Chinese leather jackets

[Biff42]

I received my J-31 (Simons Leather) today. Overall, a decent jacket for the money. IMO, it's not Y'2 quality (which is my top brand basis for comparison), but that is to be expected given the price point. It has a decent pattern for my body and good hardware. The leather is medium-weight and the jacket weighs about 4.5 pounds.

Other observations: the lining isn't as nice as my Y'2. That said, this zipper is bigger and nicer on the Simon (size 8) than the one my Y'2 came with. In fact, the tiny zipper on my Y'2 busted in a short time and needed to be replaced with a nice Riri I bought.

This isn't a comparison of the two jackets, but just simple observations on the Simons versus a quality Japanese coat. I don't have extensive experience with Japanese jackets, but this matches the quality of the Iade jacket I purchased last winter from japan.

 

[Biff42]

Chinese-Made Leather Jackets: Are They Worth It?​

Falling Down the Rabbit Hole​

Over the past six weeks, I’ve fallen down the Chinese leather jacket rabbit hole. I wanted to see whether jackets costing a fraction of the price could really hold their own against the big names that cost many times more.

My conclusion? A clear no—they don’t match the highest-tier jackets. But they’re not junk either. Brands like Brake House, Crush on Retro, and Tailor Brando offer surprisingly decent options, especially for collectors looking for seldom-reproduced styles at a budget price point.

---

Why I Looked at Chinese Jackets​

The whole experiment started with my search for a Buco J-31 reproduction. The RMC J-31 currently retails for around $3,600 USD—way beyond what I can justify. Only a handful of makers—RMC, Lost Worlds, Johnsons—produce them with true quality, and Pakistani versions didn’t inspire much confidence.


That’s how I stumbled on Brake House (BH) and their RMC-inspired knockoff, made by Simons Leather in China.

---

Jacket #1: Brake House J-31 Repro​

• Ordering: BH’s customer service was quick and helpful. For reference, I’m 5'11" and 210 lbs. I ordered a 3XL, which arrived in about three weeks. Total: $377 USD, shipping included, with no extra duties.
• First Impressions: Arrived in a plastic mailing bag. Smelled like leather, not chemicals—always a good sign. Fit was excellent.
• Leather & Build: Mid-weight leather, jacket weighs 4.5 lbs. Stitching was generally solid, though I noticed a few loose threads.
• Lining: Serviceable but cheap-feeling compared to my Y’2 jackets. The checkered lining is coarse; the nylon lining the arms is thin.
• Hardware: Ideal zippers and YKK snaps. Main zip is a #8—sturdy and reliable.
• Leather Selection: Smart use of smaller, grainier pieces in less visible areas. I can’t compare directly to Shinki (never handled it), but overall, the leather felt respectable for the price.
• Fit: I think the pattern looks good.

---

Jacket #2: Tailor Brando J-24 Repro​

• Ordering: Cost about $345. Communication and shipping were excellent. Mine arrived Thursday, again in a plastic bag. I ordered a 4XL, which fit a bit looser than the BH but still nice.
• Leather & Finish: Advertised as Italian full-grain teacore cowhide. In reality, not teacore, and probably corrected leather. That said, it’s soft, somewhat shiny, and comfortable—better for fashion wearers than ******** riders.
• Hardware: Solid again, with Talon repro zips and YKK snaps. Main zip is a #8, but reversed compared to U.S. jackets.
• Details: Real mouton collar adds character. Lining is lightly insulated—fine, but pales compared to my Lost Worlds Speed Demon.
• Fit: Again, I think the pattern looks good.

---

So, Are They Worth It?​

Chinese-made leather jackets aren’t for everyone.

• If you’re new to the game: Buy a used Schott, Vanson, or Aero. You’ll get proven quality and heritage for not much more.
• If you’re a seasoned collector: Chinese makers are a smart, low-risk way to explore hard-to-find designs or test-drive styles you’re unsure about (like a Grizzly).

