Disappointing Primal Wear designs

When I first started cycling I fell in love with Primal Wear cycling clothing. After my first 160km solo cycle challenge I treated myself to the Koi (fish) stained glass cycle jersey and shorts. I have since added the Ladybug and the Pink Flame-mingo cycle jerseys as well to my collection. The jerseys for women were bright. bold and beautiful.

For the past two years I have been checking them out and yesterday saw the latest offerings here on TE and thought, why?!

From being different, bold and bright, the designs are now ho hum, dull and very much like everyone else's ladies designs- lots of swirls, little flowers etc, which I do like, but I really liked that Primal wear was different from everyone else. And why oh why all the black on the designs? I want to be visible on the road.

Does anyone else feel this way?

I have noticed the same. They also used to put cute little touchs like something inside the pocket (on the fabric) owell I have more jerseys than I need.

I agree 1000%. I haven't ordered a jersey from them for over 2 years now. I look forward to viewing their new designs and am quickly disappointed.

I like a few of them from a graphics perspective, but they're either black or sky blue. They have seemed kind of uninspired, at least this year. (I'd buy the sparrow, though.) I liked last years', but I'm not familiar with their designs before last year. I did pick up "No Pane, No Gain" when they did their "classics" sale this year--butterflies, but not overly girly, and very bright!

Honestly, I prefer the men's designs, for the most part. Too bad I can't wear them!

look at ymx they have very different jersey designs.

I was tempted at buying a Primal Wear jersey from REI...then I tried one on and that pretty much took care of that idea. They just don't fit me...not even the XL is comfortable on me. I'm very broad in the shoulders/upper back area and the XL felt like it was 2 sizes too small. No breathing room at all. So I guess I don't have to worry about ever buying any Primal Wear jerseys.

I bought a sleeveless PW jersey a couple years ago. At the time, I weighed about 115 pounds so, at 5'4, I was fairly lean, especially up top. I'm definitely an A cup.

Anyway, I first ordered a small but couldn't get it on, at all. So I exchanged it for a medium. It was still way too tiny and ill fitting. I had to wonder who in the world it would have fitted. There was absolutely no give in the material or shelf bra. That's hardly what you want in athletic gear.

Needless to say, I haven't really considered buying anything PW again. Designs aside, I want my cycling gear to be comfortable.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

... I had to wonder who in the world it would have fitted. There was absolutely no give in the material or shelf bra. That's hardly what you want in athletic gear.

Needless to say, I haven't really considered buying anything PW again. Designs aside, I want my cycling gear to be comfortable.

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This is really good to know! I have liked several of their designs, but haven't had a chance to try any of them on. I certainly need something that will allow give in the bust. This is great information, thanks!

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Originally Posted by Owlie

Honestly, I prefer the men's designs, for the most part. Too bad I can't wear them!

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+1. Same with Northwave, which had very lame, tame designs last year.

But I sometimes wonder whether it's the buyers for retailers like TE that dictate this stuff. You can sometimes find interesting designs on the manufacturer's website but the retailers don't buy in those designs, so it's all swirls, pink and fussy or dull designs. They have the sales figures to guide them I guess, but I get so many comments about my favourite jersey (black, which I like) that there seems to be a market for stronger designs, which made the name of both PW and Northwave. Another gripe - the rarity of full zips. There's just no jerseys around that I want at the moment.

Funny that you should mention this because I was just cruising the site a couple of weeks ago and thought the same thing.
I have a pw jersey from about 4 or 5 years ago and its great. The new designs do not grab me at all.:(

Yes, the sizing and the cut on the sleevess jerseys was strange. Some were "princess cut" and they fitted fine (my Hey Lady ladybug one is a realistic size) but I noticed that other sleeveless ones were very small.

Also PI has gone the same way- I loved my City Girl jersey (cartoon of a girl cycling a town bike with her dog) but they have stopped doing their PI orginals art series! And I haven't seen any Sesame Street men's shirts for a couple of years either.

Descente did a series of two South Park shirts (men's and womens cuts) which I wear on the tandem but they have stopped that also. Everyone loves our South Park shirts (saying "Oh boy you guys suck!" on the back). Please bring the fun back in cycling shirts! I hate being an advertisement for brands I don't use or even know!

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Originally Posted by Kiwi Stoker

Descente did a series of two South Park shirts (men's and womens cuts) which I wear on the tandem but they have stopped that also. Everyone loves our South Park shirts (saying "Oh boy you guys suck!" on the back). Please bring the fun back in cycling shirts! I hate being an advertisement for brands I don't use or even know!

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I got the South Park one for my husband because it made me laugh. I agree with you about the ad type jerseys they are too serious for me.:)

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Originally Posted by oz rider

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But I sometimes wonder whether it's the buyers for retailers like TE that dictate this stuff. You can sometimes find interesting designs on the manufacturer's website but the retailers don't buy in those designs, so it's all swirls, pink and fussy or dull designs. They have the sales figures to guide them I guess, but I get so many comments about my favourite jersey (black, which I like) that there seems to be a market for stronger designs, which made the name of both PW and Northwave. Another gripe - the rarity of full zips. There's just no jerseys around that I want at the moment.

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I noticed that. The ones on TE (and other places, I'm not singling out TE!) this year are the "meh" ones (and the sparrow! I like the sparrow!), and there are some cooler ones on the website. Is is based on the idea that this is what sells based on the sales of other manufacturer's stuff?

I do actually have a full-zip PW jersey...I wouldn't be able to get in or out of it otherwise!

Catrin--PW is definitely cut small in the chest, even the short-sleeved ones. By waist/hip measurements, I need a M, but I do have to go up a size to accommodate the boobs, and I'm a B-cup!

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Originally Posted by Owlie

Catrin--PW is definitely cut small in the chest, even the short-sleeved ones. By waist/hip measurements, I need a M, but I do have to go up a size to accommodate the boobs, and I'm a B-cup!

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I guess that just leaves me out - I am "between" a C and D cup - and that doesn't seem to be changing much as I lose weight - I've gone from a 38 to a 36, but the cup just isn't changing...Oh well, their designs aren't so cool this year anyway.

I will admit that I have relatively broad shoulders and ribcage. Even then, my "race cut" PW jersey fits fine there. It's tight enough in the chest that I think twice about wearing it in public!

That sucks! I am a D bust and my Hey Lady fits great. So not only have they gone boring but they have gone small and skinny as well!

This thread reminds me - a friend lost her brand new phone down a portable toilet last week. You guessed it - partial-zip jersey and bibs.

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Originally Posted by Kiwi Stoker

That sucks! I am a D bust and my Hey Lady fits great. So not only have they gone boring but they have gone small and skinny as well!

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I dunno. There must be be some that are cut a bit boxier than others, because I have XL jerseys from them which are loose everywhere, including the chest. (Those I can understand, because my bust measurement is on the low end of XL) I have a L that is a relatively relaxed fit, and another L that's more fitted. Then there's the race cut jersey.:eek: