A reader question:
Dear Editor,
Today, while visiting the newly designed L.L. Bean flagship in Freeport, I noticed I couldn’t find the Heritage Norwegian Sweaters (Birdseye, Navy) anywhere. So, I spoke to an employee there and later used L.L. Bean’s customer service online chat to confirm they are no longer selling them. I have no clue if this is temporary or more permanent, but I do find it upsetting.
To me, that is a flagship product of theirs. I realize it’s also one of their pricier products, which would explain why they offer a $89-$99 version of a navy birdseye sweater in Ragg Wool. Though, who could say where that particular version is made.
My question is if you have any insights into the loss of the Norwegian sweater and if this is a larger issue with LLB continuing to attempt to appeal to a different customer base than in years and decades past.
Best,
Links:
- Men's Bean's Classic Ragg Wool Sweater, Crewneck, Bird's-Eye sweater
- Men's Organic Cotton Waffle Sweater, Rollneck Crew, Bird's-Eye
- Women's The Original Double L® Sweater, Rollneck Bird's-Eye
- Women's The Original Double L® Sweater, Crewneck Bird's-Eye
- Men's Bean's Classic Ragg Wool Sweater, Rollneck, Birds'-Eye
My God, what a depressing development in the long dissolution of L.L. Bean. Thank God I still have mine from the 80s and 90s, which are indestructible.
ReplyDeleteI have a Norwegian from around 2015. It is pure wool, not the earlier blend. It is a very good sweater. I also have a few Matinicus Rock sweaters which are still available and are of similar quality. I would imagine they are from an “offshore” source.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that the Norwegians have been gone for a few years now.
I sent this question in. I recall, even within the last year or two, that most every September, the Norwegian Sweater would reappear on LLB’s website for purchase. I don’t know if they intend to only bring it back on occasion, or if they are eliminating it from their catalog altogether. I fear it might be the latter, given how we’ve seen their business operate in recent years: more fast fashion, trendier products, and moving away from pricier items like the Norwegian sweater in favor of lesser quality versions that gives the same general look at a much more approachable price. Personally, I’d rather pay more for the sweater I know, trust, and want.
ReplyDeleteJust received another email from LLB’s customer service. It was a very nice and informative apply, which I appreciate. They did say that the sweater has outright been discontinued and they have no plans to bring it back as of now. Obviously, we aren’t privy to merchandising decisions and the data that drives those, but I suspect we will not be seeing the “made in Norway” version again with any regularity, if at all.
DeleteDon't think you're missing much in all this. The last LLBean "Norwegian" Sweater I bought was back in the 90s and was, believe it or not, Made in Hong Kong (a suburb of Oslo?). It was 100% wool with no sturdy Rayon and the cuffs looked like they were attached as an afterthought. That was my final exit from the Maine icon retailer.
DeleteThe best Birdseye Navy Norwegian Sweaters from the 1980s are to be found on eBay today. There are a lot of them available.
ReplyDeleteAnd as you know, the originals back then had Rayon in them, and I think they're superior to the newer 100% wool ones - better shade of blue, too. In recent years I've found several of these great sweaters in mint condition - almost unworn - so you can still find them. Hope this helps.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=vintage+ll+bean+norwegian+sweater&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4675963.m570.l1311
Unsure as to their reasoning for why this particular sweater has been removed from their lineup, but I do know LLB (along with every other retailer) is barreling into choppy waters from the trade war/tariff and Iran fuel supply shocks the U.S. government is pushing. Most retail firms operate with 12-14 month lead times for ordering goods, to allow for smooth supply chain logistics. The above issues are drawing many well below 9 month advance orders. We've already seen rapid price fluctuations and restock issues from other retailers because of this, so I suspect it's only a matter of time before it impacts LLB on certain items.
ReplyDeleteBig picture aside, a decent alternative to consider right now is their Matinicus Rock sweater, which they brought back for this season as a sweater and a cardigan.
>"tariff and Iran fuel supply shocks the U.S. government is pushing"
DeleteLL Bean changed this sweater before the tariffs and Situation in Iran.