What you won’t get is Japanese-level quality or obsessive craftsmanship at Chinese prices. But you will get jackets that land in the same ballpark—good enough for casual wear—and for a fraction of the cost.


For some styles, that tradeoff makes sense. For others, you’ll still want to save up for the real thing.

Edit: Polished and formatted in ChatGPT using my genuine thoughts!

 

[l0fielectronic]

It was interesting seeing how the Five Star thread worked out as I'd not logged in for a year or more.

When that was just getting going I'd ordered and eventually sold three Jackets I'd bought from AliExpress or similar, the first two were more about the fit, that they just didn't quite work for me, then the third was a Brakeman style jacket that was a great fit and a spot on pattern... but on arrival the buttons were awful, the lining and the pocket linings just felt like they were going to give out at any minute and the leather was a little boring and was never going to age. I did replace the buttons with better but ended up selling the jacket anyway. As if you are like most of us and have 'too many' jackets, jackets with minor issues just seem to be the last ones to be worn or always bug you when you do.

Oh, I also bought a Bronson A1 which I really liked, that was a little snug so I sold it when they brought out the next seasons in one size up. Sadly the leather was not as nice as the first version, nor was the lining, so that eventually got sold on too.

This was when I decided I was done with jackets I couldn't easily return or used jackets that, generally, were just better made and easier to pass along without a big loss. I kind of feel most people in the Five Star thread got to the same conclusion. Its not that the jackets are bad its just that the devils in the detail and it seems for a lot of us, this is where those jackets fail. And even if the fit is nailed the quality issues and leather still generally kind of let things down.

 

[dangibbons1981]

Chinese-Made Leather Jackets: Are They Worth It?​

Falling Down the Rabbit Hole​

Over the past six weeks, I’ve fallen down the Chinese leather jacket rabbit hole. I wanted to see whether jackets costing a fraction of the price could really hold their own against the big names that cost many times more.

My conclusion? A clear no—they don’t match the highest-tier jackets. But they’re not junk either. Brands like Brake House, Crush on Retro, and Tailor Brando offer surprisingly decent options, especially for collectors looking for seldom-reproduced styles at a budget price point.

---

Why I Looked at Chinese Jackets​

The whole experiment started with my search for a Buco J-31 reproduction. The RMC J-31 currently retails for around $3,600 USD—way beyond what I can justify. Only a handful of makers—RMC, Lost Worlds, Johnsons—produce them with true quality, and Pakistani versions didn’t inspire much confidence.


That’s how I stumbled on Brake House (BH) and their RMC-inspired knockoff, made by Simons Leather in China.

---

Jacket #1: Brake House J-31 Repro​

• Ordering: BH’s customer service was quick and helpful. For reference, I’m 5'11" and 210 lbs. I ordered a 3XL, which arrived in about three weeks. Total: $377 USD, shipping included, with no extra duties.
• First Impressions: Arrived in a plastic mailing bag. Smelled like leather, not chemicals—always a good sign. Fit was excellent.
• Leather & Build: Mid-weight leather, jacket weighs 4.5 lbs. Stitching was generally solid, though I noticed a few loose threads.
• Lining: Serviceable but cheap-feeling compared to my Y’2 jackets. The checkered lining is coarse; the nylon lining the arms is thin.
• Hardware: Ideal zippers and YKK snaps. Main zip is a #8—sturdy and reliable.
• Leather Selection: Smart use of smaller, grainier pieces in less visible areas. I can’t compare directly to Shinki (never handled it), but overall, the leather felt respectable for the price.
• Fit: I think the pattern looks good.

---

Jacket #2: Tailor Brando J-24 Repro​

• Ordering: Cost about $345. Communication and shipping were excellent. Mine arrived Thursday, again in a plastic bag. I ordered a 4XL, which fit a bit looser than the BH but still nice.
• Leather & Finish: Advertised as Italian full-grain teacore cowhide. In reality, not teacore, and probably corrected leather. That said, it’s soft, somewhat shiny, and comfortable—better for fashion wearers than ******** riders.
• Hardware: Solid again, with Talon repro zips and YKK snaps. Main zip is a #8, but reversed compared to U.S. jackets.
• Details: Real mouton collar adds character. Lining is lightly insulated—fine, but pales compared to my Lost Worlds Speed Demon.
• Fit: Again, I think the pattern looks good.

