I knew Phil Wright for almost fifty years. We played rugby against each other, fished together, shot together and stalked deer together. He was Godfather to our youngest son. I was there at the ‘lightbulb moment’ in Islay when Nomad was born – we had waited for the geese to lift in bitterly cold conditions. Eventually, they lifted, but we were frozen to the deck in our waxed jackets! We struggled to our feet and got a few shots off and got our bag. Then the rain started. By the time we got back to the car, we were frozen stiff and soaking wet. I said, “There has to be some better gear than this!” (that’s the sanitised version)
Within a couple of years, the first Nomad jackets were on sale. The company grew quickly. Phil was driven by two things – practicality and quality materials. Did Phil always get things right? - of course not. He was a ‘one-man-band' in the beginning, and he was a ‘one-man-band' at the end. It’s a big ask to design, manufacture, market and control quality all by yourself, but that’s what he did.
I’m not going to attempt to defend the QC problems he had, or the customer service issues. What I would say, however, is that there are legions of country folk out there who are still wearing Nomad jackets and clothing items which are decades old and still giving good service.
I have also heard over the years that the garments were, ‘like everything else – made in China’. I can tell you that they were never made in China – the material was UK made, and they were printed and assembled in Europe, then shipped back to UK. Really, what finished it was Brexit, followed by Covid, and Phil’s illness.
Phil was forever trying to help someone, often to his own detriment and cost. There were also some who used Phil’s gentle demeanour against him, and shamelessly used and abused his forgiving nature. They know who they are.
Since Phil’s passing in July, it has been a tough time for both his sisters, and his mother, as you will imagine. His sisters are going to suspend the website trading shortly to allow some time to sort out Phil’s business affairs and his estate. Nomad production was shut down before Phil passed, and may or may not restart in the future.
There is still a fairly good amount of stock available. Once the website is suspended, you can contact Vale Field & Game in Leicester, or Countryways Newton Stewart & Stranraer.
Within a couple of years, the first Nomad jackets were on sale. The company grew quickly. Phil was driven by two things – practicality and quality materials. Did Phil always get things right? - of course not. He was a ‘one-man-band' in the beginning, and he was a ‘one-man-band' at the end. It’s a big ask to design, manufacture, market and control quality all by yourself, but that’s what he did.
I’m not going to attempt to defend the QC problems he had, or the customer service issues. What I would say, however, is that there are legions of country folk out there who are still wearing Nomad jackets and clothing items which are decades old and still giving good service.
I have also heard over the years that the garments were, ‘like everything else – made in China’. I can tell you that they were never made in China – the material was UK made, and they were printed and assembled in Europe, then shipped back to UK. Really, what finished it was Brexit, followed by Covid, and Phil’s illness.
Phil was forever trying to help someone, often to his own detriment and cost. There were also some who used Phil’s gentle demeanour against him, and shamelessly used and abused his forgiving nature. They know who they are.
Since Phil’s passing in July, it has been a tough time for both his sisters, and his mother, as you will imagine. His sisters are going to suspend the website trading shortly to allow some time to sort out Phil’s business affairs and his estate. Nomad production was shut down before Phil passed, and may or may not restart in the future.
There is still a fairly good amount of stock available. Once the website is suspended, you can contact Vale Field & Game in Leicester, or Countryways Newton Stewart & Stranraer.
