Print

[Cowcorner]

After reading the 'emperors new clothes' thread whilst doing a sort out of my softs I had a thought about where they are all made - for example the new SS and hunts county gloves look remarkably similar and unsurprisingly are made in the same factory. So, GM, hunts, h4l, GN, kook, mongoose, etc all appear to be made in some softs mega factory in India.....What I'm actually trying to ask, albeit quite badly, are any softs made in the UK? Or do we just make the occasional bat.....

[Sam]

From what I know yes they are (or perhaps Pakistan as well I'd have though?). I don't think a company would find it viable profit wise to get them made over here.

[ItsJustCricket]

All India and Pakistan, but mostly India.  Bags tend to come from China, although there are still some good ones made in India.

[Cowcorner]

It just seems odd to me that we champion English willow and pod shavers home grown in our lush counties but can't pull our fingers out of our bottoms to make anything else! We've got the raw materials - plenty of cows and sheep - add a bit of thread and hey presto! Softs!

[toenails97]

It's the price of English labour which is why companies don't use England for softs

[smilley792]

I think the only softs that could be made in England and work, would be if someone made one off bespoke softs at a high price.


Making in bulk would just make the price sky high and un competetive.

[ItsJustCricket]

Hopefully George "Stretton" Fox will add some gloves and pads to his portfolio soon! This way they will be made in England!

[joeljonno]

Sounds like a challenge.

I think I might cut up an old pair of gloves I have to see what is needed...

[iand123]

My understanding is there are about 4/5 main factories in India that churn out a lot of the softs in the industry. Believe Pakistan also makes some as mentioned above

[smilley792]

Try the right thread.


All I can find on YouTube to do with making them

http://youtu.be/eBYISQBkajw

[ProCricketer1982]

If you assume the machinery costs are the same then really it's just the labour, and tbh, you should be able to get workers currently given there are a fair few people unemployed or on (No Swearing Please) zero day type contracts. Would just need the up front investment and knowledge

[MD2812]

Problem would be you need skilled labourers or large training costs. If you pay minimum wage it's probably still more than Indian workers, and the staff you get here for minimum wage may not care about quality.

[joeljonno]

Around York there have been a number of bespoke tailors popping up.

If you could get them to do the needlework, they would be skilled. I wonder how much they would charge, or if they part owned the company, maybe not too expensive.

For instance, they could make a small number of bespoke items when not doing their main work.

[GarrettJ]

It's the price of English labour which is why companies don't use England for softs

3-0

[toenails97]

3-0

Mate I'm over the moon! The lads definitely put a shift in!!