---

So, Are They Worth It?​

Chinese-made leather jackets aren’t for everyone.

• If you’re new to the game: Buy a used Schott, Vanson, or Aero. You’ll get proven quality and heritage for not much more.
• If you’re a seasoned collector: Chinese makers are a smart, low-risk way to explore hard-to-find designs or test-drive styles you’re unsure about (like a Grizzly).

What you won’t get is Japanese-level quality or obsessive craftsmanship at Chinese prices. But you will get jackets that land in the same ballpark—good enough for casual wear—and for a fraction of the cost.


For some styles, that tradeoff makes sense. For others, you’ll still want to save up for the real thing.

Edit: Polished and formatted in ChatGPT using my genuine thoughts!

Have to agree with this sentiment. Although the Chinese Jackets I bought were great for trying out different styles, and the one I got from the label Simon’s I was rather impressed with, in the end I did end up selling them. They were great to narrow down what I wanted out of a jacket and find a couple styles/jackets I really did like (and spend a lot more money on) but they didn’t hold my appreciation for very long. Still, if someone knows their measurements well enough I can’t say I would totally dissuade someone from exploring the option, especially if they take issue with buying used for whatever reason.

 

[Biff42]

Have to agree with this sentiment. Although the Chinese Jackets I bought were great for trying out different styles, and the one I got from the label Simon’s I was rather impressed with, in the end I did end up selling them. They were great to narrow down what I wanted out of a jacket and find a couple styles/jackets I really did like (and spend a lot more money on) but they didn’t hold my appreciation for very long. Still, if someone knows their measurements well enough I can’t say I would totally dissuade someone from exploring the option, especially if they take issue with buying used for whatever reason.

I have not tried 5 Star largely from the sentiment shared here. I'm sure they are decent jackets for the price and would be good for people trying a leather jacket as a newbie. It's funny how FL seems to go through various fads through the years.

That said, I don't think I'll purchase any additional Chinese made jacket, but glad I tried them.

 

[GioGokin]

There seems to be a bit of a shakeup lately with the Chinese brands. At least as far as what shows up available to the West. A few years ago, Cidu seemed to be the big dog, Curphey a step below, and then everything else. For a while there were a number of models I wanted to try, but never had the gumption to . Ttake the plunge. Then the interesting models started drying up, and I figured I'd go for one. The ones I really wanted had disappeared, but the black horsehide Switchyard looked good. I tried ordering three times. The first place tried to convince me I didn't know my size and tried to send another. I explained that I had researched the Chinese sizing, and was familiar with leather jackets. They finally admitted that they didn't actually have that size left. The second site at least admitted fairly quickly after I ordered that my size was out of stock (both had bogus numbers showing many in stock). The third one sent me a jacket. When the package showed and I balanced it on two fingers, I knew I was up the spout. It was a black switchyard style jacket, with the Veloukldly label. The leather was thin, feather light, soft as mouse fur, and grain corrected to past an inch of its life. It probably would have been right at home as an expensive mall jacket in the womens section. What's interesting is that I'd seen enough pictures of all the little details, that I am quite sure it came out of the same factory as the Cidu but with different leather and lining. I pointed out to the seller that they sent the wrong jacket, and this was certainly not horsehide of any brand, most likely low end cow (possibly lamb). The seller went instantly abusive and rude, going about how I knew nothing about leather, etc. When I sent pictures of my jacket, label and lining along with pictures of other sites selling the exact same Velokouldly (as cow for about 170$ instead of a Cidu horse for 370), he changed his tune and sent me a two word message. Return it.
It's interesting that Cidu seems to have largely disappeared, and Velokouldy (as well as Jiashi) seem to have moved solidly up in ranks. Is it all just the same factory playing with marketing? Most of the Aliexpress sellers that seemed reasonably legit seem to have disappeared as well. Maybe just a shift in East/West availability?
I always wanted a good classic Hercules. If I wasn't now completely over-capacity in the wardrobe, I'd look more carefully at this one. A good picture of how it fits in the back would be appreciated.

