Oh no, Joules is one of my favourites.

MawtheMerrier

I’ve just tried to Google Apinkies and am none the wiser.
Help /clarification please?

I need to know too!!

I don't like horizontal stripes whatever the guardian says, they do make you look fatter and the white is rather harsh too. Most journalists are young and may not have the sort of bodies that middle age gives you

Spabbie it’s got nothing to do with journalists. They were reporting on a scientific paper
www.researchgate.net/publication/263197385_The_Effects_of_Striped_Clothing_on_Perceptions_of_Body_Size

If you like Joules try looking at country style Web sites. You can get items cheaper. I recently bought a quilted puffer womens jacket for under £40. (Country Attire)

I got a Joules mac/coat very reasonably in a local charity sale. It's green with random flowers and water and wind proof. I rather like it. Anyway, I have been told that ever since someone on Emmerdale wore one it has flown off the shelves and is now a "desired item". Who knew? I'm top of the fashion by default!

Oh dear! I've bought quite a bit of stuff from Joules over the years, for myself and for my granddaughters, although recently I've not bought for the girls. Last year I bought myself a lovely faux fur gilet and again mac. They are very expensive and I like less than I did.

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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. 😁

Sorry but for me Joules represents DULL DULL and DULl

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.