_, speaking for myself, where I see the value in this whole exercise is that the pattern should be 100% Cooper. I agree with you. I like the purity of no outside involvement. I don't know anything about any "fan input pressure groups", but on the very first post of this thread, we have:
Sgt. wrote:I and Neil Cooper will be making all four of them to spec. along with Indy Holt.. Our number one will be made out of Calf and it will be the Raiders by Neil Cooper and US Wings Inc.
Sarge
Then further down:
Sgt. wrote:Michaelson talked me into making all four Indy Jones Jackets by Neil Cooper with the help of IndyDawg and Indiana Holt... Like the Hero line.. COW members will come first.
Sarge
Michaelson wrote:In what way, YJ? Every gear item ever produced, with the exception of the Nowak CS jacket or the AB hat line, have had fan assistance since this hobby began. EVERY piece of gear.
Holt is a fan. And these are pretty clear in saying Holt (and Dawg?) will be involved with specs. Others seem to be reading the same thing and getting the same meaning. With MY professional hat on, but still speaking as a fan, I'd argue that the whole value of this project to fans hinges on evidence of Cooper's involvement in Raiders, AND his hand in these new offerings. It's a no-brainer. Sure, there's no requirement for Sarge or whoever involved to disclosed anything. They're selling jackets, full stop. However, they're not REALLY just selling jackets here are they? They're selling provenance. So those of us who have been around the block would like to see what the connections are at the production end, and then how they came to be replicated at this end in 2010. Otherwise, you're left thinking (as I was re my old Wested) "Well, if Holt needs to tweak the specs so much to make the 'original maker's patterns' look right, then what have I just paid for?" I don't see how that's unreasonable.