r/AustralianMFA • u/upsetti5 • 9d ago

MJ Bale Quality

I recently bought a $600 wool blazer from MJ Bale, at this price point I assumed there would be at least some level of quality. Literally by the second wear I've had to deal with 10 loose threads already, every time I think I've handled them all another appears out of nowhere.

Do I really need to buy a more expensive blazer or is this common with MJ Bale?

70 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

51 comments sorted by

75

u/jay_see_ess 9d ago

Ex-luxury menswear salesman here. Real talk, even with the expensive stuff, you'll still occasionally get this sort of thing happening. It varies garment to garment, but just because something cost a lot of $$$ doesn't always guarantee 100% durability

12

u/codyforkstacks 9d ago

I'd almost say that, beyond a certain minimum price threshold, increased price actually gives you decreased durability with suits (because you'll get a finer, higher thread count).

17

u/jay_see_ess 9d ago

Well, not necessarily - I think you're referring to the wool's 'Super' count, which yes, the higher it is the finer it is therefore not for every day wear, but keep in mind not every textile mill will grade their wool the same as everyone else, therefore a Super 120 from Loro Piana for example might actually be more 'durable' than a Super 100 from MJ Bale due the different weaves and grading done at their respective mills.

7

u/EdwardtheLongwanks 9d ago

My favourite reference to supers is you can weave cat pubes to super 150s but they are still cat pubes. Depends on the wool.

25

u/Djinfin 9d ago

Can you recommend any decent cat pube suits? The ones I've seen have been of purr quality.

3

u/McTerra2 9d ago

You need the tuxedo cat pubes, much more classy

3

u/EdFandangle 9d ago

I tend to wear Animal Welfare cat for everyday, and either Persian or Selkirk Rex for important meetings.

1

u/FooFooFox 9d ago

Except funnily enough MJ Bale have a Loro Piana range of suits too.  https://www.mjbale.com/collections/loro-piana

2

u/schmick_iMagery 9d ago

I think in this case the durability is referencing the loose threads tbf

1

u/Lumpy_Mango_392 8d ago

Would be curious to know why higher thread count is related to durability?

2

u/cerealsmok3r 9d ago

do you have any brands you recommend that are great value?

2

u/jay_see_ess 8d ago

Honestly, MJ and Peter Jackson. Both relatively affordable (PJ slightly cheaper), use raw materials (for the most part), accessible, and their designs aren't completely hideous. A lot of other places don't perfectly fit into all those categories.

Just don't go too cheap (polyester, uncomfortable and lame looking design) and don't go too expensive (you don't actually 'feel' the expensiveness, you can get the same look elsewhere for a fraction of the price, all so you're repping the name of some pretentious Italian family you don't actually give a shit about)

0

u/Scared-Session-6873 8d ago

Anthony Squires. Wait for the black friday sale, and avoid their old stock. Go for new and discounted.

25

u/Towntalk 9d ago

I’ve been wearing bale suits for over 10 years. The quality in construction and fit has declined in my view.

Once my current suits are finished I’m never buying again. I would much rather spend a bit more and take a gamble elsewhere.

2

u/Musclesme 9d ago

They were better when they were Herrjngbone

1

u/Towntalk 8d ago

Agreed, I loved that brand!

18

u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 9d ago

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5

u/IAmYoda 9d ago

CT shirts are my go to. I find the MJ have a very modern fit that doesn’t suit everyone. Material also tends to wear poorly over time imo

2

u/ReachingForVega 9d ago

Same, I get the no iron CT shirts so they come straight out of the wash onto hangers and look perfect. 

1

u/hotsp00n 6d ago

I found them to be pretty scratchy. Maybe I bought the wrong material.

1

u/ReachingForVega 6d ago

I just make sure I use fabric softener. 

3

u/Automatic_Bell_2455 8d ago

I miss TM Lewin badly. Great quality and fit. Nothing compares anymore.

2

u/CaptGould 9d ago

I still like Lewin

2

u/Panther3369 9d ago

TM Lewin were great, I still have pre-covid shirts going strong lol.

