The future of Jacket Collecting (Original and Repro)

[Persimmon]

With the end of WW2 fast approaching 70 years it did make me think about how more recent generations see, view and understand the conflict and especially with regard to this forum the types, collecting and wearing of Flight Jackets.

I guess the vast majority of us are no longer "spring chickens" and as such, who is going to follow us in terms of collecting both originals and Repro's.

Age can have some bonus factors ( certainly I am slightly richer now at 55 than I was in my 20-30's) and thus perhaps I /we can afford the (ongoing) high jacket purchase costs.

Many of us have Jacket sickness.
Will the next bunch have as well I wonder ?
How does that leave repro manufacturers in the years to come ?

Will original jackets hold the same level of interest to the next generation that it does for us ?
How will the jackets hold up condition wise more years down the line ?

From pictures of jacket wearing on the Forum to meeting up at Duxford etc most of the folks I have met are of a roughly similar age to myself.
Of course there are exceptions - Paul (Marv) I know you are younger !!

What happens when we stop wearing and collecting ?
Is there a new generation coming along to replace us ?

How do we get the next ( younger generation ) to buy in to this interest.
Can they afford to ? As jacket prices go ever higher as we strive for more accuracy.

As a stamp collector from a boy I often wonder now if that hobby is now all but dying out what with all the "more interestiing" things (computer games, phones, etc etc) that kids now have to occupy them.
Things/interests come and go ...

Anyway just a few thoughts on a gloomy weather day.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the a-2 will survive as it's a classic design
Maybe it will not have the form of the super accurate repro but it will be there.
Originals will disappear as they will eventually get to collector's hands who will keep them.
The others if worn they will perish.
Sadly the new generation will not follow.
I get sick by seeing the stuff they sell to the youngsters in Europe.
Only a very very small minority may follow us. (we are a small minority already)

 

[John Lever]

I have had similar thoughts. In the future I can see it becoming more fashion oriented and less history based. Also with increasing prices as jackets get more specialised and materials become more expensive the whole collecting idea may just be too expensive for someone in their 20's.
When I first caught the bug back in the early 1990's jackets were out of my reach due to a new mortgage and young family. Then about 5 years ago they all became more affordable. Since 2008 things have changed again, I see them now more as a selfish indulgence and can't justify spending £700 to £900 on a piece of clothing even though I can afford it. It's even worse if you like sheepskins like I do. The mild climate means that it is almost always too warm to wear them so they just sit there. Several times I have decided to sell them all only to change my mind when I put on one of my favourites.

 

[ButteMT61]

This thread sorta covered this...
I agree with what's been said. Kids don't even know what the Civil War was these days - WWII will be likewise put onto the back shelf and even Hollywood will move on.
Enjoy it. The jackets are classic not just because of their history but for their style. As long as Top Gun II doesn't make it out, we still can feel somewhat cool :lol:

 

[B-Man2]

I think you guys may be wrong about this. Check out what John Mayer is wearing in this photo.
I'd call him part of the new generation.

http://pmchollywoodlife.files.wordpress ... .jpg?w=600

 

[ButteMT61]

Robert Pattinson (Twilight) is seen here wearing an original A-2.

 

[Estancia]

I'm in my early twenties and have owned both a vintage Perry and JC goodwear. If your into vintage clothing/americana an A2 is a must!! I doubt people will be wearing originals in 70 years time, vintage clothing (pre 1960s) in general is running out by the day! not to mention falling to pieces! It would be nice hope if things became cheaper but I doubt it will at the rate the Japanese are still buying everything and anything americana!

 

[blackrat2]

Not quite the same but I often wonder if Concord flew again how many kids would know what it was

 

[colekwok]

This thread sorta covered this...
I agree with what's been said. Kids don't even know what the Civil War was these days - WWII will be likewise put onto the back shelf and even Hollywood will move on.
Enjoy it. The jackets are classic not just because of their history but for their style. As long as Top Gun II doesn't make it out, we still can feel somewhat cool :lol:

Top gun 2? Well, I recalled that there we were panicking to see the Red Tails coming out, weren't we?

By looking at the fashion world, things always come back in a 20ish year cycle. I am pretty sure the classic jackets will make a come back. Nowadays thick dark frame glasses straight from the 60s'are becoming fashionable again, who would have thought about that 10years ago? A-2 were also considered as an old mens' jacket, but why are all the designers like Belstaff, Prada, Burburry are copying the design year after year? Maybe it is about time for you guys to thaw out your shearing jackets as well, they are definitely in fashion this winter!

 

[ButteMT61]

All things military are "in-fashion" again. Look at RRL and others. Tons of stuff. I actually like it. I like spinoffs and I like that my gear is seen as "cool" by younger folks as it gives me a chance to talk about it - with my limited knowledge. They actually seem to dig it. So, nothing wrong there!

 

[YoungMedic]

Jake Gyllenhall (sp?) rocking an A2 in The Shoes video. He actually directed the video too, some of his better work since Darko

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqHl_7oJC8

BTW, I'm 28, have always had an appreciation for the times gone by, especially the greatest generation. Its how I was raised. Thats how it was passed on to me

 

[colekwok]

Jake Gyllenhall (sp?) rocking an A2 in The Shoes video. He actually directed the video too, some of his better work since Darko

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqHl_7oJC8

BTW, I'm 28, have always had an appreciation for the times gone by, especially the greatest generation. Its how I was raised. Thats how it was passed on to me

Correct me if I am wrong, he was wearing the 'Slim A-2' of ELC in the video. Not a very popular jacket among the community here, but we all thought that ELC was trying to enter some 'fashion' market at that point?