I have 2 CIDU jackets (613 and J24) in this past year I didn't see many CIDU on Aliexpress. Only some end-series with some problem. I do not think CIDU is same brand of Veluokdly or Jashi. CiDU models havs longer sleeves and better fit than others. Too bad CIDU disappeared . I was looking for CIDU cognac horsehide J24.

 

[TartuWolf]

I have 2 CIDU jackets (613 and J24) in this past year I didn't see many CIDU on Aliexpress. Only some end-series with some problem. I do not think CIDU is same brand of Veluokdly or Jashi. CiDU models havs longer sleeves and better fit than others. Too bad CIDU disappeared . I was looking for CIDU cognac horsehide J24.

Do share your CIDU jackets!

 

[GioGokin]

Do share your CIDU jackets!

I did it in my previous post

 

[Stacks]

Has anyone in the lounge ever gotten a B-3, B-6, or D-1 from a Chinese seller? I’m looking at Tailor Brando or Fivestar but it’s hard to find any reviews! Or any suggestions for something decent $500 or less. TY!

 

[Squirrel_hero]

Also: can Dylan navigate Taobao to get the lower price? What does he take as his cut? And do we have to pay US tarriffs on our purchases? Are returns easy?

Dylan is dealing with the manufacturer so he’s getting the jackets wholesale I believe. I don’t think he’s buying them even at taobao prices. I think he gets them cheaper. But I don’t really know if that’s the case I’m just imagining after him telling me he’s close with the manufacturer

 

[MrProper]

Has anyone in the lounge ever gotten a B-3, B-6, or D-1 from a Chinese seller? I’m looking at Tailor Brando or Fivestar but it’s hard to find any reviews! Or any suggestions for something decent $500 or less. TY!

5* shearling jackets are too expensive for what you get.

The ones I had back then were okay in terms of price, but the leather was only half as thick as that of the Aero Shearlings. The last jacket had long fur, but it wasn't very dense. Nevertheless, I think the shearling was still one of the better 5* jackets. Still not recommended, though.

 

[Stacks]

5* shearling jackets are too expensive for what you get.

The ones I had back then were okay in terms of price, but the leather was only half as thick as that of the Aero Shearlings. The last jacket had long fur, but it wasn't very dense. Nevertheless, I think the shearling was still one of the better 5* jackets. Still not recommended, though.

Thank you for the insights! That is helpful. I haven’t worn a shearling so I’m looking for a budget option to try for a season, then maybe spring for an Aero or something else. By the way, your IG page is a goldmine and inspiration for so many different jackets, thank you

 

[MrProper]

Thank you for the insights! That is helpful. I haven’t worn a shearling so I’m looking for a budget option to try for a season, then maybe spring for an Aero or something else. By the way, your IG page is a goldmine and inspiration for so many different jackets, thank you

Thank you very much
Perhaps a used shearling would be an alternative? Or one from AVI (e.g. https://www.avileather.com/de/produkt/d-1-mechanics-jacket-sheepskin-leather/)?
If you feel the same way as I do, then you'll love shearling. I'd rather give away my leather jackets than my shearling jackets. It's a good thing that's not up for discussion ;-)

 

[whitetail_country]

Made in China can be good. I would say better than many American Manufactures. For example, Bronson makes better clothing than many US brands like 3sixteen.

 

[MadCat]

Dylan is dealing with the manufacturer so he’s getting the jackets wholesale I believe. I don’t think he’s buying them even at taobao prices. I think he gets them cheaper. But I don’t really know if that’s the case I’m just imagining after him telling me he’s close with the manufacturer

How do you get in contact with him?

 

[Zoro]

How do you get in contact with him?

