Heads Up: Denim Tank Suit news

[Jim Burrill]

Only changes were the inseam length on the really large sizes. They were too long.

Sorry everyone.

[Pip Roberts]

Hi all
I'm in France and bought one pixie to Irfan, with a big thanks to Jim who intitiated it all. I'm on the way to order a Denim AFV tank suit. As I have 11 armoured division black bull insignias, I wonder if I can sew them on it's shoulders ? Pixies didn't have any shoulder titles/insignias, but what about the denim oversuits ?
Also I sent to Irfan an original 1943 despatch rider rubberized coton canvas coat I managed to find here in France. It's very heavy, and I asked Irfan if he can make reproductions even not being rubberized: presumably a quite difficult and expensive process to do for him, and also these coats are so heavy and rigid that a lighter version would be more comfortable to wear, especially on a motorbike as I have a despatch Royal Enfield. The important aspects to reproduce being the general shape / pockets and specific accessories like the leg straps that avoid the bottom of the coat to stand up when riding. He's about to make a first copy, and if anyone is interested you can tell him and we'll see how his sample looks like. Thanks
Jean-Marc

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125345...3/14242665329/

[Jim Burrill]

Talked with Irfan today. He has made up a third denim AFV for me to try on for size. If that fits, then I will post pics and go public with my most personal details of my size..

As Leonardo told the Pope.... "Soon, Soon!'

[RichardT10829]

So I shouldn't expect mine in the post on the 10th as promised.

[Jim Burrill]

Got the third sample suit from Irfan yesterday. Washed it in hottest water setting and machine dried at the longest and highest heat setting to get shrinkage.

The fit matches the label! He sent me a Large and calls it a size 4/L.

Height 5'9 - 5=10"
Breast 42" - to 44"
Waist 36" - 38"
leg seam 30"

My measurements are close to that, with the exception that I am 5"11.5" tall, ,y usual inseam for Jeans is 31" and my waist at the belt is 38" but bigger above it with "old man's pot belly"

I put it on over underwear and had my wife judge the fir. Keep in mind she is a Union Member of IATSE - the Movie industry costume folks.

She said for me, the sleeves were right, the neck was right - 19", the legs were an inch short, and the overall body length was an inch or so short.

THAT MEANS - for someone who really is the measurements on the label, it is the right fit.

Based on this report, Irfan says he has rescaled the patterns to add for shrinkage and to match the actual size with the label.

He has asked me to spread the word as quickly as I can so he can move forward with the production.

I could wear the third sample to an event, but I plan to order XL to fit my tired old flabby self.

[RichardT10829]

So do we have to re submit new forms and start over or ?

[Jim Burrill]

No, checked with Irfan and he says he has what he needs, No one needs to redo their order.

[Robert Bergeron]

Update on project would be much appreciated .

[lssah2025]

Jim can chime in, but I think the sizes have been sorted with Irfan, the first few that were sent out (test) were preshrunk and did not shrink after washing, but I will let Jim give the 100% gospel.

[Jim Burrill]

Hi Folks,
Where do I start...

The development of the suits was slow off the mark as Irfan was sending me test suits to check size and he sent me three prototypes. In the meantime, he was looking for orders.

Based on the reports of a good fabric being made up, and the success of the winter Pixie crewsuits, people placed orders with Irfan.

The sizes have been sorted. The patterns has been made and samples inspected. The fabric has been tested for shrinkage both raw and after the garment has been made. The patterns were changed to allow for extra fabric to be int he cut to allow for a really hot wash and dry.

Irfan has started delivering the suits based on the receipt of the orders.

As of a few moments ago, I asked Irfan about deliveries. I quote "You can post on maple leaf and all people who order they will get his orders end of this month and start of June".

If you have an event coming up and you are worried about having the suit to use for it, I would suggest emailing Irfan directly and explaining the event date. I have seen him work with people to get an order to them.

I suggested to Irfan to try to work more with a handful of stock sizes and - like the real military - have the wearer nip and tuck if they want a custom fit. We have all seen the old jokes about the Army's Two Sizes.

But in this case, you can take a stock size and add an additional 2 inches for legs - tell him the size and add "Tall" or 2 inches in the trunk by asking for the size and "Long".

You may still want to hem the leg cuffs or the sleeve.

SO... Irfan is sending me 20 made up suits to the most common sizes - L, XL, XXL, with some Talls and Longs in there to have here at my home in Pennsylvania. These are for me to sell as a sutler, so I can take mail order or take to regional East coast events I go to. Price is the same as for ordering from Irfan - US$150 +postage.

European and Asian orders need to still go directly to Irfan. Payment to Irfan as described in the order forms.

ALL Bespoke (custom orders) will still need to go to Irfan, but yes, you can have one made to fit non-standard sizes. Work directly with Irfan on such custom work. That is not in my wheel-house!

If you have already ordered your suit will be made before the batch of 20. So stay the course with Irfan on those.

I will fill new orders from this continent.

[Lew Skelton]

thanks for the update Jim

[Markwin Serlui]

Hi Jim, is there a web URL for Irfan? I tried google but keep running into image viewers..thanks!

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks for the update Jim.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks for the update.

[jdmcm]

PM sent Jim

[Peter Duggan]

Jim,

Just received my tank suit today. Fits well, good reproduction. My thanks for you taking the initiative to make this possible.

Peter

[Markwin Serlui]

Originally Posted by Markwin Serlui

Hi Jim, is there a web URL for Irfan? I tried google but keep running into image viewers..thanks!

anyone have the web adress for IRFan? thnx!

