Himel "The Imperial"

Mich486 · Jul 7, 2020

I really like the leather FCL uses though the patterns look super trim.

Patek · Jul 7, 2020

Mich486 said:
I really like the leather FCL uses though the patterns look super trim.

Yeah, my two favorite makers for sure. Once this order comes in I'll have two Himel Bros and two FCLs.

sweetfights · Jul 7, 2020

I am, generally speaking, very conservative and would have passed on the “fancy back” if it were a few years ago, however, that Imperial
back is gorgeous and I believe that gorgeous Shinki deserves it. I am unabashedly a Himel fan. The Himel Shinki leather molds very well. Interestingly, I was deciding between the Imperial and another Kensington in dark brown, and seeing your beautiful Kensington confirms my next choice will be a dark brown Kensington. So classic! I have a Good Wear Arcadia so the Imperial will have to wait.

regius · Jul 8, 2020

My GW. The CXL is on the thin side, probably what Aero calls their choice for the East Asian market. Honestly, it came as a slight disappointment...

navetsea · Jul 8, 2020

wow, it does look on the thin side and crisp, maybe it will quickly show characters and looks broken in fast

jonesy86 · Jul 8, 2020

regius said:
what hide was on yours?

My Hercules is a proof of concept test jacket that John made in order to perfect his double-needle machine, and indeed French seems abound. The hide is the last of a batch of waxy Horween Mustang horsehide that he had for many years, that has a ton of natural grain, and literally softens each time you wear it after about 10 minutes when it warms up. The design was taken directly form the 1938 Hercules pattern with only a little added length in the body and sleeve. 

HoosierDaddy · Jul 8, 2020

Superb leather and construction beauty.

regius · Jul 8, 2020

jonesy86 said:
My Hercules in a proof of concept test jacket that John made in order to perfect his double-needle machine, and indeed French seems abound. The hide is the last of a batch of waxy Horween Mustang horsehide that he had for many years, that has a ton of natural grain, and literally softens each time you wear it after about 10 minutes when it warms up. The design was taken directly form the 1938 Hercules pattern with only a little added length in the body and sleeve. 
View attachment 246206
View attachment 246207

Yes! The mustang! I had a GW A2 that’s from this hide, I think people remember that one with red knits (a couple of them were floating on the forum at one point). So mine was made out of very similar horse from Horween, honestly if it was also mustang I’m not sure while a possibility (a matter of marketing). It also has the crumbled paper grain.

regius · Jul 8, 2020

navetsea said:
wow, it does look on the thin side and crisp, maybe it will quickly show characters and looks broken in fast

I supplied the lining. This is his Horween leather (I don’t recall he calling it CXL, while we both are not sure exactly what it is, Horween for sure).

itsallgood · Jul 9, 2020

Patek said:
I have one of these on order but I requested a plain back as to me the cathedral back is my least favorite part of the jacket. I have a Himel Bros Kensington since 2012 and I agree these jackets wear extremely hard. I think my two-month-old FCL has more wear on it.

Thoughts on my choice of a plan back? Am I ruining a classic style?

In the video on the Himel website, he talks about the back quite extensively. It's well worth a watch. I personally find it visually pleasing, as it dresses up what I think is essentially a work jacket.

Patek · Jul 9, 2020

itsallgood said:
In the video on the Himel website, he talks about the back quite extensively. It's well worth a watch. I personally find it visually pleasing, as it dresses up what I think is essentially a work jacket.

Yup, I had watched that video prior to placing my order. I then went back and forth on if I wanted it or not.

sweetfights · Jul 9, 2020

jonesy86 said:
My Hercules is a proof of concept test jacket that John made in order to perfect his double-needle machine, and indeed French seems abound. The hide is the last of a batch of waxy Horween Mustang horsehide that he had for many years, that has a ton of natural grain, and literally softens each time you wear it after about 10 minutes when it warms up. The design was taken directly form the 1938 Hercules pattern with only a little added length in the body and sleeve. 
View attachment 246206
View attachment 246207

Wow- stellar jacket and leather. Aren't you my size and isn't it too hot where you live for this jacket?

jonesy86 · Jul 9, 2020

sweetfights said:
Wow- stellar jacket and leather. Aren't you my size and isn't it too hot where you live for this jacket?

I still have a bunch of stuff in storage in California just in case I move back to Santa Fe some day. It was a toss up which jackets to bring with me to my island adventure, none of which can really be worn much here. It dips into the high 60s F. for a brief time during the winter in the evening, and I promptly pull out my jackets. Silly, I know.

sweetfights · Jul 10, 2020

jonesy86 said:
I still have a bunch of stuff in storage in California just in case I move back to Santa Fe some day. It was a toss up which jackets to bring with me to my island adventure, none of which can really be worn much here. It dips into the high 60s F. for a brief time during the winter in the evening, and I promptly pull out my jackets. Silly, I know.

Not silly at all. I would be doing the same!
You have nice stuff. And those French seams are beautiful.

cdallas · Jul 12, 2020

Here’s a couple shots of my GW Hercules in Black Mustang HH. Starting to break in nicely, can’t wait for cooler weather to start wearing it again!

jonesy86 · Jul 12, 2020

That’s a beauty.

diabel · Jul 31, 2020

Well it may be too late. But stylistically you may be able to keep the fancy keystone yoke in the back but make it one panel instead of three panels below it. This makes it looking more modern and less fussy but still interesting.

jonbuilder · Aug 3, 2020

jeo said:
Beautiful!! Perfect fit too!

Glad to see Dave has made this part of his lineup.

Here's mine:
View attachment 233715

This is very interesting as the shoulder seams on mine are flat/french seamed.

It also looks like the hand warmer pockets on yours are smaller and slightly higher up than mine and also looks like your chest pocket is lower than mine. It very well could be that they are proportionally identical and my perceived differences are just because of the different sizes. Although custom, mine is around a size 34. I also wonder if our leathers are from the same batch.

Anyway enjoy and wear it in good health!!

jeo, is your jacket a Good Wear?

jeo · Aug 4, 2020

jonbuilder said:
jeo, is your jacket a Good Wear?

Himel made the jacket (leather, hardware etc..) but he got the pattern from GW. Mine was the first Imperial made by Himel.

jonbuilder · Aug 4, 2020

jeo said:
Himel made the jacket (leather, hardware etc..) but he got the pattern from GW. Mine was the first Imperial made by Himel.

Thank you I was confused by the comparison, I knew both jackets were based on the same pattern from John

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