Alternatives to Horween Chromexcel?

SamZ · Feb 1, 2016

I am having a leather motorcycle jacket made with a tan colored leather.

I wanted to use Horween Chromexcel leather because I like the look and feel but I was told by their reseller that they can't make tan colors because of the process and there are no other similar leathers they recommend for jackets.

So are there any other leathers of similar quality?

I'm looking for a color like:

or

SamZ · Feb 1, 2016

Alternatively, does anyone have a picture of the patina on aged "Natural" Chromexcel, or a way to lighten "Natural" Chromexcel?

Guppy · Feb 1, 2016

Find out who made the color you like, and ask them for samples.

Bunyip · Feb 1, 2016

Who's making the jacket? There's a colour called Essex which is a natural looking hide that will age like the samples you provided. Langlitz do a goat they call butterscotch which I have. I would love a Langlitz made in CXL horse. Unfortunately, everyone has different suppliers and different designs. You need to find a balance between the two.

pawineguy · Feb 1, 2016

Bunyip said:
Who's making the jacket? There's a colour called Essex which is a natural looking hide that will age like the samples you provided. Langlitz do a goat they call butterscotch which I have. I would love a Langlitz made in CXL horse. Unfortunately, everyone has different suppliers and different designs. You need to find a balance between the two.

+1 - Horween Essex is a nice leather and comes in both a fairly natural color and a slightly darker tan. Also look at Horween Cavalier CXL, which is a CXL developed specifically to yield nice bright colors. I'm pretty sure that's also available in lighter shades.

SamZ · Feb 1, 2016

pawineguy said:
+1 - Horween Essex is a nice leather and comes in both a fairly natural color and a slightly darker tan. Also look at Horween Cavalier CXL, which is a CXL developed specifically to yield nice bright colors. I'm pretty sure that's also available in lighter shades.

I don't think I can buy any of those, the person at TanneryRow.com basically told me that Natural CXL was my only close option. I'm sure that if I could order a huge order directly from Horween, I could get any color I wanted.

I have to source the leather myself.

The first picture is of Shell Cordovan and the second is of aged natural vegetable tanned leather. I'm not sure those would be good choices for a leather jacket. The ideal would be Chromexcel in "Whiskey" or one of the other tan colors I've seen online. Unfortunately I'm unable to purchase it.

Sockeye · Feb 1, 2016

Vanson's Octagon

Bunyip · Feb 2, 2016

Who's actually making the jacket for you?

Sloan1874 · Feb 2, 2016

Might want to ask Aero about their extra heavy tan steer. Terrifying stuff!

ton312 · Feb 2, 2016

Sloan1874 said:
Might want to ask Aero about their extra heavy tan steer. Terrifying stuff!

Is that still available? I love that color and weight!

Sloan1874 · Feb 2, 2016

Last time I was there, I saw some. I'd email Holly and ask. I've tried a jacket in it, and it's as sturdy as you could want. They used it on their Hippy jacket, which was discontinued some time back. Gawd, I really don't like heavy zips:

Bunyip · Feb 2, 2016

I love that leather!

navetsea · Feb 2, 2016

very nice color

Edward · Feb 2, 2016

Sloan1874 said:
Last time I was there, I saw some. I'd email Holly and ask. I've tried a jacket in it, and it's as sturdy as you could want. They used it on their Hippy jacket, which was discontinued some time back. Gawd, I really don't like heavy zips:

Yeah, I don't care for the zips, or the design much (beautifully executed as it is), but that leather looks very nice indeed. Would make a cracking halfbelt.

Rudie · Feb 2, 2016

Was the Hippy jacket designed by Ken?

Capesofwrath · Feb 2, 2016

It looks like it was designed as a fishing waistcoat and someone put arms on it. I certainly never saw a hippy wearing anything like that.

eugenesque · Feb 2, 2016

The tan is a nice colour. But the change in colour from "new" to "7 months" seems quite drastic.

Sloan1874 · Feb 2, 2016

I think it's a pretty standard design from that period - Freewheelers still do one, as did LVC.

SamZ · Feb 2, 2016

Bunyip said:
Who's actually making the jacket for you?

It's a local guy. They have bright colored leather or black only, nothing more natural looking.

eugenesque said:
The tan is a nice colour. But the change in colour from "new" to "7 months" seems quite drastic.

eugenesque, that is typical for un-dyed, vegetable-tanned leather. It's not super great for something like a jacket, from what I understand (Very stiff, and stains easily).

I will see if I can find the sources for Langlitz or the source for Vanson "Octogon" style leather.

nick123 · Feb 2, 2016

Rudie said:
Was the Hippy jacket designed by Ken?

It's loosely based off of the East West jackets out of San Francisco from the late 60s-70s. Right in the thick of the Haight Ashbury scene. Not sure how many everyday folk wore em back then.

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