[Peter Duggan]

Markwin,

Don’t have a URL for Ifran, but this is his email address
Peter

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Markwin Serlui

anyone have the web adress for IRFan? thnx!

Irfan Ali is an MLU member, see his profile for ways of contacting him:
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/member.php?u=12979

HTH,
Hanno

[Jim Burrill]

Hi Folks,

I received a batch of 20 suits from Irfan a couple of weeks ago and finally had time to check through them.

The intent is to pre-stage some common sizes here in the US so it woudl be cheaper on the postage for folks ordering from the US and Canada.

Cost is US $150 plus $15 Postage (If it is more, I will let you know)

The attachment shows photos of me in t-shirt and jeans (baseline) and then with a Large and an extra Large on.

Also provided is my measurements taken by a professional tailor. You can judge for your self how it fits me, and your own size.

You should know that irfan is selling to Jerry Lee's What Price Glory store and he has added a markup. Can't complain... he is a business... But if you order from Iran and I send it to you, you will get it cheaper.

Jerry will swap suits if you have fit issues. So will Irfan and me. If a suit needs to be swapped, then we are both eating the postage costs. - you to send me the bad suit, and me to send you a second suit.

I have 20 suits here - Large, Large Long, XL, XL Long, XXXL, and a single XXXXL.

Payment - send me a Paypal for US $165 and that should cover the postage and materials as well. If it is short significantly, I will contact you to adjust and confirm. That is for the cheapest, slowest method. Extra if you need FedX or overnight. usual stuff....

Paypal is "renactr2@aol.com"

If I am out of your size, we fall back to ordering from Irfan. If these fly off the shelf, then I expect irfan will send me another batch.

Sorry this is all a bit of a dog's breakfast... I am not really in the business as a vedor.

[Robert Bergeron]

Hi Jim . I ordered a XL from Irfan a long while ago ( 19 Dec 17 ) . Is he behind in his deliveries ? Cheers . Bob

[Jim Burrill]

Robert, if you already paid him, send me your postal address and i will send you one.
PM me with address...

[tankbarrell]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

Hi Jim . I ordered a XL from Irfan a long while ago . Is he behind in his deliveries ? Cheers . Bob

I haven't been having much luck either.

Irfan chased me continuously for an order after I expressed an interest, I gave him the sizes and paid in March.
He told me I would get them in May. That tuned into 'by 10th June at the latest'.
The he says he lost the measurements for one suit.
I resent and he promised me by end of June.
He then promised to send them by Monday and I would get them this week.
He now does not answer messages or emails.........

[RichardT10829]

Shaun, John and myself received ours no issues around three months ago now I think.

I did maintain regular contact with Irfan via FB though.

[Jim Burrill]

Another update....

Brief email from Irfan... he is out of the country until this weekend for their long Eid holiday. He said NOT to send the three of you waiting, suits from the "pre-positioned" stock, as he would ship yours directly. He has them waiting for him to get back.

For new orders for North America, I just had a shock when a single 3.7 pound coverall to Canada cost $37.25 USD.

Orders in the States will be cheaper.

Just so you all know....

[Jim Burrill]

OK, the postage costs inside the US is $8.25, with 2-3 day deliver.

To Canada, it is $37.25. For both add in $2.25 for the mail envelope cost.

To the UK it would be $61.00! Cheaper to order directly from Irfan and use DHL!!!

[tankbarrell]

But only if you actually ever receive them....

[tankbarrell]

Suits arrived today. The easiest bit was the shipping......
Despite Irfan telling me he had dispatched them on Monday 9th of July and giving me the tracking number, the lack of apparent progress was not due to the DHL computers as he claimed but to the fact that he actually only sent them on Saturday 14th on a completely different number. So two and a bit days door to door is pretty good! Especially as he sent them to my address this time, unlike the previous order for pixie suits which went somewhere else altogether.....

After many promises and excuses and not a few misleading statements, he came good in the end, albeit two months later than promised.

The quality is excellent, but the path leading to delivery is filled with frustration.

For anybody else considering an order, my advice is, go ahead but keep the pressure on and expect to get a delivery somewhat later than promised!

[Jim Burrill]

Agree. I have encouraged Irfan to take a picture of the shipping document and email to people for all orders. (and to copy me so I can try to provide some measure of oversight)

I have had recent conversations about a need to improve his "customer service and order fullfillment" processes. One "awshit" wipes out a lot of "attaboys".

[Jordan Baker]

I picked up one of these suits from Jim last week. I’m very happy with it. The fabric is great. The stitching is pretty good. I went with the 3XL as a Jim recommended going one size larger. I have to say though that what the advertised size is sure isn’t what the fit is.

The size on the label was

Size 7/ 3XL
height 6’3” - 6’4”
Breast 54”-56”
Waist 48”-50”
Leg seam 31”

I’m 6’2” with a 50” chest and a 40” waist

I found the suit a very good fit. So just be aware that his stuff is smaller then what the label says. The leg inseam was bang on though.

I did find the metal collar tabs could be stitched on better. There is minimal thread holding them on and the seam has been left open. It’s no biggie as it’s simple to hand stitch them closed. The suit comes with dark green plastic buttons. They are quite functional although I’m not sure how close to the originals they are.

Overall I’m very very happy to now have this in my vehicle wardrobe for events. I’ve also got the Pixie Suit that was made last year. I’d like to publicly thank Jim for stepping forward and actually making this happen along with Ifran. It’s nice to finally have quality and accurate period British Commonwealth clothing