Comments on: Duluth Trading Company: What’s with the Illustrations?

By: Windance

Windance — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:34:01 +0000

The Gadgeteer – Bohemian Traders carries the original Plumbers bag in ‘2′ sizes stamped with ‘Made in Czech’. The pro is the size options, the con is that they only carry it in natural color cowhide whereas Deluth’s knockoff is in a darker brown.

By: Stuff You Can’t Buy: Vintage Walrus Skin Doctor’s Bag at Dethroner

Stuff You Can’t Buy: Vintage Walrus Skin Doctor’s Bag at Dethroner — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:44:00 +0000

[...] quest for the perfect bag continues. (I’m still leaning toward the Duluth plumber’s bag, despite warnings it may be crap.) But here’s a bag that, while not cut at all for a laptop, [...]

By: Christie

Christie — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 04:26:30 +0000

You should know that the the Leather Plumber’s Bag is not the real deal. It’s a knockoff of the real thing – a Czech plumbers bag and the “aw shucks” just a bunch of good ol’ guys at the Duluth Trading Company are employing an age-old practice of copying an original design and having it manufactured in China. I believe at one time they did carry the real thing but evidently it just seemed easier to do an end-run and go to China. And those good ol’ boys have done it again, they’ve raised their prices.
I’m glad I got the real thing from Bohemian Traders.

By: Rigger23

Rigger23 — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:56:30 +0000

Great products, I have purchase many items online and have been very satisfied. Only one item purchased by me has been returned with no questions and an immediate credit. They are top notch. If you work hard for a living and need clothing to match your hard work don’t pass on Duluth Trading Company!

By: guns

guns — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:29:18 +0000

I’ve purchased clothing from them for several years now & have always been more
than satisfied. Their clothing selection for we old “working stiffs” is well thought out.
But, I too would often like to see actual photos of their clothing; then again, after
I’m thru rambling on this site I’ll be placing another order with them ( I have to buy my own Xmas/New Year’s presents so I have a good excuse to spend $ ).

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 01:33:47 +0000

I own a couple of Duluth things, bought based on drawings, and am better-than-pleased about the quality. But we’re talking Bucket Bosses and so forth, not clothes. I’m contemplating a wristwatch, and would really like a better look at it.

OTOH, I also like the drawings. They look cool, and for crying out loud, we’re talking about jeans, not Maseratis.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:57:45 +0000

The illustration for their “Longtail” line of butt crack concealing T-shirts is legendary here in Wisconsin. Obscenely long link:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/department/mens/mens2/mens_shirts/longtail/longtail.aspx?navlocation=dept_left

By: Bernard

Bernard — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:39:47 +0000

Duluth Trading Company is the Cat’s Ass.

I will never be in style, but DTC is a huge part of my personal style.

By: jtomlove

jtomlove — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 12:45:54 +0000

i recently bought several items from them, including the twill jacket (i had been eyeing it, was pushed over the edge to buy by a recommendation on another excellent blog, “cool tools”). i had exactly the same concern as you about the illustrations. hey, i figured, unless they are crooks i can return/exchange everything. (pleased to see in these notes that others have had good customer service… i need to exchange one item for size, guess i’ll be finding out.) in all i’m very happy with everything and plan to buy more from them in the future. if what i get doesn’t match my expectations, i’ll just return it.
i think the peterman comment was right on, this is about their particular style, not what’s cheapest for them as retailers.

By: joflow

joflow — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 01:58:50 +0000

Here’s what boggles me…in order to see how the clothes look on someone, don’t they have to take a picture of someone wearing the item of clothing so they can draw it correctly (other than the dogs, of course)? I mean, you have to be able to see how certain things hang, where the stitching is going to be once it’s on someone, that kind of thing, right?

By: greg.org

greg.org — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:57:22 +0000

two words: J. Peterman.

By: Havoc

Havoc — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:39:19 +0000

The paper catalog won’t help much its all drawings to. However, Duluth has some of the best clothing and customer service around so give them a whirl. If you want to know what the stuff looks like look for a 40+ contractor most of the time he’ll be wearing something by Duluth.

By: B

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:27:12 +0000

Tandy’s correct, the catalog is illustrated. However I’d like to say for the record that I have a number of Duluth Trading Company products (bags and clothes, mostly) and I have yet to be disappoitned. I use a BucketBoss brand messenger bag that I’ve combined with a Vyper series laptop sleeve (http://www.booqbags.com). It provides excellent protection for my laptop and is very non-descript in that it doesn’t betray the fact that I’m carrying a laptop like most other laptop bags do. After 3 years of daily use, neither of these have yet to show the least bit of wear or tear.

Moral of the story: If you’re willing to take the chance on Duluth’s illustrations you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

By: Tandy

Tandy — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 22:02:14 +0000

Nope, the paper catalog is just drawings, as well. Nice drawings, but not terribly hepful, as you say.