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Nat veg tan cow cross twistlock evolution log

navetsea

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So i make a dedicated thread to put evolution of this leather and jacket.
Start up with several compilation photos
From its Work in Progress fit > brand new state > 1st wear at home > wet to dry wear > result when completely dry before leather conditioning > after mink oil sun tan and beewax.
IMG_20200614_064758.jpg
IMG_20200614_065342.jpg

I think it has a good shape of initial creases, and i beewaxed the d pocket, and more saturated wax on the small chest pocket since i like the duotone effect when it was wet before and want to give it a little different look than the rest hopefully will evolve slightly differently, so from here on I will just wear it normally, will update here again once I see it grows enough to make another compilation set.
 
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I’m curious as to why the soak? It seems like the jacket lost a couple inches in body and sleeve length post soak and is more narrow through the shoulders now. I’d think in your neck of the woods the sun alone would effect color change. The color/hide looks great post soak but I think it fit better pre soak.
 

navetsea

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I want to soak it to set in creases early. it didn't shrink fit wise still the same shoulder has inside piping and after wet and dried it just creased over that, it creased and hold the creases a lot more permanently. exactly like wearing wet raw denim to dry, the first few days the jacket would also feel like shrinking because the starch hold all the creases, the hem tip is just sticking to the front like duck bill from sitting it makes it very easy and stable to stand the jacket up :D

the sleeve is losing length on the front since it has so many creases inside the elbow, but it is a lot shorter than my other jacket since I want to wear it with leather wristband I usually wear with denim jackets that I can't wear comfortably with my other leather jacket cuff, so I use that super thick cuff so it has more legit reason to have it short. also the sleeve is rotated forward so when my arm is neutral the front is pulling up a bit by default, but doesn't get any shorter when I lift my arm forward.

this nat veg tan is very dry leather but very absorbing so once conditioner accumulates overtime it will get softer and more relaxed again I bet, my thin leather bracelet of the same thickness is very soft now and showing oil pull up color shifting when folded after sometime, but I plan to be a lot less in oiling for this jacket at least I would oil selected parts where it needs to be softer and left other parts alone, I want it to darken with more reddish tone if possible.
 

Superfluous

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This thread should be a must read for anyone considering soaking their jacket. I have read accounts of people soaking a leather jacket and not incurring any shrinkage. That may be the outcome for some, but @navetsea 's experience is illustrative of the risks inherent in jacket soaking. @navetsea , you are a trail blazer and I applaud your individualism and enduring efforts to push the boundaries. That said, IMHO, your soaking of this jacket subverted an otherwise compelling experiment. From my perspective, the jacket now appears two sizes too small. Of course, my opinion is entirely irrelevant if you are pleased with the sizing.
 

navetsea

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It was not soaking just wetting it with spray, and pat with my hands. To revert the appearance of the shrinkage is very easy, if i just got it saturated with conditioner it will revert to its initial look. But it will lose all its set in creases i wanted to patina.
What happened is that the leather is now crumpled a bit dinged here and there especially from the front since my waist cant bend backward that much.

Around 2 or 3 months from now i will make another compilation to see how they would look fit and leather evo.

Thanks @Carlos840
 
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navetsea

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Material wise right now it is very armor like, it doesnt spring or anything, just hard cardboard like and very dry and compacted dense dry
imagine sole of your shoes hard on my cuff , or brand new bootshaft for sleeve.
It has zero drape too. Honestly it is the wrong material for a jacket at least not at this state, it should be oiled and waxed first to be supple. But as i wear it i will oil it little by little only at the part needed to be softer.
Screenshot_20200614-150529_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20200614-150631_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20200614-150820_Gallery.jpg
 

Seb Lucas

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I want to soak it to set in creases early. it didn't shrink fit wise still the same shoulder has inside piping and after wet and dried it just creased over that, it creased and hold the creases a lot more permanently. exactly like wearing wet raw denim to dry, the first few days the jacket would also feel like shrinking because the starch hold all the creases, the hem tip is just sticking to the front like duck bill from sitting it makes it very easy and stable to stand the jacket up :D

the sleeve is losing length on the front since it has so many creases inside the elbow, but it is a lot shorter than my other jacket since I want to wear it with leather wristband I usually wear with denim jackets that I can't wear comfortably with my other leather jacket cuff, so I use that super thick cuff so it has more legit reason to have it short. also the sleeve is rotated forward so when my arm is neutral the front is pulling up a bit by default, but doesn't get any shorter when I lift my arm forward.

this nat veg tan is very dry leather but very absorbing so once conditioner accumulates overtime it will get softer and more relaxed again I bet, my thin leather bracelet of the same thickness is very,jacket at least I would oil selected parts where it needs to be softer and left other parts alone, I want it to darken with more reddish tone if possible.

Sorry, just for clarity are you saying the jacket has not shrunk? I can't tell from photos.
 

navetsea

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i has not

if it did, my forearm will not fit, or the position of the locks will not match, and we would see a lot of seam stitches puckering, none of that happened.

it appears shorter yes due to creasing.
 
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navetsea

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if I can compare, it feels like dried synthetic chamois towel, very dry currently, very absorbing I soaked it just by spraying on and rub with wet hands, once wet it would be soft even stretchy a bit , if wet from water it would get hard again very quickly since water evaporate quickly from body heat, if wet from oil then it would be a lot longer until the oil leaches out, unless I clog the pores with wax or leather finish coat/ waterproofing varnish. if I condition it liberally now with oil it will be soft, but it would stunt its natural patina and grains growth.
 
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I really like this jacket but I gotta admit, I vastly preferred it before the distressing. It really... Aged quickly.
 

Will Zach

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I like it better distressed. At some point earlier it looked like something Jame Gumb would make. Distressed it looks more like leather, not skin.
 

navetsea

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it is experimental, I hope by giving it an early water and wrinkled it it would be much easier to go forward, it only would be darkening and relaxed a bit once more wear and conditioner add up with time, rather than keeping it pristine looking as long as possible route since it was already slightly soiled here and there from the workshop, saying all that, I took it off before I ate noodle just now since I bet the soup would get to it somehow.
 

Psant25

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I really like it. I like the distressing. I have washed or soaked many a new leather jacket. No different than wearing it in a storm or the distressing makers such as aero has done before. Only issue I had involved a dryer. And It took me twice to learn that lesson. Curious to know how thedi for example gets his jackets so distressed. This leather would have been cool to soak, dry, sun, condition, etc prior to cutting the jacket. Either way it is your jacket and damn cool!
 

navetsea

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Thanks @Psant25, i personally like the fit for its style, i think pre processing the leather prior to making it into a jacket would make the process easier and the leather more evenly flexible, probably veg tan jacket maker do that when they say hand oiled or waxed. I imagine the leather they bought is originally drier and more general purpose so they need to make it garment suitable themself.
 

dudewuttheheck

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Seriously cool design!

I'm amazed at just how much the jacket shrunk after being soaked. I figured it would a bit, but not that much.
 

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