Hi Everyone, hope you're being treated to nicer weather than what we currently have going here in Southern Ontario - four straight days of rain and cold temps. For the love. If we all think hard enough perhaps we can will it to be spring.
Anyway, I've got a question that I fear might cause an eyebrow raise but I need to ask it anyway.
Last night I found a vintage Hein Gericke for Harley Davidson jacket in grey and deep maroon, which I really loved. The seller wants just shy of $600 for it, which seemed a bit high but okay. Then I saw the label "Made in Korea," and had a moment of pause.
And now the eyebrow raising bit: I think it's safe to say that in the last 50 years China has become a leader in the manufacture and export of various goods, but those goods can sometimes be of lesser quality. Manufacturing in North America and Western Europe (the two places I'm familiar with) is quite expensive so I understand a company's need to move production overseas as a more cost effective route.
But does doing so mean the quality suffers? Are jackets produced in Korea, or India, or Pakistan, or China using the same leather as North American and Western European manufacturers? Are corners cut in the production process to keep the costs down? I know Japan has a very rich history of craftsmanship but I am admittedly in the dark on China and Korea.
In short, is a Harley Davidson jacket produced in North America going to be a better quality garment than one produced outside? I'm asking because I genuinely don't know and I don't want to pass up opportunities for cool vintage finds by being ignorant on the perception of quality. Looking for everyone's thoughts, thank you. Any anecdotal evidence for or against is welcome. Take care everyone.
Chris
Anyway, I've got a question that I fear might cause an eyebrow raise but I need to ask it anyway.
Last night I found a vintage Hein Gericke for Harley Davidson jacket in grey and deep maroon, which I really loved. The seller wants just shy of $600 for it, which seemed a bit high but okay. Then I saw the label "Made in Korea," and had a moment of pause.
And now the eyebrow raising bit: I think it's safe to say that in the last 50 years China has become a leader in the manufacture and export of various goods, but those goods can sometimes be of lesser quality. Manufacturing in North America and Western Europe (the two places I'm familiar with) is quite expensive so I understand a company's need to move production overseas as a more cost effective route.
But does doing so mean the quality suffers? Are jackets produced in Korea, or India, or Pakistan, or China using the same leather as North American and Western European manufacturers? Are corners cut in the production process to keep the costs down? I know Japan has a very rich history of craftsmanship but I am admittedly in the dark on China and Korea.
In short, is a Harley Davidson jacket produced in North America going to be a better quality garment than one produced outside? I'm asking because I genuinely don't know and I don't want to pass up opportunities for cool vintage finds by being ignorant on the perception of quality. Looking for everyone's thoughts, thank you. Any anecdotal evidence for or against is welcome. Take care everyone.
Chris