Chinese leather jackets

[stray]

Did you guys order on Tailor Brando through his own website or Aliexpress? Price is basically the same on both.

Seems like the same jackets are offered by other storefronts on AliExpress and they are cheaper than tailor brando. That's what I've done at least

 

[Zoro]

Seems like the same jackets are offered by other storefronts on AliExpress and they are cheaper than tailor brando. That's what I've done at least

The problem there is that... It's Aliexpress. The pictures may not match the products and, while it's a risk that would also exist with Tailor Brando, there seems to be a good track record as per what I see from other users here.

 

[stray]

The problem there is that... It's Aliexpress. The pictures may not match the products and, while it's a risk that would also exist with Tailor Brando, there seems to be a good track record as per what I see from other users here.

In my experience you just need to look at the volume of ratings for a particular store to be confident you're getting the advertised product. If a store has hundreds (or thousands) of good ratings chances are good there won't be an issue. These storefronts I've seen hold a massive array of jacket styles. Tailor Brando is just one that caters to a more specific subset of jackets. From what I can tell Tailor Brando's advantage is basically having a CS rep, it's still just a reseller.

 

[GioGokin]

I also used aliexpess, about 15 days to arrive in Italy and no duties

Ciao, I'm Italian too.
On Aliexpress you pay customer tax directly to Aliexpress for prices less-equal €200
If you buy over €200 Aliexpress will discount 22% on value at checkout and you will pay import duties at post office when you will get package.

 

[Technonut]

My Chinese RL copy has been the jacket I've reached for more than the others I posted about overall... The leather has broken in well and is a very comfortable pattern.... I particularly enjoy the front zip hand pockets, and the D-pocket actually works quite well for my small EDC automatic (Ruger LCP) in cool weather..

I didn't particularly like how pale and washed-out the leather appeared however. The jacket was advertised as sporting "uncoated" cowhide, whatever that means, and I was hoping that some good ol' Pecard's Brown would give it a lift.....

So far, so good IMO...... :

 

[Alphahunter]

My Chinese RL copy has been the jacket I've reached for more than the others I posted about overall... The leather has broken in well and is a very comfortable pattern.... I particularly enjoy the front zip hand pockets, and the D-pocket actually works quite well for my small EDC automatic (Ruger LCP) in cool weather..

I didn't particularly like how pale and washed-out the leather appeared however. The jacket was advertised as sporting "uncoated" cowhide, whatever that means, and I was hoping that some good ol' Pecard's Brown would give it a lift.....

So far, so good IMO...... :

View attachment 706316

Looks good!

 

[ralph715]

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I've got more Chinese jackets, in the Cidu thread, and Rebel thread. This is my experience:

1. I've only bought OTR from Taobao/Aliexpress, Cidu, Frank, Simons...etc. None are custom jackets.
2. These jackets average 1,000 yuan, so about $150 ish
3. Most are under 2.5oz thickness, except the two Simons and one of the Cidu which is about 3oz to 3.5oz thick.
4. (My thoery) These off rack jackets are all mass produced in factory under generic label, and each brand just put their own labels on. This helps to keep the prices low. And this explains why they are thinner, for speedy production.
5. Jacket are made very well. But like robots made them.
6. Shopping on Taobao/Aliexpress is quite easy. Instant gratification. Click and done.

BUT

There is no passion behind these OTR jackets. Period. For this reason I've only worn the two Cidu truckers and not very often. I have not worn all the other ones. I do have plans to upcycle these OTR kackets locally, to put some soul into them, before I would include them into my rotation.

This is really a mass production made jacket problem. Bench made to order will always feel sweeter (worthy) than mass production made. No matter where the bench is located. Single machinist from start to finish. In fact, the Chinese OTR jackets that cost 150 dollars are imo "better made" than most 1500 dollars bench made jackets in terms of stitching cleanness, due to the robotic nature of single task operations on the assembly line of sewing. Each sewer in the mass production setting does one only task, repeatedly. Robot like precision, robot like passion.

I don't have custom bench made Chinese jackets. From what I gathered, they are expensive, no less than US or UK bench made jackets. Materials are expensive in China because all the import taxes they've got. And most all Chinese bench made jacket makers uses imported material. So it gets pricey. By comparison, $600 US made or $250 Pakistan made jackets provides a lot more value, for non China residents.

