Comments on: Mubarak's custom pinstriped suit was striped with his name? http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: takeshi http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1045504 takeshi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1045504 Japanese characters? You mean Kure Kure Takora? Or katakana, hiragana, and kanji? Japanese characters? You mean Kure Kure Takora? Or katakana, hiragana, and kanji?

]]> By: humblefactory http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044746 humblefactory Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044746 The individual letters of type are remarkably similar to one another when overlayed in photoshop. So much so, that it almost has to be shopped. Not that's he isn't that sort of dude. Maybe he had a peon photoshop it after the fact. Just to keep up his cred. The individual letters of type are remarkably similar to one another when overlayed in photoshop. So much so, that it almost has to be shopped. Not that’s he isn’t that sort of dude. Maybe he had a peon photoshop it after the fact. Just to keep up his cred.

]]> By: penguinchris http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044748 penguinchris Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044748 Two things: this is not a 1-2 hours job in Photoshop. I mean, you *could* do it in that time, but it would look like crap. To get it to the point of being passable to the non-trained eye wouldn't cost $15k as quoted above, but to get it this good - e.g. perfect - easily could. I mean, look close... each individual letter is slightly offset due to the texture of the fabric. It has to be some kind of high-tech printing process by the way, not weaved into the fabric. Second, having different transliterations is extremely common, as anyone who's studied a language that doesn't use the latin alphabet can tell you. My girlfriend is Thai; her name is อรพิน which is transliterated on her Thai government ID card (using the government's official transliteration scheme - which no one else uses) as Ooraphin, but she writes it as Orapin. I agree it's kind of odd in this case since the i ending is so widely used, but perhaps it's a similar thing - using the country's official transliteration scheme it probably ends in i, but perhaps he always preferred y. For official use, you'd have to use the official version, but if he's getting a $30,000 suit made, he can have it any damn way he pleases :) Two things: this is not a 1-2 hours job in Photoshop. I mean, you *could* do it in that time, but it would look like crap. To get it to the point of being passable to the non-trained eye wouldn’t cost $15k as quoted above, but to get it this good – e.g. perfect – easily could. I mean, look close… each individual letter is slightly offset due to the texture of the fabric. It has to be some kind of high-tech printing process by the way, not weaved into the fabric.

Second, having different transliterations is extremely common, as anyone who’s studied a language that doesn’t use the latin alphabet can tell you. My girlfriend is Thai; her name is อรพิน which is transliterated on her Thai government ID card (using the government’s official transliteration scheme – which no one else uses) as Ooraphin, but she writes it as Orapin.

I agree it’s kind of odd in this case since the i ending is so widely used, but perhaps it’s a similar thing – using the country’s official transliteration scheme it probably ends in i, but perhaps he always preferred y. For official use, you’d have to use the official version, but if he’s getting a $30,000 suit made, he can have it any damn way he pleases :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044493 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044493 Seems it might actually be legit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1363089/How-Mubarak-stitched-pinstripes-suit-did-tailor-spell-wrong.html?ito=feeds-newsxml Not that I trust the daily mail much but they've got another photo with the micro printing. Seems it might actually be legit:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1363089/How-Mubarak-stitched-pinstripes-suit-did-tailor-spell-wrong.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Not that I trust the daily mail much but they’ve got another photo with the micro printing.

]]> By: gobo http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044498 gobo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044498 As a professional designer/retoucher, I'm leaning more towards judonerd's take on this. Maybe not $15,000 worth of Photoshop work, but many days of effort would go into this. If you can pull it off in an hour or two, evofuse, I'd love to see your work. Really. As a professional designer/retoucher, I’m leaning more towards judonerd’s take on this. Maybe not $15,000 worth of Photoshop work, but many days of effort would go into this. If you can pull it off in an hour or two, evofuse, I’d love to see your work. Really.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044509 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044509 I'm a textile student, the zoomed in fabric looks printed on felted/non woven fabric. So I'm leaning towards 'shopped. The real object might exist, but this is not a photo of it because the name pattern is not woven. I’m a textile student, the zoomed in fabric looks printed on felted/non woven fabric. So I’m leaning towards ‘shopped.

