Hi all just got back from working in South Africa for a few years and was looking to get a new set of Wolf leathers made as I had a set designed and fitted for me by a fella in Harpers Race Shop in Forestgate just before leaving. Sadly good living has inflated my waist since :D… Anyway went down there a month ago can’t believe what has happened there totally different shop.
The guy I always used who really knew his stuff and did all the fitting and design work on the leathers as left the company, all the old sales guy’s have gone and the shop looked like it was closing down!! they no longer stock Arai or Shoei??? and couldn’t find anything in my size 46" chest 36" waist??. This place always had great stock and fantastic staff has it been taken over or somthing in the two years I have been gone?
So where can I know get leathers made in or around London as I have been put off of getting Wolf to be honest.
Yeah was told this but to be honest after my visit to the store not sure I bother with the company again. I only ever used one sales guy there as he never seemed to just want to sell me something and get me out the store and always gave me very good advice even if I made it clear I wasn’t going to purchase anything that visit, for the life of me can’t think of his name.
Anyway when I asked about the colours and styles etc that I wanted on the suit a chap called Leigh on sea and asked the leather maker there about what I wanted and then said to me they haven’t got many leather colours instock?? how can that be if you run a leather suit making business? I do not know so
I haven’t been in years either but they were absolutely superb.
You do know that even their Leigh-on-Sea shop has outsourced production - so not all of the Wolf gear is made in England anymore (e.g. their gloves). I don’t know about their current range, but they kinda lost their edge a little
I would take this advice and visit their shop down there . . . wish I had . . . still have a nightmare with the company I bought from . . . in April, still not got the leathers . . . have been messed about like I’ve never experienced before. (I didn’t buy Wolf or from their shops)
Ray that’s they guy had Roy in my head for some reason.
He he has gone, the guy in there said he left the company and went abroad get the impression he is missed for the leather work and knowledge he had. MW leathers have gone also but from what I have read that has been for a few years now. Just found out about the BKS/Frank thomas thing so not going near them.
Will try Hideout first if no luck may head to Southend.
Lol. I thought going to west London from the east end was enough migration for him
His departure must’ve been a big blow for Harpers. He’s one knowledgeable guy alright.
Are you that odd a shape that you can’t get anything to fit off the peg? :hehe:
Haven’t heard much about Hideout but they’re not into the race spec stuff like Wolf. Mike Willis died last summer and their shop packed up after some confusion about whether they would continue or not. Belstaff have gone all designer over to Italy and reinvented itself as a fashion label. There was a manufacturer who was linked to this forum who offered some for a while (?).
Overall due to the state of English manufacturing industries going into demise, on balance I think it’s easier to lose weight than get a custom cut
Ha yeah I remember him being like that think he just got feed up and left from what I have been told.
The shop was empty when I went in at 1pm on a Sat that would have been unheard of back when I was a regular, on more than one vist I had seen Ray sizing up 3 customers for suits and the other guy running around finding helmets, boots they couldn’t do enough for you. Sadly not like that anymore I was there over an hour and not one customer came or one phone call.
No im not really a odd shape to be honest, I have just had my work bonus and wanted a bespoke suit, I went and tried on a Arlen ness suit in another store and they fit great but want to be a bit original my old Wolf was fantastic everything I wanted and more. Will try Hideout this week see what happens
Not sure mate, website says closed till Autumn then I saw somewhere else online saying it#s closed while the building has some restructuring work done ???
Called Hideout they didn’t seem to interested in my cash either so have purchased a Arlen nees Kangaroo suit…
Bit of info went to Colchester to pick my bike up from my parents house, took it for a MOT and whilst there got talking to a clothing sales rep he told me Harpers in Forestgate may have closed for good!!
If this is the case what a shame as there is nothing around that area apart from HG.
Can’t tell you how good it is to be back out on the bike.