As I said, I'm unsure of their reasoning for this *specific* sweater change. As for the logistical issues currently impacting retailers via economic and government decisions in the past 18 months, these are words and sentiments from investment bankers as well as LL Bean management I've spoken with directly.
Deletereally
DeleteThe model I own has the rayon, 20%. It was made in Norway. It is warm as coal embers and sturdy as concrete. As long as the moths are kept at bay I have no need to think about ever buying another. What LLBean does with their birds-eye stock is of no interest to me. They evidently fail today but they succeeded marvelously back in the Made In Norway day. I bought mine for one (1) dollar at a tag sale.
ReplyDeletehttps://jpress.com/products/made-in-norway-norwegian-fisherman-sweater
ReplyDeleteSo many legacy brands seem to think they can survive by killing classics and offering more lower quality products. It's self-cannibalization. Continuing that strategy obviously doesn't end well. They should be thinking about how they can increase their business by building on what they already do well. It also wouldn't hurt if they explained, explicitly, how tariffs are a tax..
ReplyDeleteI treasure mine, and they along with my Manticicus Rock, and they never fail me! How sad, the new direction.
ReplyDeleteI bought a Devold birdseye a few years ago direct from their Norwegian shop, and it's really nice. I was told they made some of the old LL Bean sweaters.
ReplyDeleteDale of Norway would be another good source.
LLB Customer Service noted that the Ragg Wool Birdseye sweaters are produced in Jordan. Pretty far cry from Norway Fishermen Sweaters.
ReplyDeleteJordan, Maine?
DeleteJordan, Maine? No. Not Jordan, Maine, silly. There is no Jordan, Maine. Jordan the country. Aqaba, Jordan (made famous in the movie “Lawrence of Arabia”) is a salt water port with a small commercial fishing industry. Even in the Middle Eastern latitudes it gets chilly, mostly at night. As you know, much fishing is done at night. Hence there is a need for good sweaters to keep fishermen warm. Sweaters have been made in Jordan for as long as shepherds have watched over their flocks. That is a long time. I wouldn’t look askance at any wool sweater made in Jordan, the country.
DeleteOh, my mistake - I thought you were talking about Michael Jordan, and didn't know he was doing sweaters after his basketball career. Sorry.
DeleteWas basketball ever The Thing Before…? I don’t think soooo.
DeleteGreetings from Jordan, Maine - the most beautiful small town in the State!
DeleteI've passed through this wonderful seaside place many times when I'm driving to Las Vegas, Nevada, to watch a basketball game - it's a shortcut that saves me a lot of long travel hours. You should try it. Hope this helps.
We tried that shortcut. Got mixed up when we couldn’t remember if we were supposed to turn at the house with the refrigerator on the porch or the one with the washing machine and the dirt bike on the porch
DeleteUntil I read this post, I was unaware that anyone actually ever purchased one of these. All these years, the only ones I've owned were handed down, borrowed at a ski-house weekend or stolen from a roomie. You used to be able to actually purchase a new one? Who knew?
ReplyDeleteI truly don’t understand the obsession with L.L. Bean. It is dead and gone. Let it go.
ReplyDeleteThey are not the same as long ago!
ReplyDeleteYou can still get them at J. Press ("Made-in-Norway Norwegian Fisherman Sweater"). It's the same story all around. You can still find quality clothes made of natural materials, but they are now the exception rather than the rule. You have to hunt for them. Abercrombie, Banana Republic, Bean, BB, etc., are zombies. They survive only in name.
ReplyDeleteThe Devold Islander fisherman sweaters are a softer, heavier 100 percent wool knit than the Bean version. And they are manufactured in Lithuania, I think. The original Bean versions had some rayon and were cut very wide through the torso and upper arm - and made in Norway. I have both and prefer the Devold sweater.
ReplyDeleteBuy straight from the original manufacturer:
ReplyDeletehttps://norlenderknitwear.no/shop-men/svalbard-374