I did over Whatsapp, +86 188 6398 8871. I think he also has Facebook and Instagram accounts.

 

[MacLean]

HOT TAKE: The Veluokldly J-24 is the budget Double Helix Innovator.

Not long ago, I moved to London, and walked into the Lewis Leathers store off Tottenham Court Rd to see what they had in stock in the way of a horsehide Lightning.

Now, I am by no means a normal fit - 6’4” and 205#. My sleeve length is typically a 37, I wear a 35” waist jean, and a 44L jacket.

In short, my wingspan is about 4” longer than I am tall, and everything needs to be long and slim to fit.

At the Lewis store, I tried on everything up to a 50, which finally fit in the shoulders and sleeves, but like a barrel on my torso. They (of course) recommended I get fitted for a custom, which would basically put me at £2000+ extras, so maybe more like $3K when all was said and done.

So, instead of diving in and waiting 6 months, I started doing what we all do - hunting for jackets on eBay.

I found some interesting stuff, but started going down the Chinese horsehide jacket route after seeing this thing:

Similar to the Lewis in style with the tan zipper tape and shiny finish, but looked trimmer, with a D pocket, like a J-24. Problem was, that jacket only came in a 4XL, which by the seller’s measurements would never fit right. Could not find it from any seller in a larger size.
I then considered these 3 jackets, which are nearly indistinguishable from each other:

Cidu

Jia Shi

Veluokldly

After reading all 28 pages of the Chinese Leather Jacket thread on here, watching as many YouTube videos as I could (there really aren’t that many!) and opening about 1000 browser tabs on eBay, I finally pulled the trigger on the “much-renowned” Velokldly tea core black horsehide J-24 in 5XL.

The choice was based on FL commenters here, as well as the measurements, the contrasty brass zippers, the un-stamped snaps, and the tea core zipper pulls (if you look, the Jia Shi and Cidu ones are solid black).

While shopping for this particular jacket, I looked at Crush on Retro (FL consensus - Avoid), Tailor Brando (FL consensus - Buy), and other random eBay sellers who seem to all use the exact same photos, but upon closer inspection, don’t all sell the same product (it’s the Cidu that looks like the Velokldly), or don’t all have the same product in the same sizes.

Some of the interesting eBay sellers who carry the same jacket at prices varying from $261.75 (from xiaolihua985) to $366.16 (Tailor Brando).

12quan10
fennellee_8
xiaolihua985
junekiddy_6
carter515
somebodysomething
alpsmax

My cynical marketing brain tells me that these are all just Tailor Brando selling with sub accounts, testing the market for what people will pay, BUT… I figured I would be rolling the dice nearly any way I went, and could possibly save a few dollars in the end.

I wound up buying the jacket from 12quan10, who had sold an enormous amount of jackets on eBay, and also had a 100% rating. Enough for me.

The total was $330 + $25 for shipping from China to London, so $355 total (VAT was miraculously included.)

When it arrived, I tried it for fit. While I would prefer the sleeves would be about an inch or so longer, the rest of the fit was good, and the quality was nice. I can wear a sweater underneath it, which neither my Lewis Monza, my Aero 30s Half-Belt, or my Goldtop shearling will do.

It also smelled like leather, not chemicals, and was a very wearable weight, despite being stiff enough to stand up on its own.

So for $355 I was now the proud owner of a really not badly built or badly fitting copy of a J-24. So I immediately did what we all do — started comparing it to other jackets from acclaimed makers.

What I came to realize is that the closest thing to this jacket from the top names is the highly desirable Double Helix Innovator J-24.

While not all the details (or clearly, quality) are the same, I just wanted to post to compare how close they are to each other, as aesthetically they share so much — in case you happen to be in the market, and want a budget choice like I did.

