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Aero has natural CXL from Horween!!!

BlueWallpaper

Familiar Face
Messages
93
Location
New York
Thats also what i have observed.
I don't own Vicenza, but my girlfriend has a Vicenza Aero, and i have noticed that everytime we are cought in the rain water beads on my CXL, but soaks straight in her Vicenza.
If you drop water on CXL it beads and stays there for ages, if you drop water on Vicenza it soaks in like blotting paper.
I don't think it stains or does anything bad to the leather, but it definitely isnt as waterproof as CXL.
I also don't like the fact that Vicenza is died through, it will never age as nicelly as CXL because of that.

interesting, i’d thought exactly the opposite for aging. small scratches on my russet Vicenza show through the natural leather color underneath. it’s exactly the opposite for Horween shoes I have where there’s very little aging (in terms of patina). i always attributed that to the chrome tanning.
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
interesting, i’d thought exactly the opposite for aging. small scratches on my russet Vicenza show through the natural leather color underneath. it’s exactly the opposite for Horween shoes I have where there’s very little aging (in terms of patina). i always attributed that to the chrome tanning.

I have never handled the Russet, but the black is definitely died through, and i think the brown is also (although now you have me doubting...).

In the end it's all a personnal thing, I'm not saying Vicenza is bad leather, it's just not a leather that i want in a jacket.
But on a nice chair, or couch, or even as a desk cover, yes please!
 
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Corky Corcovado

Practically Family
Messages
811
I'm having crazy thoughts about selling jackets because seeing this hide makes me want a custom 50's Half Belt so bad. My minds racing. Truthfully I'd probably request lightest hide available then do a little celebratory karate.
anigif_enhanced-2964-1400458562-7.gif
 
Messages
17,150
Location
Chicago
I've got a chip coming my way as well! I can't wait to let it cook in the sun. That hooch hauler is incredible. I'm thinking about a wayfarer now...I think with all those panels and yokes some really cool color variance will develop.
 

Dav

One Too Many
Messages
1,706
Location
Somerset, England
Sitting here in my Lofgren boot something occurred to me, is it really the sun that darkens this leather? Looking at my boots the shafts are the same colour as the toes and as they're always under my jeans they don't get any sun, bit odd I thought.
 
Messages
17,150
Location
Chicago
Sitting here in my Lofgren boot something occurred to me, is it really the sun that darkens this leather? Looking at my boots the shafts are the same colour as the toes and as they're always under my jeans they don't get any sun, bit odd I thought.
That is interesting...I wonder if heat perhaps sets it off...
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
I have tanned a couple wallets and belts, and the sun definitely plays a part.
You can "stencil" things on leather by protecting a specific area and leaving the whole piece in the sun, you would be surprised how fast leather "tans" when left in the sun.
The part of my belt that goes underneath the leather tag on my jeans is much paler than the rest of the belt, it never sees light, and is probably the most protected from random crap.
The rest of the belt is darker and full of random stains, I think oils from the skin and general crap in the air must also help.

Here is a pic, you can clearly see the lighter area that is always protected on the right. This belt wasn't artificially tanned, just worn. Had i pre sun tanned it, this would not have been so obvious. (Be careful, you can sun burn leather!)
The darkest part, is the area that gets touched the most.

BTZxrXT.jpg
 
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Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
I got the sample, and i don't think i actually like it!

Here is a picture, in order from left to right:
Black HH CXL, Brown HH CXL, Natural HH CXL, Natural bridle leather, Broken in wallet that used to be the same colour as the bridle leather when new.

As you can see, it really has nothing in common with "real" natural leather, it almost looks like it is sand coloured, or brown without the red tones.
As it stands i don't really like it, i find it too "flat earth brown/sandy" but i am going to put half the sample in the sun for a few days and see how it evolves.
I have a feeling it is just going to go dark brown, without the nice red undertones i love in Brown CXL...

Texture wise, it feels like regular CXL, maybe in between black and brown. Not as waxy as my brown one, but not as rigid as my black one.

The pictures are white balanced and really match what my eyes see.
Update to follow.

3TmAWWT.jpg
 
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Messages
17,150
Location
Chicago
Nice color chart Carlos! I'm still waiting for my sample but I have the same intention. I'll man handle and tan 1/2 to see how it handles oil from my hands and sunshine.
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
Nice color chart Carlos! I'm still waiting for my sample but I have the same intention. I'll man handle and tan 1/2 to see how it handles oil from my hands and sunshine.

Interestingly Horween also does a colour they call "Natural Latigo" and that looks a lot more like what we are after...
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
be careful! Latigo usually means "heavy" or "rigid".

It does look more like belt leather than jacket leather.
I was referencing it for the colour really, i wonder why their Natural Latigo leather looks natural, but their Natural CXL looks beige?
 

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