My Wested visit

Discuss all of the intricacies of the jacket in full detail

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Indyevans
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My Wested visit

Post by Indyevans »

Hi,

I’ve been an Indiana Jones fan since seeing Temple of Doom at the cinema in 1984. It wasn’t until later that I got to see Raiders. Now I think ROTLA is my favourite movie of the trilogy.

I bought a ‘Wested’ Last Crusade jacket back in (I think) 1998 and it instantly became my second skin. With such soft leather and being so lightweight I immediately fell in love with it. I think it had been an earlier incarnation of Indygear, which had sent me in the right direction.

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The last half year I have been a lurker (ouch sounds kinda creepy) here on the Club Obi Wan. I held back from joining as I thought I would probably end up being here every day to keep up to date with the new posts. Finally, I decided I should officially join up (because I do find I am here almost daily). After this period of time I feel like I know many of you who post here, even though I’ve not chipped in.

Recently I decided my Wested Jacket needed a companion to make it feel not so lonely and to wear in exchange. For my new one I decided to go for a Raiders style Jacket with the smaller collar.


I visited Wested in Swanley on Tuesday this last week (5th October). I only live about 30 minutes from the shop. Previously I had dealt with them only via their website and email (I think it was when they were based in their other premises).

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I thought I would share a few screen captures from my visit :D (I haven't seen any recent pics, on the forum or main site, of Westeds Swanley shop).
For those of you who haven't actually been there.. the shop is located quite close to the M25 motorway, and so you can hear a hum of noise from the cars and trucks passing by. Quite conveniently located for visitors by car, with a small car park next to the building.

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Jerry met me and gave me a run down of the changes to the jacket since mine was made.

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My measurements were taken from my existing jacket as this fits and feels pretty good. I did ask them to subtract an inch from the bottom of my jacket because I had originally ordered my Last Crusade in a ‘long’. Jerry said that my Last Crusade was in fact the short length. So I asked to have it an inch less anyway, just so it is a little different.


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I am very much looking forward to having a new Wested and taking it on my travels with me. I love having something that is handcrafted by craftsmen and really feel proud to be wearing it.

Also I am happy to a part of the COW forum and look forward to getting to know you all.

Best Wishes,

Derek (Indyevans)
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IndyBlues
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Post by IndyBlues »

Welcome aboard. Thanks for the pics.
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

Great photos...nice of you to support us addicts by showing us WEAR our jackets are being made...now if only we could get daily pics of our jackets being made...no, I spend way too much time here anyway...and imagine how awfully we'd nitpick Peter if we could look over his shoulder everyday! :shock: I wouldn't blame him at all if he quit at that point! :wink:
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Post by IndianaJames »

Hey, thanks for the pictures, I love seeing what the shop looks like. It will probably be a while before I go....

Cheers
James
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Post by whipwarrior »

AWESOME pics!!! :D If I had been in your shoes, one line would have instantly sprung to mind: "We're standing on Holy ground." You are so lucky to live that close to Wested. I'd probably get in trouble for hanging around there all the time, just to enjoy the smell of new leather jackets being made!
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Post by Mr. Das »

Nice pics! I was always curious what the shop looked like.

And why are some pics blurry? Were you shaking in amazement when you took the pics :lol:
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Post by Dakota Hurly »

Mmm....jackets. Is there anything they can't do?
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Post by ob1al »

Great post Derek & thanks for the pics - now we know what to expect when we visit Wested in 2 weeks as part of the UK summit...which leads me on nicely to...

Have you checked out the UK Summit thread over in 'Events' - as you live so close to where we are all staying, you might be interested in attending some or all of the activities we have planned, including a Wersted visit. Jack the Ripper Walk, dinner with Noel Howard of MBA constumes and the British Museum visit.

If you were interested in joining us, you would be more than welcome!

But speak up quickly if so, to be sure of inclusion in Redbeard's fantastic event poster! :)

Al
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Post by Indyevans »

Ahh i hoped some of you would appreciate the pics and thanks for the welcome :D

And why are some pics blurry? Were you shaking in amazement when you took the pics

Well .. the pics are captures from my video camera .. and the blurriest ones are from when i was panning (well ok .. yeah it was hard to concentrate on keeping the pans steady :P )

If you were interested in joining us, you would be more than welcome!