Here’s the measurements for both, which are also remarkably close.
The DH is a size 48, their largest, and the Veluokldly is a 5XL:

DH Chest - 49.6
VLKDLY Chest - 49.5

DH Shoulder - 20.3
VLKDLY Shoulder - 20

DH Length - 26.4
VLKDLY Length - 26

DH Sleeve - 26.6
VLKDLY Chest - 26


FRONT
DH <- -> Veluokldly

BACK
DH <- -> Veluokldly

The inside-snap center belt loop (to loop to your pants belt) that is a 50s jacket trademark is on both, and even the DH belt loops and passenger hand warmer pockets are very similar on the Veluokldly....


D pocket
DH <- -> Veluokldly

Obviously the use of metal instead of leather pulls, or the DH having a quilted lining, French seams, etc etc set it far above the Veluokldly, but I just could not get over how much the Veluokldly looks like a very faithful repro of the Double Helix.

The lining pattern, the leather pulls and the brown contrast stitching all around on the Veluokldly makes it share something with the Y2 J-24 here too, but there are more similarities between it and the Double Helix, for sure.

In Summary
Suffice it to say, I’m NOT saying that the Veluokldly is comparable in quality to the DH, just that it visually shares a lot of details people who want the DH might want, and seems to share comparable sizing as well.

Taking into account how a similar Sears horsehide leather sold for $33 in 1949, which would be about $399 today, I don’t think of this jacket as cheap, necessarily.

It may be cheap in comparison to the high-end leathers we covet, sure, but not compared to what a similar jacket might have cost at Sears or JCPenney back in the day.

If I went into a store like John Lewis in the UK or Macy’s in the US and a jacket like this fit me like it does right off the rack for $355, I’d buy it regardless of what the label said.

I’m excited to find out how this jacket wears in (I’ll post updates), and see if people visually mistake it for the DH (or the Y2). I’ll even try it with a necktie, like the Sears ad…

Anyhow, thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the comparison, and would love to hear what you think!

 

[Cryptkeeper]

HOT TAKE: The Veluokldly J-24 is the budget Double Helix Innovator.

Not long ago, I moved to London, and walked into the Lewis Leathers store off Tottenham Court Rd to see what they had in stock in the way of a horsehide Lightning.

Now, I am by no means a normal fit - 6’4” and 205#. My sleeve length is typically a 37, I wear a 35” waist jean, and a 44L jacket.

In short, my wingspan is about 4” longer than I am tall, and everything needs to be long and slim to fit.

At the Lewis store, I tried on everything up to a 50, which finally fit in the shoulders and sleeves, but like a barrel on my torso. They (of course) recommended I get fitted for a custom, which would basically put me at £2000+ extras, so maybe more like $3K when all was said and done.

So, instead of diving in and waiting 6 months, I started doing what we all do - hunting for jackets on eBay.

I found some interesting stuff, but started going down the Chinese horsehide jacket route after seeing this thing:

View attachment 742220

Similar to the Lewis in style with the tan zipper tape and shiny finish, but looked trimmer, with a D pocket, like a J-24. Problem was, that jacket only came in a 4XL, which by the seller’s measurements would never fit right. Could not find it from any seller in a larger size.
I then considered these 3 jackets, which are nearly indistinguishable from each other:

Cidu
View attachment 742223


Jia Shi
View attachment 742222


Veluokldly
View attachment 742224


After reading all 28 pages of the Chinese Leather Jacket thread on here, watching as many YouTube videos as I could (there really aren’t that many!) and opening about 1000 browser tabs on eBay, I finally pulled the trigger on the “much-renowned” Velokldly tea core black horsehide J-24 in 5XL.

The choice was based on FL commenters here, as well as the measurements, the contrasty brass zippers, the un-stamped snaps, and the tea core zipper pulls (if you look, the Jia Shi and Cidu ones are solid black).

While shopping for this particular jacket, I looked at Crush on Retro (FL consensus - Avoid), Tailor Brando (FL consensus - Buy), and other random eBay sellers who seem to all use the exact same photos, but upon closer inspection, don’t all sell the same product (it’s the Cidu that looks like the Velokldly), or don’t all have the same product in the same sizes.

