Aero Stitching Problem? Advice Needed

Jedy617 · Jun 13, 2020

Hi, as some of you may know I recently got a custom Aero Sheene in Badalassi ordered from Thurston a couple months back as my first leather jacket. Immediately when I received it, I noticed there was missing/broken stitching around the cuff. I sent it back to Carrie and she did a good job repairing it. I've had it back for a few weeks and yesterday it was cool enough to take it out, and when I look at it more, I'm noticing some pretty obvious flaws. On both the cuffs, there is some pretty significant punching in the leather with no stitching. I think it looks pretty ugly. Is this what I should expect from Aero?

I don't know if this is par for the course since it's my first jacket. I will say I recently picked up a used Aero halfbelt and I don't see any problem like this. I would understand if this was a trainee jacket at a significant discount, but personally, I expected more from a $1200+ jacket. How could the seamstress keep going with a mistake like that, and how could it make it passed QC? Would you complain? I would feel bad about bothering Carrie again since it's not her fault. There is also a small gouge on the left shoulder, surprised to see that too but more annoyed by the stitching. Would you guys wear it and be happy spending that amount of money, or do something about it? I need advice. Thank you.

Superfluous · Jun 13, 2020

Jedy617 · Jun 13, 2020

Superfluous said:

Funny, but I'm serious I really would like to know. Is this something I should expect in my jackets at this price point? I've been into higher end leather shoes and wallets for quite sometime. This isn't something I would expect to see in my Alden boots, or my Ashland Leather wallet. I want to know if this is "normal" for jackets at this price point. I know it's a handmade article so flaws are possible, but for this kind of money, personally I thought I would be getting some cleaner work. I need to know if from now on I should quell my expectations. Again, my used halfbelt doesn't have bad stitching like this.

zebedee · Jun 13, 2020

The gouge is not the end of the world, but the stitching I'd want corrected.

Jedy617 · Jun 13, 2020

zebedee said:
The gouge is not the end of the world, but the stitching I'd want corrected.

That's what I thought too. I noticed the gouge and I was like ah that's a shame, at least it's small, but then I get to the stitching and the fact that it is on both cuffs and I'm like man...really?

torfjord · Jun 13, 2020

Hard to see from the picture on the shoulder but it looks like the type of marks that sometimes happens when you fold leather and hammer it. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

Stitching mistakes like the one on the cuff I wouldn’t be happy about either. It’s in a very visible place. I have some on my hooch hauler down on the hem (most of them on the inside) but I got that from the sale page and aero wrote about them in the listing. I never think about them, you really can’t see them unless you look closely. On a custom jacket and on such a visible place as the cuff I would actually complain about it. Same goes for the stitching on the button hole. I agree that for a clothing item at this price point we should expect QC to catch mistakes like that.

jglf · Jun 13, 2020

It’s been well documented on the forums for years that Aero doesn’t have perfect stitching. While most of these issues are superficial, it seems to bother ocd customers who inspect their jackets with a magnifying glass. I’m not sure why aero has stitching issues while many other jacket makers don’t, even at a lower price point. Is it bc of the thickness of leather, not skiving the leather where it folds over, or lack of sewing skill? I would suggest a different manufacturer if you want “perfect stitching”.

Jedy617 · Jun 13, 2020

jglf said:
It’s been well documented on the forums for years that Aero doesn’t have perfect stitching. While most of these issues are superficial, it seems to bother ocd customers who inspect their jackets with a magnifying glass. I’m not sure why aero has stitching issues while many other jacket makers don’t, even at a lower price point. Is it bc of the thickness of leather, not skiving the leather where it folds over, or lack of sewing skill? I would suggest a different manufacturer if you want “perfect stitching”.

The holes are noticeable from a foot away, not a magnifying glass, so wouldn't really call it OCD. I do not expect perfect stitching whatsoever, but I expect my $1200 jacket not to have a bunch of missed hole punches in multiple places along with missed stitching? I didn't even mention, there is a bunch of crooked stitching, none of that really bothers me because again, I really don't expect anything close to perfect stitching. I just expect my jacket to come to me fully stitched and without a bunch of extra punch holes in my pricey italian leather that I paid a premium for.

Bfd70 · Jun 13, 2020

I think that amount of wonky stitching should put it in the stock category with appropriate notice. I’m not stitch obsessive but believe at that pricepoint there shouldn’t be such apparent errors. It’s a mto, some character is to be expected but that would leave perpetually slightly disappointed.
Maybe the $1200 pricepoint isnt what it used to be?

Will Zach · Jun 13, 2020

Ask for a refund, get a jacket from Greg at Field Leathers. Perfection.

jglf · Jun 13, 2020

Every aero jacket I’ve seen including mine had all of the same issues or worse than op. Didn’t really bother me but everyone is different. Aero shouldn’t have these problems at their price point but they do and always have. BTW, My $500 Vanson and G&B have better stitching than Aero.

