Oh no, Joules is one of my favourites.

I’ve never been in a Joules shop - there are none around here. 😕 However, I’ve just bought a Joules jacket on Vinted. The quality seems good, but it’s very small so I’ll be re-selling it. 😕

But from what I can gather on this thread, much of Joules’ stuff is manufactured in places such as China, so no real excuse go4 their high prices?

Agree with your post 100% Maw

You can’t have it both ways.
Manufacturing costs have increased all over the world and unless we are prepared to turn a blind eye to sweatshops in Leicester or Bangladesh we have to accept that prices go up.
UK shoppers we have always sought out bargains and (sadly IMO) prioritised “cheap” over quality or UK produced. Look at the tweed industry of Yorkshire or Scotland, knitwear -again largely from Scotland or the North of England . What do they all have in common? A sharp decline in business driven by “the cost of everything, but the value of nothing”.
This is what happens.

Yes it's a shame, but quality had declined and prices increased.
I won a £100 Joules voucher in a competition a while back but didn't get much for my money. None of it lasted long. It's a shame to build up a good reputation for quality then renage on it.

I have found that Seasalt has a mixture of things, some very good some not so and they seem keen on 3/4 sleeves which I dont like but have had some very good stuff from them and the shop and staff are very nice and easy to get round . Might be worth a look for some of you. Not cheap but have found stuff washes well and I get a lot of use from them all - but then dont give a toss about fashion, look for what I like, expect it to last a good while and suits me.

Far too expensive.
They should have lowered their prices. There is a lot of competition out there.

This, from 2016 (dec)

Mr Joule (80), a town businessman for more than half a century, said the closure on Friday December 23 is down to a combination of his own ill health and increased competition in the town.

The 24-seat Eating House, down a cobbled entry off the High Street, has been a popular destination for 15 years.

Ian, last year’s chairman of the Market Harborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: “This will come as a shock to our faithful customers who over the years have come to see the restaurant as a haven of rest and sustenance.

“The fact is that, with the plethora of coffee shops and other restaurants opening in town, profits have diminished and make this part of the yard unsustainable.”

Will ask around if still alive. But another proof that we will have the towns we deserve. If we shop on line, and if we have our coffee, etc, at chains like Costa, Nero or Starbucks- all present in Market Harborough - we will lose independent cafés and shops- and eventually, our town centres. Use them or lose them.

It was called Joule's Yard. The Gates are still there, but closed- so no more short cut to town with a cuppa on the way. Still lots of bits and pieces in the yard like old sinks and chimney stacks. No idea what happened. Will ask around.

Fleurpepper

Grandmagrewit, do you remember Joule's Yard in the centre of town- sort of antiques, furtniture, tools, chimney stacks- old sinks, etc, etc- and a Café/restaurant with a bricàbrac shop too. And Sunday folk and rock live music with Sunday lunch? We often went.

Yes I vaguely remember this place but I left Leicestershire back in the 90s. Ian Joule had a wide range of interests, both business and recreational, although I believe the Eating House closed some 6 years ago. Not sure if he's still living but I'm sure he will be very sad that Joule's has folded after 45 years.

Callistemon21

I think Ian Joule owned the Eating House, FleurPepper

We went once years ago with a cousin who lived not far from there. Interesting place.
Is it closed now?

Sadly yes. I mean it was a mess, but the food was good and the music great, and the atmosphere really enjoyable. And for us a great short-cut to town through the yard, with a fab book shop in the alleyway. We do miss it.

I liked Joules products until a few years ago. Quality dropped and I realised everything was made in China, I stopped buying their products.

win

Sarah it is all to do with practice, we give up these things and then can't do them when we start again. If only children realise how lucky they are doing all the things they take for granted. If we kept our bodies moving we would still be able to do most of them LOL. Stay your and be happy

Very true! Anyway, just off to the gym now

One of my son buys the Joules chinos from M&S, apparently they're very skinny fitting which suits him. He says that the quality has gone off recently though and had to return some when the seams came undone.
I always think it's a bad sign when companies start to sell through M&S, Jaeger did it.

I think Ian Joule owned the Eating House, FleurPepper

We went once years ago with a cousin who lived not far from there. Interesting place.
Is it closed now?

Grandmagrewit, do you remember Joule's Yard in the centre of town- sort of antiques, furtniture, tools, chimney stacks- old sinks, etc, etc- and a Café/restaurant with a bricàbrac shop too. And Sunday folk and rock live music with Sunday lunch? We often went.

Many years ago I lived in Market Harborough and knew the original founder of Joules, Ian Joule, Tom Joule's father. He started with one small shop in the town but then the family branched out into selling clothing - padded jackets, gilets, hats, scarves, etc to the "Hunter Wellie Brigade" at county shows around the UK. They were amazingly successful but, unfortunately, their original slogan, "Boldly British", became increasingly ironic over the years since the majority of its clothing is made in China. I stopped wearing their garments when they started to use another misleading slogan "Fresh from the fields of Britain" - presumably alluding to their HQ in the Leicestershire countryside rather than their production factories "in the fresh fields of Beijing". Presumably their production and shipping costs have now risen to the extent that cheap manufacture has gone and the business is no longer viable. But are we seeing the beginning of the end of imported fast fashion? - hardly likely with the never-ending rise of Primark!

I stopped buying from them as the clothes seemed to be increasingly poor quality but prices the same. They used to have a great range of women's tunics in thick good quality cotton to go with jeans, but these seemed to have transformed into strange little dresses with waists. My grandson's Joules wellie boots came apart after a short time too.

Sorry but for me Joules represents DULL DULL and DULl

Sarah74

win

And why should ladies not skip Sarah, They should indeed in my view both to keep fit and keep happy. I love youthful ladies even grans.

Indeed! That’s why I said “It’s good we’re all different”. Each to their own. I’m actually fairly fit, but couldn’t manage skipping for very long!

My DGD assured me I'd be able to skip when I'm a bit older. Just keep practising. 😁

I agree that Joules lost their way as far as design is concerned. I still wear some very good quality Joules pyjamas that must be 14 years old, plus a woollen sweater with a small tasteful design of 3 flying ducks. Never bought anything since as they went so clichéd and mimsy.

Always too expensive for me and wasn't keen on the often flowery designs. Sad about people losing jobs though.

Sarah it is all to do with practice, we give up these things and then can't do them when we start again. If only children realise how lucky they are doing all the things they take for granted. If we kept our bodies moving we would still be able to do most of them LOL. Stay your and be happy

win

And why should ladies not skip Sarah, They should indeed in my view both to keep fit and keep happy. I love youthful ladies even grans.

Indeed! That’s why I said “It’s good we’re all different”. Each to their own. I’m actually fairly fit, but couldn’t manage skipping for very long!

Helen631955 I have been doing that for years. Good quality clothes at fraction of price. During the first lockdown I sold loads of clothes I had bought preloved and worn and loved on ebay and got a lot of my investment back. Just had a lovely Gap cardigan arrive today. Goodness knows how much it would have cost new.