Some of the interesting eBay sellers who carry the same jacket at prices varying from $261.75 (from xiaolihua985) to $366.16 (Tailor Brando).

12quan10
fennellee_8
xiaolihua985
junekiddy_6
carter515
somebodysomething
alpsmax

My cynical marketing brain tells me that these are all just Tailor Brando selling with sub accounts, testing the market for what people will pay, BUT… I figured I would be rolling the dice nearly any way I went, and could possibly save a few dollars in the end.

I wound up buying the jacket from 12quan10, who had sold an enormous amount of jackets on eBay, and also had a 100% rating. Enough for me.

The total was $330 + $25 for shipping from China to London, so $355 total (VAT was miraculously included.)

When it arrived, I tried it for fit. While I would prefer the sleeves would be about an inch or so longer, the rest of the fit was good, and the quality was nice. I can wear a sweater underneath it, which neither my Lewis Monza, my Aero 30s Half-Belt, or my Goldtop shearling will do.

It also smelled like leather, not chemicals, and was a very wearable weight, despite being stiff enough to stand up on its own.

View attachment 742225

So for $355 I was now the proud owner of a really not badly built or badly fitting copy of a J-24. So I immediately did what we all do — started comparing it to other jackets from acclaimed makers.

What I came to realize is that the closest thing to this jacket from the top names is the highly desirable Double Helix Innovator J-24.

While not all the details (or clearly, quality) are the same, I just wanted to post to compare how close they are to each other, as aesthetically they share so much — in case you happen to be in the market, and want a budget choice like I did.

Here’s the measurements for both, which are also remarkably close.
The DH is a size 48, their largest, and the Veluokldly is a 5XL:

DH Chest - 49.6
VLKDLY Chest - 49.5

DH Shoulder - 20.3
VLKDLY Shoulder - 20

DH Length - 26.4
VLKDLY Length - 26

DH Sleeve - 26.6
VLKDLY Chest - 26


FRONT
DH <- -> Veluokldly
View attachment 742226

BACK
DH <- -> Veluokldly
View attachment 742227

The inside-snap center belt loop (to loop to your pants belt) that is a 50s jacket trademark is on both, and even the DH belt loops and passenger hand warmer pockets are very similar on the Veluokldly....


D pocket
DH <- -> Veluokldly
View attachment 742228

Obviously the use of metal instead of leather pulls, or the DH having a quilted lining, French seams, etc etc set it far above the Veluokldly, but I just could not get over how much the Veluokldly looks like a very faithful repro of the Double Helix.

The lining pattern, the leather pulls and the brown contrast stitching all around on the Veluokldly makes it share something with the Y2 J-24 here too, but there are more similarities between it and the Double Helix, for sure.

View attachment 742191


In Summary
Suffice it to say, I’m NOT saying that the Veluokldly is comparable in quality to the DH, just that it visually shares a lot of details people who want the DH might want, and seems to share comparable sizing as well.

Taking into account how a similar Sears horsehide leather sold for $33 in 1949, which would be about $399 today, I don’t think of this jacket as cheap, necessarily.

View attachment 742229

It may be cheap in comparison to the high-end leathers we covet, sure, but not compared to what a similar jacket might have cost at Sears or JCPenney back in the day.

If I went into a store like John Lewis in the UK or Macy’s in the US and a jacket like this fit me like it does right off the rack for $355, I’d buy it regardless of what the label said.

I’m excited to find out how this jacket wears in (I’ll post updates), and see if people visually mistake it for the DH (or the Y2). I’ll even try it with a necktie, like the Sears ad…

Anyhow, thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the comparison, and would love to hear what you think!

Such a great review man! As you said there's not enough info out there about these chinese repros, and info like this that is also so well put together is invaluable. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and time with the community.

 

[Zoro]

Fantastic review @MacLean. I would not even say that "Veluokldly J-24 is the budget Double Helix Innovator" is a hot take, as the keyword is budget

Considering the innovator is >5 times more expensive, I really doubt this is >5 times a lesser jacket.

 

[MacLean]

Just so you can see the fit...