While I realize that Pink shirts are not highly regarded on AAAC, I am curious of the exact reasons why this is so. I own two Thomas Pink shirts (I believe they are of the 100 thread count variety), and at full retail, have been surprised to find that the fabric around the collar point area has started to fade and wear away. I have not worn the shirts excessively, and only wash in cold water, on the delicate setting, with Woolite. I never tumble dry either. Is this a testament to the quality of fabric used in these shirts, or is this type of wear to be expected from most shirts after a few washes? Thanks.
Quality Issues with Thomas Pink Shirts
Modernist
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While I realize that Pink shirts are not highly regarded on AAAC, I am curious of the exact reasons why this is so. I own two Thomas Pink shirts (I believe they are of the 100 thread count variety), and at full retail, have been surprised to find that the fabric around the collar point area has started to fade and wear away. I have not worn the shirts excessively, and only wash in cold water, on the delicate setting, with Woolite. I never tumble dry either. Is this a testament to the quality of fabric used in these shirts, or is this type of wear to be expected from most shirts after a few washes? Thanks.
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Snap !
I have had the exact same problem with some of Pink's offerings. In my opinion this is a relatively recent issue with Pink, within say, the last 5 years. I have some old shirts ( Black Label ) from them that date back about 10 - 12 years which are still quite wearable. On the other hand, I have newer shirts which have shown exceptional wear on collars, collar points and cuffs after a couple of years at most. The only offerings that I buy now are their tunic shirts. These wear great and have never given any problems at all.
I always felt that the quality of Pink's shirts went severly downhill after prouction was moved from Ireland. The really funny thing is that Pink prices have increased year on year. Shame the quality hasn't done the same !
With foreign production, questionable quality and gimmick lines ( The I-Pod tie ? ), Pink must have great trouble hanging on to their wannabe, old English, Jermyn St image.
I have had the exact same problem with some of Pink's offerings. In my opinion this is a relatively recent issue with Pink, within say, the last 5 years. I have some old shirts ( Black Label ) from them that date back about 10 - 12 years which are still quite wearable. On the other hand, I have newer shirts which have shown exceptional wear on collars, collar points and cuffs after a couple of years at most. The only offerings that I buy now are their tunic shirts. These wear great and have never given any problems at all.
I always felt that the quality of Pink's shirts went severly downhill after prouction was moved from Ireland. The really funny thing is that Pink prices have increased year on year. Shame the quality hasn't done the same !
With foreign production, questionable quality and gimmick lines ( The I-Pod tie ? ), Pink must have great trouble hanging on to their wannabe, old English, Jermyn St image.
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I have a slightly different take - in my case the fabrics do fine but the collar is cut in a fashion that digs too much into my neck during the day.
At the prices they charge now, discount Borrelli is a much better value.
At the prices they charge now, discount Borrelli is a much better value.
The shirts that I own are of the made in Ireland variety; I would never spend $140+ for a shirt made in a third-world country. Has anyone else had similar quality issues with Pink? I do like the fit of their shirts, but I am reluctant to purchase any more due to what seems like poor quality fabrics.
On a side note, (technically speaking) is or was Pink ever truly a Jermyn Street shirtmaker? I know LVMH owns a bit of the company...
On a side note, (technically speaking) is or was Pink ever truly a Jermyn Street shirtmaker? I know LVMH owns a bit of the company...
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Actually, LVMH wholly owns Pink, IIRC they have done since 02. To call Pink as Jermyn St maker ( as they themselves allude to ) is probably stretching it a bit. Jermyn st retailer is closer to the mark. The closest they got to making anything in JS was having a factory in Northern Ireland at Portadown. Thats a LONG way from London !
I'd hang onto those Irish made shirts if I were you as I'm quite sure that all UK production has ceased. Irish production continued to be funneled to the US for a long while after the UK market was being served by mid european production. Last I heard production has moved totally to Moldova and India.
I'd hang onto those Irish made shirts if I were you as I'm quite sure that all UK production has ceased. Irish production continued to be funneled to the US for a long while after the UK market was being served by mid european production. Last I heard production has moved totally to Moldova and India.
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No, Pink was begun as an idea by a marketing fellow named Mullen in 1986 or so. He borrowed the name of a mythical tailor from the 18th century and set up shop first in Fulham, where the shirts were known as wannabe Jermyn-street shirts for estate agents and Hooray Henries. Vibrant marketing and colors and prices slightly cheaper than Jermyn St caused the brand to take off; it eventually bought its way onto Jermyn St; LVMH bought it and the Mullens now have been seen shopping at Tyrwhitt, itself another marketing triumph dreamed up by an old Etonian about 10-15 years ago.