The real object might exist, but this is not a photo of it because the name pattern is not woven.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044511 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044511 One reason why it'd be in European script is that this was, probably, done on a machine set up to do European script, and in any case, Arabic is always joined up, which means you can't write the letters vertically like on this suit, which means you have to turn it sideways in your head to read it, and that just spoils the image, similar to how Japanese kanji and Chinese letters can represent a concept in just one or two beautiful symbols, which is a big part of the appeal of them. I'm sure the people saying they could shoop this themselves in a couple of hours can do an Arabic version and show us how dodgy it would look. One reason why it’d be in European script is that this was, probably, done on a machine set up to do European script, and in any case, Arabic is always joined up, which means you can’t write the letters vertically like on this suit, which means you have to turn it sideways in your head to read it, and that just spoils the image, similar to how Japanese kanji and Chinese letters can represent a concept in just one or two beautiful symbols, which is a big part of the appeal of them. I’m sure the people saying they could shoop this themselves in a couple of hours can do an Arabic version and show us how dodgy it would look.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044512 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044512 If you're weaving, I would be the easiest letter to make by exposing a strip of warp thread. If you’re weaving, I would be the easiest letter to make by exposing a strip of warp thread.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1045288 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1045288 I'm not assuming. If you read an earlier entry in this thread, I personally heard him acknowledge in a radio interview that he was wearing a suit given to him by a supporter that had his name woven into the fabric as a pinstripe. It was an NPR interview (tho I don't remember who the interviewer was) if you want to search for it. I’m not assuming. If you read an earlier entry in this thread, I personally heard him acknowledge in a radio interview that he was wearing a suit given to him by a supporter that had his name woven into the fabric as a pinstripe.

It was an NPR interview (tho I don’t remember who the interviewer was) if you want to search for it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044523 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044523 It's quite funny that the quote for shooping it from upthread is about half to a third the price for getting a suit like this legit. I'm not saying either is wrong, it's just interesting and funny. It’s quite funny that the quote for shooping it from upthread is about half to a third the price for getting a suit like this legit. I’m not saying either is wrong, it’s just interesting and funny.

]]> By: kjulig http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1049132 kjulig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049132 That's fine, but ideographs make up a tiny, tiny share of Chinese (and for that matter kanji) characters. "Logographs" may be an accurate term for kanji but then you still have to account for kana which are, more or less, syllabaries. That’s fine, but ideographs make up a tiny, tiny share of Chinese (and for that matter kanji) characters.

“Logographs” may be an accurate term for kanji but then you still have to account for kana which are, more or less, syllabaries.

]]> By: shirtstudio http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1046062 shirtstudio Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1046062 This proves how much custom made suits are in demand? This proves how much custom made suits are in demand?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1045043 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1045043 Probably not shopped. Here's where you can get one too: http://www.luxist.com/2007/12/09/tom-james-company-personalized-pinstripe-suits/ I remember an NPR interview with then CA House Speaker Willie Brown. Brown was wearing such a suit and acknowledged it saying it was a gift from a supporter. Probably not shopped. Here’s where you can get one too: http://www.luxist.com/2007/12/09/tom-james-company-personalized-pinstripe-suits/

I remember an NPR interview with then CA House Speaker Willie Brown. Brown was wearing such a suit and acknowledged it saying it was a gift from a supporter.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1049141 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1049141 Then "logographs" it shall be - When it comes to Kanji (At least i can say So it shall be for me) Then “logographs” it shall be –
When it comes to Kanji

(At least i can say
So it shall be for me)

]]> By: tiamat_the_red http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1045047 tiamat_the_red Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1045047 Why would it have to be a printing process? I've used a floor loom before and, while I haven't ever tried something like this, I think that on a sophisticated loom this would be completely possible to weave in. Why would it have to be a printing process? I’ve used a floor loom before and, while I haven’t ever tried something like this, I think that on a sophisticated loom this would be completely possible to weave in.

]]> By: Meng Bomin http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044544 Meng Bomin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044544 His name is spelled: حسني مبارك Which could be transliterated as "Ħusnī Mubārak" (among other notations). "Hosni Mubarak" was probably chosen because it was judged to be closest to what Westerners would hear. I don't see any particular problem with a modification that transliterated the "ي" (ye) as a "y", and it seems to work particularly well in English where many nicknames have a "y" ending with the same sound as the "ي" in his name. His name is spelled:
حسني مبارك
Which could be transliterated as “ĦusnÄ« Mubārak” (among other notations). “Hosni Mubarak” was probably chosen because it was judged to be closest to what Westerners would hear. I don’t see any particular problem with a modification that transliterated the “ÙŠ” (ye) as a “y”, and it seems to work particularly well in English where many nicknames have a “y” ending with the same sound as the “ÙŠ” in his name.

]]> By: Quizzed http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044802 Quizzed Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044802 There is a wonderful book called "Wizard of the Crow" (by Ngugi wa Thiong'o) whose character "The Leader" -the head of a dictatorship- has a dead similar pinstriped suit. Not a good comparison PR-wise for Mr. Mubarak! There is a wonderful book called “Wizard of the Crow” (by Ngugi wa Thiong’o) whose character “The Leader” -the head of a dictatorship- has a dead similar pinstriped suit. Not a good comparison PR-wise for Mr. Mubarak!