 

[YoungMedic]

Jake Gyllenhall (sp?) rocking an A2 in The Shoes video. He actually directed the video too, some of his better work since Darko

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqHl_7oJC8

BTW, I'm 28, have always had an appreciation for the times gone by, especially the greatest generation. Its how I was raised. Thats how it was passed on to me

Correct me if I am wrong, he was wearing the 'Slim A-2' of ELC in the video. Not a very popular jacket among the community here, but we all thought that ELC was trying to enter some 'fashion' market at that point?

Its still an "A2" by design whether its popular here or not, it may spark someone's interest to start looking at these jackets, eventually bringing them here, and giving them a proper education on the history of these fine garments, and the fine people that wore them.

 

[Pope]

I am a boomer and when I saw pictures of my Dad in an A-2 I was hooked, still wish he would have made it home with his jacket. I believe the jacket is classic cool and will be around for many years to come. Look at some one wearing an A-2 next to a lambskin mall jacket, even with my bias of course the cool factor of the A-2 is way above. While 99% of the people can't tell a Goodwear from a Avirex there will be people who buy the Avirex and find out there are repro's out here are as close as the real thing as you can buy. Those guys and gals are the next generation of us. How many of you have had someone come up and say man that is a good looking A-2.

 

[Skip]

I'm new to this forum and am sure some of you are going to cringe at this, but when I was in my late teens (mid 80's), there was a TV series (cant remember the name sorry) set in I think Indochina 1938 (Pacific at least). The lead Character had a pet dog jack russel, flew a P40, with an A-2 with Flying Tigers patches / blood chit. Cant remember much of the plot but clearly the jacket stood out. A while late Flying Tiger 'bomber' jackets came in to mainstream fashion and I bought one from a retail outlet that mainly sells jeans, definitely not an original, and considering what I was earning from a fast food joint, not that expensive either. I gave it to friend when I got married, it really wasn't that good a jacket, but being a WW2 buff it made me feel cool.

Two years into marriage I bought an Avirex repro G1, replete with patches all over the place, a Russian blood chit on the back, made of thick calf hide that weighed a ton. Didn't know Avirex existed back then (internet, what was that?), bought it from a Japanese import shop in Sydney possibly around the time of the 'Memphis Belle'. Sold that 4 years ago on ebay, Is there a pattern forming here?

I can't vouch for any other 'allied' nation but in Australia there has been a resurgence of interest in ANZAC day and there's a deep feeling of respect for what that generation put up with and went through. I remember seeing a young bloke in a very worn jacket, probably an A-2, looked like one, with medals on it, marching to the war memorial. These jackets and other items are not just memorabilia or fashion statements, to the uninitiated maybe they are, but to those generations past and to come who had a relative involved in that war, they're priceless and above fashion. I think they'll live on one way or another, it was just a classier time, and classier apparel.

As for me I've just ordered my next jacket, an Aero AN-J-3, so the next generation (if I fit into that category) is interested.

 

[SuinBruin]

I'm new to this forum and am sure some of you are going to cringe at this, but when I was in my late teens (mid 80's), there was a TV series (cant remember the name sorry) set in I think Indochina 1938 (Pacific at least). The lead Character had a pet dog jack russel, flew a P40, with an A-2 with Flying Tigers patches / blood chit. Cant remember much of the plot but clearly the jacket stood out.

Tales of the Gold Monkey. Loved it when I was a kid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_Gold_Monkey

Welcome to the forum.

 

[flyboy]

I am not so sure that history and our jackets will disappear.
As a large part of my professional life, I am teaching advertising skills to young design and communication students at the university, and when I wear my Irvin now - or my A2 in the spring - they call it a "bomber-jacket" or "pilots jacket" - so they know.
Some of them knows even more.
I often hear them talk about my (Irvin) jacket as the RAF jacket from WWII.
And a few of them go on mentioning Spitfires, Hurricanes Battle of Britain and even The Dam Busters!!!

I have even directed a couple of them to ELC or Aces High - when they asked, where to buy jackets.
Unfortunately students son't have that kind of money. Now. But who knows - the seed is sown.

 

[Skip]

I'm new to this forum and am sure some of you are going to cringe at this, but when I was in my late teens (mid 80's), there was a TV series (cant remember the name sorry) set in I think Indochina 1938 (Pacific at least). The lead Character had a pet dog jack russel, flew a P40, with an A-2 with Flying Tigers patches / blood chit. Cant remember much of the plot but clearly the jacket stood out.
Tales of the Gold Monkey. Loved it when I was a kid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_Gold_Monkey

Thanks SuinBruin. The same Donald Bellisario production that brought us Magnum p.i., JAG, etc. Most often than not its these productions and their bigger Hollywood cousins that can bring on the revival of the Flightjacket, especially when makers like ELC win the contract to make 'em.

Have to go hunting around for a dvd of Tales of the Gold Monkey, it's picked my interest.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I don’t agree that the A-2 or the G-1 will disappear because of lack of interest. Yes, the fashion industry does play a role in sparking the interest of some people when it comes to wanting to buy one. However, for me it was not fashion. When I was a kid (early 1980s) it was about the men that wore those jackets. Reading through history books and seeing pictures of aviators flying into combat or breaking the sound barrier wearing their leather flight jackets, I viewed those jackets more like shining armor that a brave knight would wear rather than just a fashion accessory.

This was also about the time the movies “The Right Stuff” and “Top Gun” came out so the jackets also started to be seen in the fashion world, which made it more affordable for a teenage kid to purchase one. But it was never about fashion for me. It has always been about what the jacket represented.

 

[unclegrumpy]

As a large part of my professional life, I am teaching advertising skills to young design and communication students at the university

Hi Soren,

I have some vintage American advertising copy I would like to send you, but the pictures will not paste into a PM. If you send me an email address I will forward them to you.

Hope all is well,

Cory