Thanks very much Al.. i'd love to come and meet some fellow gearheads and also participate in the general beer drinking activities! :D So please add me to the list!
I'll probably be able to make a couple of the days anyway :D

[img]But%20speak%20up%20quickly%20if%20so,%20to%20be%20sure%20of%20inclusion%20in%20Redbeard's%20fantastic%20event%20poster![/img]

Ah i think redbeard has already printed the posters now .. the price of being in on the action at short notice :wink:


I want to see a picture of Jerri(sp) the female one... i like her accent on the phone.....

I didn't see the female one - Gerry .. I'll see if i can capture her on film for you next time when i collect my jacket .. or on the summit visit.
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Post by VP »

Video camera? Post a video! :P

Nice pics, welcome.
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Post by Neolithic »

Welcome, Derek! :tup: :D I hope you enjoy your time here now you've officially joined up!

I was at Wested in July. Did you see the Minority Report jackets up the back? I wish I'd picked one off the rack there. Very nice. Jerry had a lot to say about how cool Australia was, so that immediately made me like him. :wink:
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Post by ob1al »

Hey, that's great Derek - I'll go ahead and add you to the list! :D

BTW - did I mention that you owe me a beer? :wink:

(OK I'm recycling my beer gags now - but you guys and gals only have to put up with my ale japes for another 2 weeks! :lol: )
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Post by Indyevans »

Well Wested phoned this morning (13th Oct) and said my Jacket is ready to collect.

Gerry said that he thought it would take about 3 weeks (possibly 2), so i thought i might collect it on the Summit visit (if it was done in time for)... but wow i didn't expect it to be finished already :D:D:D:D

So i guess a little afternoon drive is in order .. pics of my new jacket coming up soon.

Best wishes to all,

Derek

P.S. Can't wait to see all attending the Indy summit in London.
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Post by Indyevans »

This afternoon i went back to Wested and collected my new Jacket :D

While there i took a few more pics :wink:

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Peter

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Jerry

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Bill - the cutter (cuts the patterns out of the leather)

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Raiders Goat (left) and Authentic Lamb (right) side by side.

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Close up of the above.

Jerry had shown me a horse jacket on my previous visit .. I asked if he had the cow and horse to get a comparison on but he didn't have any in the shop this afternoon. (I forgot to ask about the elephant raiders .. :? hrmmmm )

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Something for the warmer weather .. A Wested Cotton Jacket

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My New Wested Jacket .. mmmmmmmm love that smell!

I am as giddy as a schoolboy :P Since i got home i have been wearing it and striking various indy poses to check the look

'The "going for the Idol" pose'
'The "just entered the bar scene with gun (or in my case finger) poised" pose
'The "about this big explanation to marion" pose'
etc etc
(is it just me .. or do other people do this? lol)

Ahh do i need to provide pics to back this up? :roll:
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Post by English Adventurer »

I can't see the pictures at all!!! :x :cry:

Maybe your host is down!

I'm sure you're not alone in practicing the various poses!

You didn't happen to see my new Goat jacket there did you??? :lol: :wink:
Enjoy!

Ian
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Post by Indyevans »

Hrmmm .. I just checked and had a look at what is going on and ... I found this ..

The web site you are trying to access has exceeded its allocated data transfer.
Access to this site will be restored within an hour. Please try again later.


so .. hrmm i guess check back later? :?
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Post by English Adventurer »

so .. hrmm i guess check back later?

Oh great, so what am I supposed to do between now and then?????? :x :x :twisted: :wink:

Ian
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Post by Indyevans »

Oh great, so what am I supposed to do between now and then??????
hrmm reload the page? .. i'm getting pics again :P :wink:
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Post by English Adventurer »

Me too!!!!!! Good pictures!!!
Thanks for sharing!
:D

Ian
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Post by English Adventurer »

Me too!!!!!! Good pictures!!!
Thanks for sharing!
:D

Ian
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Post by Scandinavia Jones »

Excellent pics! Brings back memories of my Wested visit...

Oh, right... I'm going there next week again!!! :D Indyevans, Ian... the lot of you... see you at the summit!
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Post by Captain D »

Yes, "thank you" for posting the pics and sharing them for us to enjoy! :D

Enjoy your new jacket and welcome to Club Obi Wan!

Kind Regards,
Captain D
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Post by Indiana Jerry »

EXCELLENT pictures! Thanks for sharing! :D
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great

Post by indy1936 »

great pictures, derek. hope my next one turns out that well :)
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