]]> By: grimc http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044548 grimc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044548 Interesting. Yet on that same page, wiki spells it with an 'i'. You'd think at some point over the past 3 decades of despotic rule he'd say, "Thank you for the invitation to the diplomatic summit, but it's spelled with a 'y'". Interesting. Yet on that same page, wiki spells it with an ‘i’. You’d think at some point over the past 3 decades of despotic rule he’d say, “Thank you for the invitation to the diplomatic summit, but it’s spelled with a ‘y’”.

]]> By: nic http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044552 nic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044552 This is the logical conclusion of bespoke tailoring. 'Bespoke' is short for 'been spoken for', i.e. when engaging the services of a top level tailor in London, you would be offered the entire roll of fabric from which to make your future suits. In effect, you were buying exclusive use of a particular fabric design in the UK due to the low production volume of high end fabrics out of Milan, etc. The leap from 'exclusive' fabric to custom probably dates back to the industrial revolution. A Saville Row suit with a fine off the shelf fabric can easily cost in the 5 figures range. $20-30k for a bespoke Italian suit with custom fabric seems about right. This is the logical conclusion of bespoke tailoring. ‘Bespoke’ is short for ‘been spoken for’, i.e. when engaging the services of a top level tailor in London, you would be offered the entire roll of fabric from which to make your future suits. In effect, you were buying exclusive use of a particular fabric design in the UK due to the low production volume of high end fabrics out of Milan, etc.

The leap from ‘exclusive’ fabric to custom probably dates back to the industrial revolution. A Saville Row suit with a fine off the shelf fabric can easily cost in the 5 figures range. $20-30k for a bespoke Italian suit with custom fabric seems about right.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1046089 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1046089 Give me enough time and money, and I could weave it for you; it's not actually that difficult, but the threads are fine enough to be time consuming. Give me enough time and money, and I could weave it for you; it’s not actually that difficult, but the threads are fine enough to be time consuming.

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044558 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044558 My first reaction? "That is totally bad ass." My first reaction? “That is totally bad ass.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044578 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044578 The cloth is hand-woven for English cloth merchants Holland & Sherry, who offer it as a standard part of the line: http://www.hollandandsherry.com/apparel/signature.aspx The cloth is hand-woven for English cloth merchants Holland & Sherry, who offer it as a standard part of the line:

http://www.hollandandsherry.com/apparel/signature.aspx

]]> By: tw15 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044840 tw15 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044840 I chap I knew had a suit like this. His name was ----------------------------- I chap I knew had a suit like this. His name was —————————–

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1045864 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1045864 While tacky, how is this different than monogrammed collars and cuffs? While tacky, how is this different than monogrammed collars and cuffs?

]]> By: kjulig http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044585 kjulig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044585 Well, when it comes to the transliteration of names, personal preferences don't always match the 'official' one (whatever that may be, government standards -- e.g. for passports -- or established transcriptions systems). The romanized spelling of Russian names in media and documents is all over the map, depending on the target language and audience. Some Japanese will use non-standard transcriptions of their name if they it's easier to pronounce that way. Well, when it comes to the transliteration of names, personal preferences don’t always match the ‘official’ one (whatever that may be, government standards — e.g. for passports — or established transcriptions systems). The romanized spelling of Russian names in media and documents is all over the map, depending on the target language and audience. Some Japanese will use non-standard transcriptions of their name if they it’s easier to pronounce that way.

]]> By: kjulig http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1048951 kjulig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1048951 The word "character" is perfectly okay and accepted when you're talking about kanji and possibly kana (what else would you call them in English, they're not "letters," right?). It's when people say "pictograms" and "draw" or "paint" that I get slightly irritated. The word “character” is perfectly okay and accepted when you’re talking about kanji and possibly kana (what else would you call them in English, they’re not “letters,” right?). It’s when people say “pictograms” and “draw” or “paint” that I get slightly irritated.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1045111 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1045111 I worked for the Mayor of San Francisco and someone gave him a suit like this with his name as a gift. Saw it with my own two eyes. I worked for the Mayor of San Francisco and someone gave him a suit like this with his name as a gift. Saw it with my own two eyes.

]]> By: retchdog http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044351 retchdog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044351 i was just joking with a colleague about a LaTeX/METAFONT plugin so that academic papers could have fonts made out of microprinting the respective co-authors' names. no more disputes about first authorship. :) i was just joking with a colleague about a LaTeX/METAFONT plugin so that academic papers could have fonts made out of microprinting the respective co-authors’ names. no more disputes about first authorship. :)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044352 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044352 No! No! It says <i>ash nazg durbatuluk</i>. No! No! It says ash nazg durbatuluk.

]]> By: grimc http://boingboing.net/2011/03/04/mubaraks-custom-pins.html#comment-1044356 grimc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1044356 Every anglicization of Mubarak's first name I've ever seen has been "Hosni", not "Hosny", so... Every anglicization of Mubarak’s first name I’ve ever seen has been “Hosni”, not “Hosny”, so…

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