Aero late war and Air Arm Irvins

[Sloan1874]

Jacket looks good in the flesh, so to speak. Turned inside out, the hood is pretty discrete. Can see it doing well in the Japanese market in particular.

 

[Edward]

Assuming, of course, that there is a market for the CC version (which my instinct says there is), Aero are in a good position to do well with this one. Nobody else is producing it, and the pattern is good, and competitively priced against competitors who are produced Irvins more generally. It will be intersting if we get to hear where it sells well in particular - the Japanese do seem to be an obvious market for this sort of variant. Hopefully I'll eventually be in a position to pick one up myself; I'd love a pre-war pattern Irvin, but I could justify this more easily in my current jacket crop.

 

[Otter]

Assuming, of course, that there is a market for the CC version (which my instinct says there is), Aero are in a god position to do well with this one. Nobody else is producing it, and the pattern is good, and competitively priced against competitors who are produced Irvins more generally. It will be intersting if we get to hear where it sells well in particular - the Japanese do seem to be an obvious market for this sort of variant. Hopefully I'll eventually be in a position to pick one up myself; I'd love a pre-war pattern Irvin, but I could justify this more easily in my current jacket crop.

I thought the folks that made Spitfires jacket were working on a CC version as well?

 

[Edward]

I thought the folks that made Spitfires jacket were working on a CC version as well?

Aces high? Could be. [huh] Makes logical sense if Aero see a market in it that other makers would too. Aero seem to have been the first to market with this one, though. Who all are there doing Irvins these days - Aero, Aces High and Eastman? (Accurate repros, I mean, rather than sheepskin jackets inspired by, a la Cirrus and Aviation Leathercraft).

 

[Otter]

That's your man! Last I visited his website I seem to remember reading about something in production, but not ready till later this year. If it is half as good as the one he made out of recycled Irvin trousers then it will be stunning.

 

[Edward]

That's your man! Last I visited his website I seem to remember reading about something in production, but not ready till later this year. If it is half as good as the one he made out of recycled Irvin trousers then it will be stunning.

His stuff certainly looks nice. Are Aces High the only one of the high-end leather brands specialising in one specific jacket-type? Goodwear started out that way with the A2, but their range includes as few others now.

 

[irvinsuit]

I don't to offend anyone here or say anything that might upset Aero, so I'll try to be a diplomat for once. First of all Aero congratulations for completing the CC Irvin project, I absolutely love CC Irvins and I have an original that even fits me. I love the cut of your jacket, and I love the leather as well, however I do not like the short tight wool and I do not like the colour of the wool. Let me explain a little more. Looking at pictures of newly issued WW2 Irvins many of them were extremely soft plush fur, not tight wool, whilst I appreciate that people want that vintage WW2 look, I would prefer to start with a big furry Irvin and wear it in myself by wearing it to death. When I look at my authentic CC Irvin ( probably manufactured by Links 1941 thru 1943 ) it started life as a big furry Irvin and aged beautifully. As far as the fur colour of the Aero CC Irvin is concerned, for my taste it is too light, my preference is for a darker colour, but that's just a personal preference as there is no right and wrong. So my message to Ken and the crew at Aero is congratulations on the CC Irvin, please consider a darker and softer thicker fleece / fur and we might just be able to do business someday.

 

[Otter]

I don't to offend anyone here or say anything that might upset Aero, so I'll try to be a diplomat for once. First of all Aero congratulations for completing the CC Irvin project, I absolutely love CC Irvins and I have an original that even fits me. I love the cut of your jacket, and I love the leather as well, however I do not like the short tight wool and I do not like the colour of the wool. Let me explain a little more. Looking at pictures of newly issued WW2 Irvins many of them were extremely soft plush fur, not tight wool, whilst I appreciate that people want that vintage WW2 look, I would prefer to start with a big furry Irvin and wear it in myself by wearing it to death. When I look at my authentic CC Irvin ( probably manufactured by Links 1941 thru 1943 ) it started life as a big furry Irvin and aged beautifully. As far as the fur colour of the Aero CC Irvin is concerned, for my taste it is too light, my preference is for a darker colour, but that's just a personal preference as there is no right and wrong. So my message to Ken and the crew at Aero is congratulations on the CC Irvin, please consider a darker and softer thicker fleece / fur and we might just be able to do business someday.

All valid comments which I would second. I am also of the opinion that most jackets started out that way and ended up as we see them now as a product of sweat and our lovely clement climate.

 

[Sloan1874]

It's an interesting point of view, maybe Andrew or John Lever can give us some perspective on this - I'm pretty certain they've handled unissued jackets that were effectively new deadstock. I know Soren took his old teddy bear bear Aero, dunked it in the bath and then dried it out to try and get that 'bailed in the Channel' look. The one thing I would say is that when you look at the original Irvin thread on here, the jackets are all sorts: shaggy, soft coated ones; tight, curly-coated, dark and light, I think Irvin's have the A-2 syndrome: the production process and supplies of sheepskins so varied over the period of the war that you can't say 'this is the definitive Irvin'.

 

[irvinsuit]

Hi Sloan, I completely agree with you. There is no such thing as the 'definitive Irvin' the are some that you look at ( originals and repros ) and you think 'yeah that's okay' and there are some that you look at and think 'gimme that now'. I guess that's the beauty of the variations across these most iconic of jackets.