• Men's Style

Menswear Brands That Offer Aftercare

Happy Ever After

We all like shiny, new things – it’s what keeps the whole fashion cycle going after all. But disposable fashion and the wear-once attitude proliferated by the high street giants, keen on us consuming more and discarding as often as possible, goes against the whole idea of cherishing something forever and sending it back for repair.

Although we don’t like to think of things getting old or breaking, especially when we are in the process of buying, it’s nice to know that a brand offers an aftercare and repair service.

See it as a sign of confidence and a realism that nothing lasts forever. It’s about brands taking ownership and standing by their product. Those anonymous sweatshops in the Far East, turning their hands to the latest whim of the high street buyer, have already moved onto the next thing and would be a little shocked to see something returned to their factory.

It’s usually made-in-Britain labels who traditionally offer this service. Brands who have roots and a manufacturing centre and have often been making the same thing for many years – allowing them to easily rewind a few steps and inject life back into an item.

By offering a repair and refurbishment service, these brands are in fact strengthening the reason to buy from them, rather than it being an admission that their product will fail. The cliché ‘timeless piece’ will always require some form of TLC on its journey.

While you can find a tailor or cobbler that will offer repairs, there’s nothing like the security of knowing the original experts are fixing the problem.

With this in mind, here are some leading menswear brands that offer a repair and mend service…

Barbour

The Barbour South Shield’s factory offers a repair and reproofing service on their waxed jackets in the 1984 sounding ‘Department RR’.

They can repair holes in the exterior and lining, replace zips and re-wax the exterior in no more than four weeks. Reproofing a jacket costs £30, including return postage, and everything else is itemised and individually charged.

You can take your jacket into any Barbour store for repair and they will send it back to the factory for you. You’ll be in good company as the Queen also uses this service.

You can find more information and a detailed price list here.

Barbour SS14 Lookbook

Current Key Pieces

• Barbour Bedale Jacket In Smart Cotton
• Barbour Padded International Jacket
• Barbour Bedale Jacket In Summer Wax Cotton
• Barbour Hepburn Waxed Cotton Field Jacket Navy
• Barbour Kinnef Waxed Jacket
• Barbour International Northpass Waxed Jacket
• Barbour Steve Mcqueen Waxed Jacket
• Barbour Beaufort Jacket
• Barbour Enfield Waxed Jacket

Loake Shoes

The Loake repair service can be accessed by posting your shoes direct to the factory in Northampton.

Loake charge £65 per pair, inclusive of return postage within the UK. This covers re-soling on the original last with new soles and heels, fitting new seat socks and re-finishing the upper part of the shoes.

They expect to return repaired shoes within twenty-one working days of receiving payment, exclusive of any factory holidays. They will not be able to repair footwear not originally produced by Loake, nor can they repair shoes that have previously been repaired by a third party.

Some silhouettes, such as boat shoes, cannot be repaired, so if in doubt contact Loake first to confirm.

Loake Factory Details

Address:

Loake Shoemakers,

Wood Street,

Kettering,

Northamptonshire,

NN16 9SN

General Enquiries: + 44 (0) 1536 415411

Current Key Pieces

• Loake Designer Tan Leather Brogues
• Loake Black Glazed Ankle Boots
• Loake Brown Leather Chelsea Boots
• Loake Dark Brown Grained Leather Chukka Boots
• Loake Beige Suede Brogues
• Loake Black Leather Boots
• Loake Woodstock Toecap Oxford Shoe
• Loake Finsbury Goodyear Welt Leather Oxford Shoes
• Loake Fearnley Brogues

Cheaney Shoes

On arrival at the Cheaney factory in Northamptonshire, the shoes are carefully assessed and placed on the original lasts. The soles and heels are removed, along with the welts and, if necessary, insoles.

With skill and care, the Cheaney craftsmen use genuine components to rebuild and reconstruct the shoe to its original specifications. It takes around six working weeks to refurbish a pair of Cheaney shoes, which undergo many of the same processes as when they were first made.

New leather or rubber soles are fitted and stitched – using the traditional Goodyear welted process or Veldtschoen construction where applicable – prior to the heel being attached.

Finally, the shoes are re-finished before being returned to you. You can return the shoes via a Cheaney stockist, but you would need to discuss specific postage costs with them. Again, Cheaney are only able to accept shoes for refurbishment that have not been previously repaired elsewhere.

The cost for the service is £82.50 and you can find more information on their official website.

Cheaney Factory Details

Address: Cheaney Shoes Ltd,

Rushton Road,

Desborough,

Kettering,

Northants,

NN14 2RR

Email: info@cheaney.co.uk

Current Key Pieces

• Cheaney Moorgate Leather Soles
• Cheaney Ewan Lace-ups
• Cheaney Shadwell Lace-up Boots
• Mens Cheaney Pimlico Shoes
• Mens Cheaney & Sons Cheltenham Tassel Loafers
• Cheaney Lace Up Linford Shoes
• Cheaney Threadneedle – Boots – Black
• Cheaney Dover – Smart Slip-ons – Brown
• Cheaney Dexter – Casual Lace-ups – Blue

Church’s Shoes

Refurbishment covers complete long sole and heel replacement (with shoes being pulled over the original last), new heel sock and pad, new insole if necessary, re-polished and returned in a new box with new shoe bags.