The Taobao sellers do much better job at promoting and marketing the jackets though. Photos usually are very appealing. But OTR re-labeled generic (extremely well made) jackets.

is the last one from Simons jacket?
how is the size and the quality of the leather? thanks


https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id...BdQPzywaBSvppa7zWXC..&spm=a21xtw.29178619.0.0

 

[Zoro]

Kinda bad timing having bought this halfbelt from Tailor Brando as when I ordered I didn't know I was going to have two absolute stunners in the way by now, but oh well

I've ordered this on the 19th, got shipped on the 23rd and was expected to be delivered on June 5th but in the end I got it today, 9 days after initial order, 5 days after shipping.

I'm attaching a picture of front, one of the back and one of what seems to be a scuff on the right sleeve and the top coat got removed? Unsure if a factory defect or from bending it to packaging it. I'll post more pics later or in the upcoming days if I get to use it, weather is a bit unstable these days (may be warm, may be very rainy).

Overall I think it looks quite good, I haven't fully inspected it and the sizing is fine, I'm 185cm, 87kg, ~111cm chest and 3XL fits nice. No terrible chemical smells either. Also the chest pocket felt too snug to actually be practical, unsure if that's common to the style or not (it does seem to be the same size in Aero's HB though).

 

[Herrvallmo]

Kinda bad timing having bought this halfbelt from Tailor Brando as when I ordered I didn't know I was going to have two absolute stunners in the way by now, but oh well

I've ordered this on the 19th, got shipped on the 23rd and was expected to be delivered on June 5th but in the end I got it today, 9 days after initial order, 5 days after shipping.

I'm attaching a picture of front, one of the back and one of what seems to be a scuff on the right sleeve and the top coat got removed? Unsure if a factory defect or from bending it to packaging it. I'll post more pics later or in the upcoming days if I get to use it, weather is a bit unstable these days (may be warm, may be very rainy).

Overall I think it looks quite good, I haven't fully inspected it and the sizing is fine, I'm 185cm, 87kg, ~111cm chest and 3XL fits nice. No terrible chemical smells either. Also the chest pocket felt too snug to actually be practical, unsure if that's common to the style or not (it does seem to be the same size in Aero's HB though).

Great lookin' half belt! love the color of the leather, is it horse? please update us with some pictures while wearing it when you have the time mate

I had the same issue with the chest pocket on a Mulholland-style jacket I bought new(super snug and a bit of a hassle to use), but after some wear it got a lot better(when the jacket started to relax a bit and drape after my body) so hopefully it's the same for you with that badboy

Cheers!

 

[Zoro]

Yep, it's supposed to be Japanese horse, but of course there's no way to actually know (or at least not for me haha). Hopefully the chest pocket will also relax, but even if it doesn't, it should be fine as I don't use outside chest pockets as much (although these were amazing in COVID times to put on and off the mask without having to open the jacket haha).

 

[Herrvallmo]

Yep, it's supposed to be Japanese horse, but of course there's no way to actually know (or at least not for me haha). Hopefully the chest pocket will also relax, but even if it doesn't, it should be fine as I don't use outside chest pockets as much (although these were amazing in COVID times to put on and off the mask without having to open the jacket haha).

I see now it's from the same maker as the jacket I had(Veluokldly or something stupid like that haha)
It was also made in horsehide and I was pleasantly surprised with the leather, didn't take long at all to break in and felt rather robust without being to stiff and "armor like"



I would still own it if bought it in a size down(a bit to big/long for my liking and I couldn't be bothered to send it back all the way), so instead I gave it away to a good friend of mine that really needed a new leather jacket and it looks great on him!

Cheers mate!

 

[Zoro]

Yep, at least in the front it looks quite similar! And same maker indeed, as I was looking around here, Veluokldly seemed to be one of the best regarded ones.

I think yours looks good when it comes to size, at least in that picture, even if you can tell there's space for extra layering underneath. I was a bit concerned about mine being the wrong size but at the same time I knew I couldn't be bothered and even if it's not a collector's piece, I think I could always sell it in the Classifieds with the money lost in the experiment not being any great loss anyway.

