Heddels work wear article.

Thanks. Great article. Another acknowledgement of the basic idea that reproduction workwear like this is fashion, a hobby, and not really tied to value.

"If you’re going to spend that much on a flannel shirt, you have to check any notion of utility or value at the proverbial door. When I bought that shirt, I was entering the luxury zone – an alternate reality where the utility of something is completely divorced from its price."

And that's perfectly fine. I sometimes get annoyed when people buy expensive "work wear" and then try to justify the high cost by rationalizing that it will last longer than something like double front carhartt or dickies workwear. So it's refreshing to read a realistic take on this hobby.

maybe i'm being obstuse but I've always assumed that most of us buy specific clothing brands because a) we're helping to support these companies so that they can continue to produce quality goods b) when we talk about value we're divorcing ourselves from those companies that choose to use questionable labor practices overseas and throw huge mark ups on their goods - ie. a Japanese/US/Canadian made garment was made by craftsman and not in some dodgy factory from the tears of 10 yr old children. c) brand association. let's be real, when we buy from certain brands it's like being in an exclusive club where only those 'in the know' truly get why you wear IH, RgT, 3sixteen, etc. It's that association that makes us feel different and not some shlub buying cheap OTR shirts from Macy's.

The key is that a lot of consumers are choosing to educate themselves about the products they buy so that they're making an informed purchase. I used to like Carhartt, in fact, I own a knit hat from them, but I can't get over the fact that this used to be a company that manufactured its goods in the US but has succumbed to outsourcing their manufacturing overseas. I get it, they're a business and they want to maximize profits. But, it's ironic that they cater to the working man because it's the working man that likely lost their job because of Carhartt's business decisions. When I look at these smaller companies via Instagram I see a new generation of business owners that see the value of keeping their manufacturing local.

I do not buy from a specific company because I want to support them. Branding to me is bull crap. I like well made stuff MiUS if possible but it's not a must. If I see something I like at Gap or Jcrew I buy it. I don't care if they are some multinational company that makes goods in a third world country. I wish I could buy only made in USA But it's not gonna happen at this stage of the game.

Def gotta wear more stuff. This is why I put a good amount of stuff on eBay and selling more clothing. I really want to trim down.

My dark period on this is about one year ago when I was bored with my life in midwest + this forum. Buying too many craps that I didn't wear and end up spending time to sell them on ebay or donated when I moved. Life priority was so out of whack when I was constantly looking at my next item(s) to purchase. It was almost like an addict and hoarding things that I totally don't need.

Anyway, beside that hyped NMD or a pair of Shell Alden, I am happy with what I have now. 

I love that the 3sixteen flannel is the bargain-bin comparison.

I feel like a jerk that I can't remember who's doing it (other than @untucked ), but someone is running an experiment comparing iron heart workwear to Carrhart or whatever is typically purchased. Then there's also that guy on Instagram I can't remember that works in his "fashion workwear".

Workout being a total fan boy and unnecessarily "fighting" for a brand that I am not the owner of..... I find it hard to compare 17oz duck canvas double knee IH engineer pants to Carhart. There is NO comparison in the attention to detail of fabric engineering and garment construction. I haven't done a head to head comparison, but this is tantamount to saying 15oz generic Levi's are equivalent to 15oz Kamikaze Attack jeans. I promise you, without much research, I can assure you that the guys these garments were ORIGINALLY designed for didn't own 3, 4, 5 or 6 pairs, and they LASTED. Brands like Iron Heart have taken that original design and over-engineered it to a point that is almost laughable.

Maybe Levi's custom made line is an insult, but IH (At Rakuten prices) is a steal for value vs versatility/durability that's NEARLY undeniable

branding does suck, but we all make purchases because of a brand's aesthetic, no?

Personally, I don't see any value in wearing IH vs Carhartt when your laying down roofing, pouring concrete, black topping, clearing brush, etc.
Carhartt stands up just as well.
For me, I simply got tired of looking like every other guy in Carhertt (like it was a uniform).

I agree with this. I have my cheap clothes, which serve as my knockaround gear, and then my expensive clothes which are purely for aesthetics. Not that I could actually do stuff like roofing and such, but I would never wear a nice top or nice jeans if I knew I was going to get absolutely filthy. but in a weird way I think the brands we wear are a kind of uniform, whether it be RgT, 3sixteen or Taylor Stitch. Fwiw, I beat the sh*t out of all of the jeans I wear regardless of brand.

I have a few MIC items that are just as good as anything MIUSA and there are sweat shops here also.
I find the term "over engineered clothing" interesting. Clothing is a disposable item. Yes we can keep things a long time but in the end it is disposable. The term over engineered in its self implies waste. Money spent that does not need to be.

You have more restraint than I do. Switched the winter to summer shoes today. Holy shit how did this happen!