The repairs are currently taking approximately six weeks and cost £89.95 per pair, plus postage and packaging.

The brand have said that the longevity of your shoes can be greatly extended by keeping them dry, alternating pairs, storing in a well-ventilated place and employing a regular care routine.

You can access the Church’s repair service via any of their standalone stores. Current locations can be found here.

Current Key Pieces

• Church Mcfarlane Wingcap Boots
• Church Westbury G Monk Shoes
• Church Consul G Oxford Shoes
• Church Downton Suede Micro Brogues
• Church Fulbeck Micro Derby Shoes
• Church Sahara Chukka Boots
• Churchs Elveden Leather Penny Loafers
• Churchs Sovereign Embroidered Velvet Slippers
• Churchs Beijing Leather Chelsea Boots

Mulberry

Mulberry offers a repairs service for bags that develop a defect such as a faulty zip or lock, or have been subject to wear and tear through age. They make their bags with a great deal of craft and care at their Somerset factory, and they’re happy to say that defects are rare.

Although not all of their bags can be repaired, the team will always carefully assess each bag and advise you what can be done to rectify things.

To arrange a repair you will need to take your bag into one of the main Mulberry standalone stores. At the store, the staff will arrange to have your bag sent to the repairs team for assessment. If you are unable to get to a store, you can also send your bag directly to the repairs centre.

If the team believe that your bag can be repaired they will get in touch and send you a quote for the work, asking if you wish to proceed. If your bag is still inside the guarantee period and you have proof of purchase, you will not be charged for the repair. It takes between four to eight weeks to assess your product and then carry out any refurbishment where it is possible to do so.

Although the team will carry out any necessary repairs to the very best of their ability, there may in some cases be colour or leather variation, depending on the style and age of the product.

Repairs Centre

If you need to send your bag directly, you should print and fill out the Repairs Request Form and send it with your bag, in secure packaging.

Address: MEDC,

Mendip Avenue,

Shepton Mallet,

Somerset,

BA4 4PE Tel: +44 (0) 1749 822 131

Email: enquiries@mulberry.com

Current Key Pieces

• Mulberry Ted Convertible Leather Messenger Bag
• Mulberry Clipper Leather-trimmed Canvas Holdall Bag
• Mulberry Elkington Leather Briefcase
• Mulberry Tony Hand Rolled Briefcase
• Mulberry Brynmore Messenger Bag
• Mulberry Leather Document Folio

Nudie Jeans

It’s not just outerwear or leather goods which offer the service – your favourite pair of jeans can be rescued too.

Nudie Jeans opened their first ‘Global Repair Station’ inside their new Soho store, last year. The first official Nudie Repair Station in the world, customers have the option of having their old Nudie Jeans altered and repaired for free by the Nudie Denim Specialist.

The repair programme fits into the brand’s strive for a healthier and more sustainable consumption patterns.

Current Key Pieces

• Nudie Jeans Tight Long John Skinny Blue Dot Wash
• Nudie Jeans Tight Long John Skinny Charcoal Wash
• Nudie Jeans Grim Tim Slim Fit Blue Ash Wash
• Nudie Jeans Grim Tim Slim-fit Organic Dry Denim Jeans
• Nudie Jeans Slim Jim Regular-fit Organic Denim Jeans
• Nudie Jeans Steady Eddie Regular-fit Washed-denim Jeans

Levi’s

The Levi’s ‘Tailor Shop’ is a physical reflection of the brand’s dedication to style and craftsmanship, giving consumers the opportunity to personalise their favourite Levi’s products so that they’re unique to them.

They have an in-house tailor at the Regent Street, London store that performs length alterations to create the perfect fit, while they also carry out repairs and offer extensive customisation options such as ripping, destruction, patchwork and studding.

Levi’s London Flagship

Address: 269 Regent Street / 174-176 Regent Street,

London

W1B 2ES

Tel: 020 7292 2500

Current Key Pieces

• Levis 511 Midnight Oil Jeans In Dark Rinse
• Levis Slim 511 3d Jeans In Black
• Levis 511 Selvedge Jeans
• Levis Line 8 Jeans 511 Slim Fit M Grey Sky
• Levis Jeans 501 Straight Fit Hook
• Levis Jeans 511 Slim Fit Neue Grey Raw

Final Word

So there you have it, some key brands on the current menswear market that take pride in their product and don’t simply leave you to fend for yourself as soon as you part with your hard-earned cash at the till.

For classic wardrobe staples that will continue to get good wear for years to come – think slim-fit indigo jeans, brown brogues or a waxed jacket – opting for a brand with an aftercare program can help you extend and prolong the life of your key investment pieces, ensuring you get true value for money.

But now it’s time to let us know your thoughts:

• Have you ever utilised any of the aftercare services showcased today?
• If so, would you recommend it to others?
• Are there any other brands you know about that offer great aftercare?
• Would you favour a brand with aftercare program over one that didn’t?
• Would you pay a premium for a brand with an aftercare program?

Let us know in the comments section below…

Marcus Jaye