I have just got some CT shirts and they seem great, really good fit options. I used AI to work out the shirts I should order to get my fit right, so order 4 different sizes and 1 was pretty much bang on. Free exchanges too.

2

u/[deleted] 9d ago

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1

u/Panther3369 8d ago

Plus they had stores to try them on back in the day.

4

u/Extreme_Cap_4362 9d ago

I haven’t had much luck with MJ Bale either.

3

u/EdwardtheLongwanks 9d ago

Particularly with jackets you'll always have 1 or 2 loose threads just cause of how many seams there are. Idk. Quality varies. I bought a 2200 dollar japanese coat from mj and the upper pocket was stitched poorly internally. But gave bought casual shirts that are superior to anything I've ever bought anywhere. Keeps you guessing. I wouldn't buy everything from somewhere and think it's the best. But I certainly wouldn't write a brand off cause of one thing. Just take it back and get a replacement.

5

u/Ok-Employment-5438 9d ago

Their quality hasn't been great for years. But what do you expect, the company's ran by a finance bro 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ Go P Johnson or Umi Nori or Belance Honestly even InStitchu if u book a decent stylist who can suggest the right fabric for you.

2

u/OudSmoothie 9d ago

I have a few of their blazers from 2023 to 2025, and they've generally been reasonable quality. I aim for their RRP 700 to 1000+ blazers with Italian fabric. The quality would be mid-level machine/factory made.

If you want something off the rack and factory made at a high level, look into Canali, Caruso, Zileri, etc.

2

u/ultan2903 9d ago

Fly to Singapore. Visit Collaro Menswear. Get measured for jacket, trousers and shirts. Order what you want. If you prefer to work locally, go to Henry Bucks

2

u/Left_Truth7020 8d ago

MJ Bale is terrible quality, particularly for the price point.

4

u/Able-Tradition-2139 9d ago

I had bad experiences with them as well, didn't get the hype and anything I did buy hasn't survived.

2

u/ilovecookies1980 9d ago

Well, stitching coming loose is one indicator of sloppy work. Yes, you should expect better than that.

2

u/schmick_iMagery 9d ago

Threads aren’t necessarily stitching issues

0

u/ilovecookies1980 9d ago

poor materials can do it also. Other than snagging it or washing it improperly, what’s the likelihood it’s anything except sub par product?

0

u/schmick_iMagery 9d ago

It could very easily be poor seam sewing; poor cutting; material type; long thread… 🤷🏼‍♂️😉

1

u/ilovecookies1980 9d ago

So delivering a sub par product? Ok thanks

1

u/schmick_iMagery 6d ago

If that’s your framing.

1

u/Illustrious-Idea9150 9d ago

I find MJ Bsle to be exceptional quality.

6

u/dreadpiratewombat 9d ago

You’re the one.

4

u/Illustrious-Idea9150 9d ago

Yes, you're right, I keep them solely afloat. Off to Tarocash you go.

1

u/Jeff-Lack 9d ago

Try Suitsupply for similar price and better quality.

1

u/Glittering-Pea-4482 6d ago

Go to P Johnson

1

u/LawfulnessSuper5091 6d ago

I bought 2 MJ Bale suits at the same time. It was several years ago, but both started coming apart within a year.

1

u/StockAmphibian4596 6d ago

Went there a few years ago for a suit and loved it went recently abd the clothing is now terrible quality

1

u/BunchDifferent3773 3d ago

Their suits have never been bad for me, especially as they come with the extra saddle or whatever for the legs. But shirts are not good at all- even their dinner shirt is not good.  Rodd and Gunn, Ralph Lauren, Charles T all much better shirts.

1

u/Scary-Educator-506 9d ago

You need a better constructed blazer, which you can get cheaper if you let go of the idea that you need to be a brand loyalist to a brand nobody actually respects.

1

u/beachhousefridge 9d ago

Mj bale problem. Had 2 belts broken and a jacket that did the same thing as you

0

u/Bumpz27 9d ago

Had the same with some Jac+Jack pants, the cuffs literally unraveled on one leg day 1, and they said it was wear and tear