DenimBlog.com › Welcome to the DenimBlog Community! › Mens Designer Jeans  › Dry Denim › Naked & Famous and Wings + Horns
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Naked & Famous and Wings + Horns - Page 3

post #51 of 57
3/5/08 at 6:01am
Somehow I don't see that hidden rivets and chainstitching add substantially to the cost of a pair of jeans. Given we're comparing two brands that don't use any distressing, labor costs are low as well. Which means that in terms of COST of making these things, it's really labor of manufacture (99% automated) and cost of raw materials (denim, some hardware). Given that they're using the expensive japanese denim that the more expensive brands use, whence comes the price difference?

Well, basically, other brands charge more because that's their desired price point. Maybe they cant make a large number of jeans and so want to make a profit off of small production? Maybe they want exclusivity. Who knows. The point is, 85% of the price of a pair of jeans is marketing/price point and only 15% is actual manufacture cost. You really think that it COSTS hundreds of dollars more to produce a samurai natural indigo jean than a naked and famous one? Somehow i doubt it...
Reply
post #52 of 57
3/5/08 at 10:22am
^ Of course. I think it's even less than 15% production cost but who knows. But it doesn't have to be hundreds more, only a few dollars more.

$15 to make a $100 pair of NF denim

perhaps...

$30 to make a $200 pair of whatever...
$45 to make a $300 pair of Samurai...


but naked and famous could be losing or breaking even right now. Just to get their name out there to the masses. I used to think that small denim lines sell higher prices to make up for small productions but even when they become huge they don't drop prices... only raise them further. In fact, the higher prices lead to higher circles and exclusivity and people that wouldn't wear a brand like Dior if it were $100 would wear it simply because it's $400.

Same goes with costs to make a $12,000 car and a $60,000 car. The latter isn't 5x more expensive to make nor is it 5x faster. They tag on a name, a few luxury features, etc (not nearly justifying the price) and there are people buying it.
Reply
post #53 of 57
3/5/08 at 11:54am
The idea of the cost/value relationship has always intrigued me. There is no question that eating in a 4 star restaurant is more enjoyable than eating a slice of pizza or a Big Mac. There is no question that driving a Porsche beats driving a Kia. Putting on a Target jacket is not the same as slipping into a Brioni garment. All of the '"ordinary" items get the job done but there is something special about luxury goods. Are they actually worth the insane premium that one has to pay for them? Guess it all depends if you can really afford them. It is my experience that you have to pay exponentially more for increases in quality as prices go up....a Brioni suit does not cost 30X more to produce than a Target suit but you need to pay that premium if you want the added quality. I think this analogy holds true across the board.

I must confess that I'm amazed when I see young people wearing $400 jeans and $300 shirts and $400 shoes.. While very well put together, these people would be seen by 99% of the population as merely wearing jeans.....nothing more. I wish I could afford to splurge on luxury these daze but, sadly, I can't.. I'm jealous..
Reply
post #54 of 57
3/5/08 at 2:09pm
I think people are intrigued because of the price. If Diesels cost $30-$60 a pair and everyone wore them, I wouldn't like them one bit.

Shoes are tricky. There are so many great leather 'made in italy' shoes that are leather and beautiful and they are $40-$50 just like there are $400-$800 italian shoes but I really can't say there is much of a quality difference. It's a fashion difference, nothing more.

I'm sure when I walk around town old people probably think 'look at that poor kid with his beat up shoes and his jeans with oil stains and tears/holes.. can't afford anything better...' to my $280 Zatiny 72L's or Viker 8GZs or whatever.
Reply
post #55 of 57
3/5/08 at 5:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DieselEmployee View Post
Shoes are tricky. There are so many great leather 'made in italy' shoes that are leather and beautiful and they are $40-$50 just like there are $400-$800 italian shoes but I really can't say there is much of a quality difference. It's a fashion difference, nothing more.
you could not be more wrong. the quality difference in shoes is ENORMOUS! you probably just don't know enough to understand the differences and why the differences matter. things like how the last is constructed, the attachment of the upper to the last, and the way in which the shoe is welted, etc. the quality of the leather may be similar or even the same (though often the more $ shoes really are far better in terms od durability and luxury), but when dealing with shoes the construction is everything.
Reply
post #56 of 57
3/5/08 at 10:11pm
I guess I was drastic by saying $50 vs $400 but something like $100 vs. $200 or $400 vs. $800 is mostly luxury brand differences and not quality.

I'm not a shoe guy anymore because in my experiences so many of my cheaper ($50-$100) shoes WAY outlasted my expensive ones ($250+). These days I can be happy spending no more than $100 on shoes and get a decent style and value.
Reply
post #57 of 57
3/7/08 at 1:50pm
Where did you get the W&H jeans?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dry Denim
DenimBlog.com › Welcome to the DenimBlog Community! › Mens Designer Jeans  › Dry Denim › Naked & Famous and Wings + Horns