Alexander Leathers vintage black FQHH

Hicksmat · Aug 23, 2016

First post. Be gentle

Long time lurker.

I got an Alexander Leathers cafe racer, vintage black. Totally forgot I had it. It's a stiff as a board. How can I wear it in? It's like a suit of armour. In fact I reckon it could deflect a bullet

In hindsight I should have gone for a more pliable softer leather.

Any tips for me? I'll post some better pics tomorrow when I have better day light.

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bn1966 · Aug 23, 2016

Hicksmat said:
First post. Be gentle

Long time lurker.

I got an Alexander Leathers cafe racer, vintage black. Totally forgot I had it. It's a stiff as a board. How can I wear it in? It's like a suit of armour. In fact I reckon it could deflect a bullet

In hindsight I should have gone for a more pliable softer leather.

Any tips for me? I'll post some better pics tomorrow when I have better day light.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It lives

Sloan1874 · Aug 23, 2016

You might want to place it close to a radiator or a boiler initially. This will soften up the oils and waxes in the leather (part of the tanning process) and makes it easier to wear. You can also try placing it in a tumble dryer with a couple of damp towels on a low heat for 20 or 30 minutes, that might help with the breaking-in as well. Other than that, just wearing the damn thing whenever possible is the key.

bn1966 · Aug 23, 2016

Yep the above is sage..wear the damn thing...sleep in the damn thing...until it surrenders!!!

Hicksmat · Aug 23, 2016

I'm worried about any shrinking. It's a 40". I'd have to dig out the exact measurements. Would either of your suggestions lead to shrinkage. It's a hot and heavy thick jacket to wear so impossible to really wear in the summer. It would take me 50 years to break this in. There has to be some other way. I couldn't believe how thick the FQHH vintage leather was tbh.

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Monitor · Aug 23, 2016

It is a beautiful jacket.

What Sloan said. Also, you can try sleeping in it for a few nights, might do the trick but you might end up with some weird looking creases that way. Though nothing really beats wearing the thing.

Monitor · Aug 23, 2016

Hicksmat said:
I'm worried about any shrinking. It's a 40". I'd have to dig out the exact measurements. Would either of your suggestions lead to shrinkage. It's a hot and heavy thick jacket to wear so impossible to really wear in the summer. It would take me 50 years to break this in. There has to be some other way. I couldn't believe how thick the FQHH vintage leather was tbh.

Leather jacket tailor once suggested to me that sweat works best for breaking the leather in so... Wearing it at high temperatures really might just be what you need.

bn1966 · Aug 23, 2016

I have used a cold water treatment as part of the break in on stubborn jackets. It involved dampening the jacket in cold water then wearing it out until it dried & then repeating. Appeared to help the break in process but not my health (ended up with a chill). A bit of sun and body heat has also helped soften things up. Time does appear to be a big factor with many a break in

Worf · Aug 23, 2016

Driving in it A LOT helps me break-in stiff Jackets. But I exclusively buy softer, less thick hides now. But driving does help break-in immensely.

Worf

bn1966 · Aug 23, 2016

Yep..add sweat & driving in it

make it your new best friend for a few weeks.

Sloan1874 · Aug 23, 2016

Shrinkage is not a concern for either approaches, not least Aero recommend the boiler/radiator method themselves:
http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/break-in.php
Horse and steer hides are both amazingly resilient, that's part of the attraction, and the breaking-in phase is when you make it your own. I suspect AL used a particularly heavy leather on that jacket, though, and it may take a bit of effort to soften.
You might also want to try tying it up into a ball, taking it outside, and kicking it around until it admits defeat.

Stand By · Aug 23, 2016

And don't forget to condition it regularly! I'd try every few weeks ... every little helps.

Oh, and welcome to the Lounge, Hicksmat!

Hicksmat · Aug 23, 2016

Condition it? I'n a total Noob here!

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AeroFan_07 · Aug 23, 2016

Welcome! Heat (preferably from your body) is what starts to soften it up. My Aero Café Racer, very similar of type and Steerhide will still stand up on it's own even after 2 years, however it's well broken in and very comfortable. in fact if you wear it 20 minutes or so, it will be a lot more pliable than when it started. Do not try to "force" it. just wear and enjoy it, or use it as a pillow, etc. It'll happen...

Guppy · Aug 24, 2016

Stand By said:
And don't forget to condition it regularly! I'd try every few weeks ... every little helps.

Oh, and welcome to the Lounge, Hicksmat!

I wouldn't. Over conditioning is bad for leather and thread alike. Maybe one treatment if it's truly dried out and needs it. That said, it can really soften a stiff leather. I had a FQHH Aero half belt deluxe that seemed like it needed a treatment, and after applying pecards to it, I found it became much more pliable right away.

ton312 · Aug 24, 2016

Welcome and nice jacket! I always like shoveling snow in my leathers. The sweat and body heat just destroys the stiffness and the water beading on the surface works in conjunction with that. If that's a possibility in your region, when the time comes, do it!

Sloan1874 · Aug 24, 2016

I've only ever conditioned very old jackets tbh, but I can see how a goodly amount of rubbing and massaging could help soften it up. I'm currently working one myself while watching telly, just to get the collar into shape, and it's hard work, but this is the life we've chosen etc etc.

Sloan1874 · Aug 24, 2016

I feel your pain, though, Hicksmat:

BobJ · Aug 24, 2016

If you'r looking for a shortcut.... some here have thrown their jackets in the washer with a wee bit of detergent, and then the tumble dryer with good results - no shrinkage and instant years of softening and apparent age. Some very high-end leather jacket makers, including Aero, have done something similiar to artififically age their jackets and give them character. Horween is also doing it, at the tannery level, with their tumbled fqhh. It does soften the leather and makes the jacket more comfortable. It's still going to be a thick, heavy hide though.

Sloan1874 · Aug 24, 2016

I'm not sure Horween tumble their leather. I know that in Aero's case, they send their own supplies away to be tumbled.

Alexander Leathers vintage black FQHH

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