 

[Herrvallmo]

Yep, at least in the front it looks quite similar! And same maker indeed, as I was looking around here, Veluokldly seemed to be one of the best regarded ones.

I think yours looks good when it comes to size, at least in that picture, even if you can tell there's space for extra layering underneath. I was a bit concerned about mine being the wrong size but at the same time I knew I couldn't be bothered and even if it's not a collector's piece, I think I could always sell it in the Classifieds with the money lost in the experiment not being any great loss anyway.

Always a bit of a gamble when ordering leather jackets without trying them on before, I went "safe" and went for a bit larger measurements than I usually go for. In the end I should've just trusted the stated measurements as they were spot on, but lesson learned haha.

I could've kept it and used it with some layers to, but in the end it was cheap enough to just pass along. And if I really needed the money I could've sold it here in the Classifieds like you said, but hey, now my friend looks amazing and I got some nice karma in the bank haha

 

[Zoro]

Quick pic as I was coming back from the office and a couple errands. I think it is slightly big but I suspect that going down a size would make it too small, there's just no 2.5XL haha. I've thought about closing the cinches more if I make additional holes but that may be too much and not work as I expect.

 

[dinomartino1]

My Chinese RL copy has been the jacket I've reached for more than the others I posted about overall... The leather has broken in well and is a very comfortable pattern.... I particularly enjoy the front zip hand pockets, and the D-pocket actually works quite well for my small EDC automatic (Ruger LCP) in cool weather..

I didn't particularly like how pale and washed-out the leather appeared however. The jacket was advertised as sporting "uncoated" cowhide, whatever that means, and I was hoping that some good ol' Pecard's Brown would give it a lift.....

So far, so good IMO...... :

View attachment 706316

You will see Chinese jackets described as "oil wax leather" or "waxed" which seems to be a catchall phrase for a jacket that has a shine. They seem to use different methods for this, some jackets are pretty shiny and have had some type of glossy top coat sprayed onto them, it is really hard to remove. You need 100% isopropyl alcohol, hours of hard rubbing and it becomes very tacky. It's not something I would recomend except as last resort as there is good chance of damaging the leather or removing the dye.
I have had other "oil wax" jackets that were not really that shiny and did not seem to have a coating spayed on so maybe sometimes there is some type of oil added.

"Uncoated" seems to mean a jacket without any type of shiny coating, oil or whatever applied.

 

[Technonut]

Quick pic as I was coming back from the office and a couple errands. I think it is slightly big but I suspect that going down a size would make it too small, there's just no 2.5XL haha. I've thought about closing the cinches more if I make additional holes but that may be too much and not work as I expect.

View attachment 707139

I ran into a similar issue with the Waldo-Pepper style jacket I purchased.. The measurements are correct to the listing, and should've given me just a nice fit as the others which are similar, but seems a bit large while worn... A size down would've certainly been too tight in the shoulders and short in the sleeves / back length for me however.

Yours appears to be decently stout leather... I think some wear, time, and exposure to the elements will relax the jacket, and it'll settle-in quite well....

 

[Zoro]

I ran into a similar issue with the Waldo-Pepper style jacket I purchased.. The measurements are correct to the listing, and should've given me just a nice fit as the others which are similar, but seems a bit large while worn... A size down would've certainly been too tight in the shoulders and short in the sleeves / back length for me however.

Yours appears to be decently stout leather... I think some wear, time, and exposure to the elements will relax the jacket, and it'll settle-in quite well....

Hopefully! I'm quite happy with the leather, it looks quite good to my inexperienced eye and I particularly like how it can look red or brown depending on the light. I was showing it to a friend early today and when I told him it was Chinese he said I could had told him it was Italian and he would had believed it!

 

[thomas96636]

This is my recently purchased Tailor Brando Vegetable Tanned Cowhide Mendoza Jacket, it is handaged and has a great texture!

 

[Alphahunter]

This is my recently purchased Tailor Brando Vegetable Tanned Cowhide Mendoza Jacket, it is handaged and has a great texture!

Looks good. Congratulations

 

[dannyg99]

If you have the ability to navigate TaoBao, Sauce Zhan have horsehide leather jackets that may worth a look into