Third world or not, the Pink shirts use somewhat lower quality fabrics and inferior construction than the classically Jermyn St shirts. Not sure what the OP means by fit as the one Pink shirt I owned I could have used to windsurf with. Collars billow, threads come loose (esp. around their showy little gusset), etc.
Third world or not, the Pink shirts use somewhat lower quality fabrics and inferior construction than the classically Jermyn St shirts. Not sure what the OP means by fit as the one Pink shirt I owned I could have used to windsurf with. Collars billow, threads come loose (esp. around their showy little gusset), etc.
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Some fabrics wear better than others.
Soft twills and more open weaves tend to go first, but this is not an issue with Pink specifically.
Re: not making their shirts on Jermyn St., I'm sure others used to do it, and Pink never did, but nowadays I believe all of the names we recognize are made off-street, so it's not an issue. Even if I want to buy a shirt on Jermyn St, why should I pay the workroom rent there?
Soft twills and more open weaves tend to go first, but this is not an issue with Pink specifically.
Re: not making their shirts on Jermyn St., I'm sure others used to do it, and Pink never did, but nowadays I believe all of the names we recognize are made off-street, so it's not an issue. Even if I want to buy a shirt on Jermyn St, why should I pay the workroom rent there?
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Great marketing... Bad quality. The fabric colors are sometimes killer, but the product is C grade in most cases. I have a few shirts that are good, but for every 1 good shirt, I had 3 that were terrible by them.
I think the quality of sweat shop they are using has gone down hill.
I think the quality of sweat shop they are using has gone down hill.
I bought several back in 1999 and 2000, when they supposedly were of a higher quality (and the prices were lower), but the pattern matching and pattern symetry on the cuffs and collar points was poor, and the collars would often curl a little by the end of the day, so I never bought Pink again. I decided that I would either spend more for Hilditch or Turnbull, or go with value-priced Lewins. Now that the prices have come down on shirts by Harvie and Hudson, they are also nice shirts at a great value--perhaps the best shirt value right now when on sale.
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My very limited experience with Pink has been somewhat different. A while ago, I bought a 'Personally Pink' MTM shirt. The fit is mediocre (similar to the fit of the one Charvet MTM I have) and the price was outrageous but the fabric and construction are rather good. I'd guess that the fabric is a 140s or thereabouts and has never given me any problems. Quality of construction / sewing is better than Harvie & Hudson bespoke - by an embarassingly wide margin.
They have sewn-in collar stays that you can't remove withour undoing the quarter stitching which I really don't like. But the collar and cuffs are unfused which I do like.
Again, given the high price and necessarily imprecise fit, I wouldn't recommend trying it but the shirt I have is, overall, of good quality.
They have sewn-in collar stays that you can't remove withour undoing the quarter stitching which I really don't like. But the collar and cuffs are unfused which I do like.
Again, given the high price and necessarily imprecise fit, I wouldn't recommend trying it but the shirt I have is, overall, of good quality.
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If you bought it in the US, it's simply a Charvet stock special, no matter what the salesperson told you.
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I know. I said MTM as opposed to stock special because you could choose 'body size' in addition to just sleeve length and collar size - the latter two being the only measurements taken for what I typically think of stock special as being.
At Place Vendome do they offer a genuine MTM - something more elaborate than what BG offers but less than bespoke?
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I've never asked and they've never told.
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The myth of Pink
Superb marketing. There never was an 18th century tailor called Thomas Pink!
Some early evening shirts were made in England-very nice quality. I still have from 1989.
W_B
First Pink shop was off the Fulham Road in Drayton Gardens in 1984. Actually in Chelsea but always called the "fulham shop". They opened in Jermyn Street 1993, after they had established the Selfridges concession and the Heathrow shops.
Superb marketing. There never was an 18th century tailor called Thomas Pink!
Some early evening shirts were made in England-very nice quality. I still have from 1989.
W_B
I recall reading in some menswear book that hunting "Pinks" (while fox hunting) were so named because they originally came from a tailor of that name. Given the rather recent origin of Thomas Pink that could not refer to that establishment could it? What is the history of calling the red coats worn while hunting on horseback "pinks"?
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