it was back in the day?
Still amazing quality stuff but possibly just needs to be remarketed to a newer generation?
Depends on market placement. They may go for a small range of higher-priced premium products made in UK...... it's a niche product after all. Shift the materials used to recycled stuff, market it as "for life" and price accordingly. Arguably that would be true to their roots. Given that the mass market is already dominated by big chains, it may be the only way they have a chance.
There's still fabric woven in Yorkshire, using UK wool..... Barbour also makes stuff in UK. Can be done, with the right product, an efficient production process and good marketing.
GC
I've tried on various Rohan jackets and trousers in one of their stores and it felt very tired, like it was cut in a style that wouldn't fit anyone, already pre-saggy and misshapen. Was not impressed with it.
I just am not brave enough to wear 'those' colour combinations..
There's no doubting the out-and-out practicality of Buffalo clothing but it might take a bit of a redesign to appeal to a newer generation.
I love my belay jacket: it's one of the most useful and used garments I own but stylish it certainly isn't! I reckon the idea of canny product placement from Ben Fogle will be key to its resurgence as a brand.
Most of the Keela stuff is now produced abroad, except the lovely wax jackets. I recently bought one , not at Keela’s own website price, and it’s a genuinely well made UK product.
Similar threads