Jedy617 · Jun 13, 2020

Will Zach said:
Ask for a refund, get a jacket from Greg at Field Leathers. Perfection.

I would like to, but I would feel bad for Carrie/thurston who helped me through the process and put the effort in, they shouldn't lose out on money because of Aero's bad QC. I might contact them directly.

Mich486 · Jun 13, 2020

I’m with those who say that if you decide to go with Aero, you should not expect perfect stitching. It’s not just the comparatively low stitch count and big stitch holes but a few wonky stitches here and there are the norm. My grizzly had a couple of empty stitch holes on one of the cuffs but admittedly not as noticeable as the op. It was also a double layer of not skivved CXL in that point (Why don’t they skiv though as everyone else seems to do so?!)

In all honesty, I’m not sure what I’d do if I were you. Probably I’ll live with it, though I understand if for someone is a deal breaker.

Jedy617 · Jun 13, 2020

Understood, but again I'm just reiterating, I'm not expecting perfect stitching. I'm expecting good stitching. There is a decent amount of crooked stitching, the extra holes, and missing stitching at the cuff. I would understand one of those problems and chalk it up to being handmade and not perfect, but it just doesn't even feel very good. More like mediocre. My halfbelt from aero is nothing like this.

ton312 · Jun 13, 2020

I’m a bit surprised to see the hammer crack in a leather as thin as Badlassi. That alone wouldn’t bother me in the least. The stitching around the cuff is poor and below standard. I’ve owned well over a dozen Aero (probably two dozen have passed through my doors) and never noticed any wonky stitching, certainly nothing like that. This jacket would leave me disappointed as a full price offering, much less so if it wore a blue label and the price reflected that.

Jedy617 · Jun 13, 2020

ton312 said:
I’m a bit surprised to se the hammer crack in a leather as thin as Badlassi. That alone wouldn’t bother me in the least. The stitching around the cuff is poor and below standard. I’ve had well over a dozen Aero and never noticed any wonky stitching, certainly nothing like that. This jacket would leave me disappointed as a full price offering, much less so if it wore a blue label and the price reflected that.

Thanks for your input. Yes I'm not too bothered by the shoulder mark as when the jacket wears in, it would not be easy to pick out apart from normal wear, just thought I would mention it when I made the post. When I noticed the problems I was thinking to myself it looked like something either labeled as a blue or a trainee jacket. Your right, the used halfbelt I picked up is perfect. Really don't mean to be rude to anyone, but the jacket was made by the newest seamstress at Aero (as all of the employees are listed in the back of the catalog) I could be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if I got better results from someone more experienced. However, I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt and say maybe it was just a bad day, and not due to experience. However, what is QC doing letting that out of the shop? I am leaning toward contacting Aero directly, really don't want to make for of a hassle for Carrie.

ton312 · Jun 13, 2020

Jedy617 said:
Thanks for your input. Yes I'm not too bothered by the shoulder mark as when the jacket wears in, it would not be easy to pick out apart from normal wear, just thought I would mention it when I made the post. When I noticed the problems I was thinking to myself it looked like something either labeled as a blue or a trainee jacket. Your right, the used halfbelt I picked up is perfect. Really don't mean to be rude to anyone, but the jacket was made by the newest seamstress at Aero (as all of the employees are listed in the back of the catalog) I could be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if I got better results from someone more experienced. However, I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt and say maybe it was just a bad day, and not due to experience. However, what is QC doing letting that out of the shop? I am leaning toward contacting Aero directly, really don't want to make for of a hassle for Carrie.

If you purchased through Thurston I would bring this to their attention first. As the retailer in this case it’s their responsibility to help you.

El Marro · Jun 13, 2020

Bfd70 said:
I think that amount of wonky stitching should put it in the stock category with appropriate notice. I’m not stitch obsessive but believe at that pricepoint there shouldn’t be such apparent errors. It’s a mto, some character is to be expected but that would leave perpetually slightly disappointed.
Maybe the $1200 pricepoint isnt what it used to be?

Yep. The bad stitching around the button at the cuff is particularly egregious because this is obvious focal point.
Occasional wonky stitching and cracks at the seams is something we have come to expect from Aero from time to time. But all that sloppy work and mistakes on one jacket looks more like someone just didn’t give a damn and that is surprising. I agree with Ton that you should bring this to carries attention since you bought the jacket through Insurrection.

HoosierDaddy · Jun 13, 2020

I've had many Aero jackets over the past several years but never with that kind of horrible stitching. Not even close. I would notify Carrie or send these pics directly to Aero. One thing I do know about Carrie is she not only cares about the money..but also customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction if reasonable. There's no way I would keep that mess and I expect Aero would agree. Somehow it slipped through their QC.
HD

Jedy617 · Jun 13, 2020

I will be contacting Carrie, and possibly also Aero, thanks for the insight everyone.

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