Where to purchase colored jackets?

[Thud13]

Hello! I started fencing a few weeks ago and have just fallen in love with the sport and I have decided to buy my own gear.

Unfortunately, I have the tendency to sweat an exorbitant amount- to the point where white uniforms quickly get that "rust" color that everyone loathes. Because of this, I need to purchase a colored jacket- preferably blue/purple or some other darkish color so that the rusting doesn't show.

Sadly, the only colored jacket I've been able to find is one from Leon Paul USA- but I am being very picky here and for over $100 I would much prefer to have a front zip / velcro.

Does anyone know of any retailers that have colored jackets? Under a $100 would be great! Thank you very much.

[erooMynohtnA]

You'll probably have to contact vendors personally, but I know that it can be done.

I just suggest washing your jacket frequently and keeping it in a seperate pouch away from your metal gear.

[DangerMouse]

It's also really easy to turn a white jacket into a colored jacket with some fabric dye. I have a purple jacket now as part of a costume.

[lefty_monster]

I don't think you'd have that problem with a fencing jacket, but whatever you think. But go ahead and get a colored one if you're not going to compete and you want one.

It'll have to be custom. Colored jackets are against competition rules so vendors don't sell them, except for the LP club jackets that are blue so they're theft-proof.

I vote for fabric dye. You should tie-dye it! That'd be COOL!

[CvilleFencer]

Originally Posted by lefty_monster

It'll have to be custom. Colored jackets are against competition rules so vendors don't sell them, COOL!

Actually they are not, at least in the USFA. For foil, the body has to be a light color, the uniform cannot be all black and the name still has to be legable on the back. Also you can't have a "pattern" or "advertising" in the color scheme. Be sure to look over the material section and the athletes handbook for complete details.

For the uniforms, try Fencing Post, or if they can't help you, then Triplette (caveat being that TCA tends to be a love them or hate them sort of vendor and their tailoring has a spotty history). You will need to call them both directly to see what they can do for you. I know that Saul at FP has been making jackets with colored panels in team colors for a while and TCA can make several different colors, mostly for the SCA crowd.

However, prepare for inexperienced referees to give you crap about your kits legality, a lot of curmudgeon type fencers to be mean to you and a fair number of people who will point and laugh depending on your color combination...

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by DangerMouse

It's also really easy to turn a white jacket into a colored jacket with some fabric dye. I have a purple jacket now as part of a costume.

Or just throw a sock in the wash along with your jacket - it usually only seems to take one red sock to turn a set of "whites" pink.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by CvilleFencer

Actually they are not, at least in the USFA.

Or for the FIE...

Originally Posted by FIE Rulebook

m.25.3.d) L'habillement des tireurs peut être de différentes couleurs, sauf la couleur noire.

-B

[Zilverzmurfen]

Check out my photoalbum if you want to see pics of the 'azurro' jackets that some of the italian fencers wear. I think they're Carmimari, possibly Negrini.

It's first when you go to FIE competitions you need to pay attention to what colour kit you're wearing.

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

I think they're Carmimari, possibly Negrini.

I believe they are Vomitani, actually.

[KD5MDK]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Check out my photoalbum if you want to see pics of the 'azurro' jackets that some of the italian fencers wear. I think they're Carmimari, possibly Negrini.

It's first when you go to FIE competitions you need to pay attention to what colour kit you're wearing.

But not too much, going by Brad's quote.

[Chuck F.]

I can't read French myself, but I have been told that ANY color is OK except black. Light colors, dark colors, in the US or in Europe.... anything goes now. R.R. thinks this will make fencing a more spectator-friendly sport I suppose. (And he's always right about that!)

Actually, I think colorful uniforms would be great, but fencers are so tradition-oriented, I don't think very many people will have the stones to wear anything other than white.

No-one wants to show up at the nuclear plant in a pink shirt.

[lefty_monster]

Originally Posted by Chuck F.

I can't read French myself, but I have been told that ANY color is OK except black. Light colors, dark colors, in the US or in Europe.... anything goes now. R.R. thinks this will make fencing a more spectator-friendly sport I suppose. (And he's always right about that!)

Il est une vache.

Actually, I think colorful uniforms would be great, but fencers are so tradition-oriented, I don't think very many people will have the stones to wear anything other than white.

No-one wants to show up at the nuclear plant in a pink shirt.

I'm going to do an inq-style protest- who's with me?

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by Chuck F.

Actually, I think colorful uniforms would be great, but fencers are so tradition-oriented, I don't think very many people will have the stones to wear anything other than white.

No-one wants to show up at the nuclear plant in a pink shirt.

Economics also plays a part in this.

Manufacturers generally buy large quantities of material in a single color at wholesale prices. For colors they either have to order a large amount then hope that they can sell enough to justify the cost (something they can do with a traditional color such as black, which may not fly off the shelves but will eventually be used), or buy smaller amounts at significantly higher prices - possibly from the local fabric store - and pass the cost on to the customer.

Of course whenever people say they want colored uniforms it usually means that they want a specific color, not just a limited number of choices. This tends to push the manufacturers toward a low-volume/high-price approach.
Given the number of posting here from people who say they can't afford the cost of FIE gear (which may cost significantly more but at least provides greater protection) it doesn't seem likely that there will be large numbers of people willing to spend significantly more just for color.

[piste off]

Originally Posted by Chuck F.

Actually, I think colorful uniforms would be great, but fencers are so tradition-oriented, I don't think very many people will have the stones to wear anything other than white.

Why don't you go all the way and paint a velvet Elvis with a Rhinestone tear on your back?

Rick

[leftyboy]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

Or for the FIE...



-B

*is really happy he's taking French*

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by Chuck F.

I don't think very many people will have the stones to wear anything other than white.

You say stones, I say mental defect, let's call the whole thing off...

[Neinteen]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

You say stones, I say mental defect, let's call the whole thing off...

I'd totally wear a colored jacket, as long as the colors were cool

[Chuck F.]

Originally Posted by lefty_monster

Il est une vache.

It's a cow?

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by Neinteen

I'd totally wear a colored jacket, as long as the colors were cool

Thus proving my point...

[lefty_monster]

Originally Posted by Chuck F.

It's a cow?

He (Mr FIE president) is a cow. Mild insult. Means he's...disagreeable? I dunno how it directly translates.