I have a few Nowak Jackets I have not shown yet and I just received my 10th from Tony Nowak Originals by Riley Barrie. Riley has taken the reins and is filling PAID orders at this time. I can tell you the quality of service and jackets has not changed. In the coming weeks they will announce when new orders can be taken. They have produced some Indy jackets and my "Surragates". Riley and the workers know their stuff and are up to the task. The man is gone but you can still see the soul in the jackets he created.
Surragates May 2010
My daughters jacket April 2009
X-1 Jan 2010
The last Indy jacket he made me "Last Crusade" in vintage goat. Aug. 2009
"Raiders" in cow mocha July 2009
Han- you have an AMAZING jacket collection! I am envious! And yes, the Nowak name will continue! I have been in talks with Riley ever since he noticed that I had an unanswered e-mail from just before Tony passed. After talking with him I have high confidence he can produce the jacket that I want!
Fantastic! That Surrogates is astounding. Riley is finishing up my Nowak Goat Raiders and I can't wait. I have found him to be a pleasure to deal with and expected no less than masterful work under his watch. Great to look through your album. Thanks for posting it.
COW member "Han Jones"
Thank you for sharing the pictures and the information concerning the status of the late Mr. Nowak's company. It is truly and greatly appreciated.
From what you say and the pictures provided, Mr. Barrie and the staff has and will do Mr. Nowak proud and keep the customer service and quality of products to the highest standards as Mr. Nowak has set.
Once the announcement has been made when the company will take new orders, a jacket order from me will be placed immediately. As you put it so well, though Mr. Nowak (Rest In Peace) is no longer with us, his "soul" and "heart" will be in every jacket produced. Mr. Nowak you will be missed but, never forgotten.
Tony Nowak forever, indeed.
Last edited by ProfessorHenryWJonesJr on Sat May 08, 2010 9:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Thats good news indeed about the Company. I'm hoping to be able to get a ROTLA jacket in the not too distant future. Tony may be gone, but his spirit will live on in the company and the jackets.
Wow! I want to ask so many questions, but still personally want to wait a little bit longer before I do. I will watch this thread with interest though.
Man this sure is great news. Tony can't be replaced, but his artistry and philosophy live on in the people he trained and loved. What better way to honor the man? Outstanding!
Han, great collection. Your many different jackets show that Tony took on whatever anyone wanted, and he his range in jacket making. That Surrogates jacket is SOOO nice! I have to have one
Han Jones wrote:To be honest with you in my opinion the best style he made was the "Surragates" jacket. He told me once that he felt it was his best jacket he made.
You know you convinced me to go for the goat over a year ago with the photos you sent to me.
And now again those photos of your Surrogates jacket convince me I'm going to buy one when the time comes!!!
It is good to know the legacy will be carried on by quality people with the spirit and integrity to preserve the Tony namesake in his future jackets. Bravo! It looks I will be getting a Nowak after all.
The first jacket is a LC in Itallian cow hide. This was the LC he made we spoke about it when I saw him in Ohio last year.
The second jacket is a Raiders in goat. It was the first time he deviated from standard leather ie CS hide and shunken lamb. He knew I did not like lamb so found this hide for me. After that the flood gates opened on Indy hide. I told him people would want other stuff besides those two hides and the rest is history.
No I just wanted to document all of the that way. They all hang in the same closet I do try to wear all of them just not all at once. I go through phases. Right now I am really diggin this Surragates jacket.
Han Jones wrote:No I just wanted to document all of the that way. They all hang in the same closet I do try to wear all of them just not all at once. I go through phases. Right now I am really diggin this Surragates jacket.
I am digging that one too. I think that may have to be my next one once business resumes....
I love the Surragates leather we have called it New Original leather. He and Bryan told me that the new original and 747 are the same leather, 747 being darker color. If you get a Surragates get it in new original and have them darken it like they did for the movie. I got mine undisstresed and I love it. If I were to get another I would get one in 747.
Han, those are some unbelievable jackets there man! (....not to mention some serious dough to afford all those!). I gotta say those surragates look amazing......to me they look much better than Indy jackets for wearing around town....more modern and "sophisticated." What's the starting price for those?
nicktheguy wrote:The surrogates really reminds me of the cafe racer jackets of the 60's.
It's actually very close to a 1940's California leatherwear half-belt. It's a perfect reproduction of a classic utility jacket you used to be able to get at Sears.
That's a fine looking Surrogates jacket, and it looks good on you. However, my vote still will have to go to your July '09 Raiders! I'm not a fan of distressing, but WOW!
And I can atest to what Han said about Riley. I'm looking forward to the last Indy jacket that Nowak worked with me on. For what it's worth, Riley seemed very nice over the phone, and seems to show the same genuine interest in getting things right, although I'll withhold judgment until I see the final product. Still, it was strange not to hear that familiar booming voice from Tony's place.
I've got one of Tony's first 'Surrogates' (pics on FJ) and it truly is a beautiful mixture of classic styles, one of his best offerings IMO.....it's the same leather as 747 but in different shade with more burgundy undertones as seen in the original Bruce Willis movie....the distressesed version looks like it was pulled off Ol' Bruce's back between scenes.....glad to see the GOLDEN AGE OF NOWAK living on..........
Well, I certainly hope Riley and company does not mind this news being posted in this manner, as we had been asked by the family to please keep things quiet until they made an official announcement on the Nowak website, asking us not to say anything until then.
I just took a look at their website and no such information has been posted there yet.
Hopefully 'you' haven't tipped their hand now, though now the cat is out of the bag, I'm guessing that is now a moot point.
We wish Riley the VERY best of luck in moving forward with the Nowak brand!!
I look at this thread and think we are just so lucky. Thank you Han for the news, and sharing your fantastic jackets with us. The Surrogates jacket is amazing! I love all the jackets Tony has made for you! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures!
I don't think any notice has been given on this site. All that would happen is that if a COW member tries to place an order he'd get the same response from Nowak Originals as would someone phoning out of the blue to try to place an order. There's no official word from Nowak Originals yet anyway, and their hand wouldn't be forced by anything on this site. Han's jacket order was already placed. Everything's cool and the gang.
I speak to Riley daily. Bryan, Riley, and myself have been going back and forth about leather names and other various things about the shop. Most of Tony's info was in his head so we are all working together to get everything straight. If you have a paid order that you have not recived yet email them on tonynowak.com
No tipping any hands here just relaying the message and doing what I can to help out Tony's family.
Han Jones wrote:
No tipping any hands here just relaying the message and doing what I can to help out Tony's family.
Michaelson wrote:Well, I certainly hope Riley and company does not mind this news being posted in this manner, as we had been asked by the family to please keep things quiet until they made an official announcement on the Nowak website, asking us not to say anything until then.
We figured keeping things mum at the family's request was helping the family.
?
