Rapha Special Edition Wool Jacket
 

They just released this for $500.

https://dyzmn8020x6cd.cloudfront.net...-H217-01_SMALL

https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/shop/s...roduct/CWW01XX

it both adds watts and lowers weight, thus the price. because otherwise its a jacket right?

Is it wool or "woolen acrylic"?

Does that actually matter?

yes, $500 is stupid for a jacket BUT, before we go on a rapha hate sink hole, it is a colaboration with Loro Piana (which I had never heard of but) which jackets go for $3000 +

Awesome...So by buying this jacket, you can SAVE $2500!

Zipper
 

The zipper is off center. That adds hundreds to the manufacturing cost. Plus, wearing an off center zippered jacket makes you look intentional-design-centric, and the chicks go wild over that.

There are apparently . . .
 

. . . enough cyclists out there with huge piles of money they don't know what to do with in order to keep Rapha in business. I have no doubt they will sell all of whatever limited run they do of this jacket.

I can rationalize spending big bucks on something vital for endurance comfort, like bibs, as different brands have different fits and pads, and those can really contribute to individual comfort on long rides.

But a jacket like this? And so many other of their products where way cheaper alternatives can be found that must work at least 95+% as well? I don't hate Rapha. I just don't get it why people are willing to pay their prices. Just to be in the Rapha Kool Kidz Klub? Maybe it's these folks? . . .

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/201...luxury-defined

BBD

Loro Piana
 

Not sure Loro Piana makes the Jacket. If you wear suits (unfortunately I do) I believe they are one of the top providers of fabric (generally wool and other natural fibers) for suits. They also do Cashmere and have a patented way of twisting the Cashmere “threads” so they repel water.

I would share you see their label in better (more expensive) suits, but I think they are like BASF, they make the fabric, not the jacket.

Ray

Never have I so wanted a "like" button on this site.:banana:

I think that this jacket represents an interesting proposition for consumers. The suede shoulders really push it over the top to me, are there enough wealthy luxury/casual/cyclists/enthusiasts for these products to survive?

I fit this description pretty well, I can afford that jacket, I commute to work on bike and don't wear "standard cycling kit" doing it but find street clothes a little troublesome sometimes and I am a creative professional who can get away with wearing non standard issue dress clothes to meetings.

I don't own a suit and feel uncomfortable and awkward in dress clothes in general, perhaps companies like Rapha can provide me with "active" luxury clothing?

Obviously the price is silly if one only judges clothing based on utility, however, I would suggest that almost nobody does that. Clothing projects who we want to be and how we want to be treated to the world, pretending you don't know this or don't care about it is denial.

I can see a scenario where someone will try to no-handed zip up their off-center jacket & lose their balance. At least they'll have a chance to try out the Rapha Crash Repair service?

and cover up my tats? Pfffft............

93% wool
5% silk
2% elastane

is it though?

its not much more than a good gore-tex jacket, and certainly less than all those Canada Goose jackets literally everyone in NYC seemed to have a couple years ago.

it's a downright bargain compared to other men's dress clothing, especially outerwear.

i have one of the original edition rapha softshell jackets that i must have bought 7 or so years ago, and it still sees regular use, without any discernible wear.

so, given all that, i dont think $500 bucks is an unreasonable number for that jacket at all, personally.