Gi Review [Meerkatsu]: Aurora and Alpha by Aesthetic

[Meerkatsu]

Aesthetic are a brand new company based in the UK. They have kicked off their brand with two new gis - the Alpha (white pearlweave) and the Aurora (blue hybrid weave).
It's clear that Aesthetic are offering something a bit different, not only in terms of styling but also marketing. the quality of both gis is definitely up there with most of the big name companies, but the price seems to be very cheap for what is being offered (or is it that some gis are overpriced??)

Positives
1. Both gis are very stylish but not garishly so. The blue is a bit more 'bling' but both have lovely contrast stitched patterns.
2. the Aurora hybrid weave is sensationally soft and comfortable.
3. The gi comes with TWO pairs of trousers
4. Weight for both models is very good - 1.5Kg for an A1 is reasonably light
5. Cost, at

 

[Meerkatsu]

(I totally need a hair cut!)

(I look like I am sleepwalking, guh!)

 

[ASEGSEA]

Nice clean looking gi. I'm diggin the embroiderment.

 

[edjee]

I didn't do any actual measurements, but from wearing a couple of times, the sweep in the arms and pants seem a lil bit bigger then my other gi's. Maybe i just need to bulk up =]

 

[SnowMongoose]

Had planned on my next gi being grey...
but damn, that looks awesome in blue.

 

[Meerkatsu]

Had planned on my next gi being grey...
but damn, that looks awesome in blue.

What grey gis are out there at the moment?
I loved my charcoal Competidor gi but it shrunk too much in the end.

 

[mark9fiji]

Just picked up an Aurora, I love how the yellow just POPS! I'm glad your about the same size as me Meerkatsu, it makes gi size guessing easy for me

The first gi I ever purchased was a RedStar LE Pano de Pano, it's grey with red text and stitches, LOVE it! Always get compliments on it to this day. I think they still have some on their site

 

[SnowMongoose]

What grey gis are out there at the moment?
I loved my charcoal Competidor gi but it shrunk too much in the end.

That I'm willing to pay for?
Waiting for Newaza nation to restock their A4's, or might go for a Subculture.
(or a freestyle, though they're third in line right now)

Only other ones that I've seen have been from Cynergy, Redstar, and Conspiracy.
Price and/or having a dumb looking alien head on them have turned me away.
One other company that I can't recall had a nice grey gi with yellow stitching that they called the 'flight suit' but it was a limited run. (ditto for Competidor's Guardian, no more, ever!)
(sorry for the hijack)

 

[Meerkatsu]

That I'm willing to pay for?
Waiting for Newaza nation to restock their A4's, or might go for a Subculture.
(or a freestyle, though they're third in line right now)

Only other ones that I've seen have been from Cynergy, Redstar, and Conspiracy.
Price and/or having a dumb looking alien head on them have turned me away.
One other company that I can't recall had a nice grey gi with yellow stitching that they called the 'flight suit' but it was a limited run. (ditto for Competidor's Guardian, no more, ever!)
(sorry for the hijack)

Mmm the Newaza nation looks nice, it appears a wee bit darker than the Red Star and I prefer a darker grey gi, though the stencil army type font used on the Ne Waza Nation logo is very off putting. LOL at the alien head heh not my thing at all. cheers, no hijack at all, I'm interested.

 

[stlrph]

Mmm the Newaza nation looks nice, it appears a wee bit darker than the Red Star and I prefer a darker grey gi, though the stencil army type font used on the Ne Waza Nation logo is very off putting. LOL at the alien head heh not my thing at all. cheers, no hijack at all, I'm interested.

My Newaza gi held up very well and was super cheap for the quality. They'll also mix and match jackets/pants if you ask. I ended up giving it to one of our fighters who wanted to train gi and he loves it.

 

[mnstrchld]

anybody got more pics and info??

 

[DanOfEarth]

anybody got more pics and info??

We should have a review coming up on our site pretty soon with some different pictures. It's a great Gi. Very good bang for your buck since you're getting two pairs of pants. It also looks stunning, obviously.

Only issue I had was one of the tags on the pants near the waist was upside-down. Normally that would be a pretty big mark against a company but it's one of those little size patches that no one will ever notice.

Edit: And as a matter of full disclosure, Aesthetic just messaged me and wanted to send me a new pair of pants to replace the ones with the upside-down patch. The pants quality is great though and there's no reason to make them ship out another pair of pants for something so trivial, so I told them no thanks. Great customer service on their part!

 

[Alonbenav]

Mmm the Newaza nation looks nice, it appears a wee bit darker than the Red Star and I prefer a darker grey gi, though the stencil army type font used on the Ne Waza Nation logo is very off putting. LOL at the alien head heh not my thing at all. cheers, no hijack at all, I'm interested.

I own a Newaza Nation gi and outside of the skirt being about 2-3 inches too short, it's a really good value. It's more of a double weave, so take that into account. The guys who run the company newly became part of the Cavaca Fight Team family and gave Cavaca one of their gis, and he's been wearing it for training as well.