Some of them maybe, but not all of them. Badalassi certainly isn't and neither is oil shinki. I'd also argue that modern pigment dyed leathers look nicer than the old chrome tanned ones.
When I look at RMC, across nearly the entire range of their leather goods, I see a deliberate attempt at replicating fast to “fade” to emulate vintage originals. I suppose it’s not a hard and fast truth but 90% (or more) of what I see in veg tan looks to be an attempt at duplicating any number of say, Terry Mitchell’s library of American chrome tanned leathers from the 40’s and 50’s. I hate to sound like Stu and I believe he even references the joke and irony of it all somewhere on his site. And don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against veg tan hides. Nothing at all. But I do find the use in reproduction jackets a bit ironic. Particularly with regard to M/C hear and catalog era sports jackets and halfbelts.
Yuuuup. This is why I’m wearing repros less and less. I have to force myself into my Aero. Hard to compete with with 70 year old chrome tanned pony. To each their own though, of course.Dude... Sure, there are less than impressive hide on some of the old jackets but my shitty steer Sears Oakbrook literally either devours or equals anything high-end modern that I've handled - And I've handled most of it. This isn't me taking a shot at modern tanned hide; On the contrary, contemporary tanneries are getting better and better and I salute the effort but there's hardly a fair comparison. That 60's Langlitz I had, it wasn't even anything special compared to the green label HH they used but you handle that kinda hide and realize there's just hardly any comparison between that and literally ANYTHING new.
New tanneries want to achieve this and struggle with it and it's the effort that counts but seriously, good 50's leather has NO alternative in this day and age. None.
You’re a prime candidate dude. At your size you literally have carte blanche. I’ll say this...if I were your size I’d have never left vintage, that’s where I started in this hobby and it’s been a long, semi fruitless journey only to discover that’s where I should’ve stayed (at least in certain styles). If I were you I’d pursue some vintage pieces if for no other reason than to understand what the modern stuff wishes to be, and why it never can get there.
That does look good! If you ever need to replace a sleeve that would be the hide to choose. I suppose for me, and I know it’s been discussed before, the vintage stuff just has an austere quality I don’t find in reproduction pieces. No matter how well they are built, how well they fit etc, they always look a bit flat in comparison. There’s plenty of room for both but my bread is buttered on the vintage side. As much as I’ve oscillated between the two over the years, there is no doubt my preference between the two is an original vintage piece. I enjoy restoring them too.Hey, that's a nice jacket
I've been wearing it daily since I got it. Definitely one of my favorite jackets. Top three.
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Field Leathers' (vegetable tanned) pigment dyed Shinki is a 95% match in terms of color, temper and grain. Here's a swatch next to the 70 year old Windward.
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I get this!
