Now made in China? I was going to order a replacement for my aging coat - but I think I'm going to look elsewhere.

It's a sorry state of affairs. I used to love Bean stuff. Sure it wasn't cheap but it was rugged, held up very well, comfortable. I've got chamois and flannels that I wore in college (20+ years ago ) that still look good, have all of their buttons and aren't worn down. I've noticed more and more of their stuff is Made In China. They are still good about replacing worn out items but I wonder how long that practice will continue?

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Check out Empire Canvas Works. I think it was Kuan who turned me on to them; they occasionally have "seconds" or leftovers that they sell at a discount. Nifty (though $pendy) stuff, and made in the USA.

http://www.empirecanvasworks.com/

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I'm curious - are they still charging "made in the USA" type prices for the made in China clothing? Roots Canada, a pretty major clothing label up here, made the biggest deal for years about manufacturing their clothing in Canada, which was part of the justification for the price - they paid Canadians a living wage. A few years ago they quiety shifted production to China, but the prices in the stores stayed the same. Which coincided with when I stopped buying their clothing. I'm wondering if LL Bean did the same thing.

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Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)

$600+ for the coat. Not on the menu.

My coat is 15-20 years old and IIRC I paid $80 for it. The retail is now $129.

Of course, but I picked up the wool blanket shirt (which is really more of a jacket) for ~$100 not too long ago. Very nice piece... it'll last me a lifetime.

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I just picked up an ECW wool Camp Coat for $120. It was technically "used" (by Kevin, of ECW), but he sold it to me with full warranty. Beautiful jacket (with the Elk elbow pads, even); I love it. It's like Christmas all over again!

What did you wind up doing, anyway?

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I like this one

http://www.empirecanvasworks.com/fieldcoat.htm

It would make a great motorcycle jacket for Texas winter riding.

Don't you get a life time warranty on LL Bean stuff? Doesn't that mean you just take it back and say you want a new one - even if it is now made elsewhere!!!!!!

(Small print - not a serious comment - just in case this is likely to start ww3)

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I decided to buy a pair of Georgia Boots last year after hearing many good things about them. Silly silly me thought they were made here in the USA..

Looks a lot like my old Barbour TT jacket

Funny you say that -- I had a Barbour waxed anorak. I found it at a thrift store several years ago, and have since parted with it... wish I'd kept it! It was a mustard color with plaid cotton lining, and brown corduroy trim on the inside of the sleeves hood edge. Man, that was a nice one.

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I think people get rid of it because they don't wax it.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Check out filson, still made here.

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I'd rather argue against a hundred idiots, than have one agree with me. — Winston Churchill