murphykobe
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 61
Got a new Aging Leather (previously SportTogs) HH Four Corners, will try post pics when arrive
-
The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.
Chinese leather jackets
- Thread starter TheBigEraser
- Start date
ZeroDelta
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 110
Even an apprentice jacket from Aero is going to be double one of these chinese jackets and that isn't even counting any tariffs/fees/shipping. Its a serious difference in cost. A Vanson which I'm quite fond of could be a couple of hundred more or double the price depending on the model. I don't get the people saying they are 95% as good as Japanese brands but I do think people are getting good value from these jackets. That being said a used Vanson is a hell of a value proposition as well.
If anybody is interested, I am selling my Brake House/Real Simons jacket XL (size 40) in classifieds:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...horsehide-leather-jacket-xl-40-42-265.122065/
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...horsehide-leather-jacket-xl-40-42-265.122065/
Trippylongstocking
New in Town
- Messages
- 5
As other have echoed.
Everybody knows China is synonymous with cheap labor, cheap and poorly made products. Not to mention aiding to the disposable lifestyle or out of the box faulty products as well.
But not all these Chinese Leather Jackets are poorly made or trying to fool you by piggy backing on known brands. However, in any naysayers defense I have seen some red tag Truckers that obviously want to be portrayed Aero Truckers without actually saying it's Aero. (But isn't the red tab Aero a rip off of Levi's?) I don't think it makes it a replica but there is a partial vibe of "fake" as China is the Counterfeit King of all things and brands. But in the big picture how many people actually know Aero outside the community. And the Jacket doesn't actually say Aero on it. And to compare a Chinese Leather jacket to a fake selvedge strip sew on cheaper jeans holds little water. This whole paragraph "In Defense of" is pretty stupid and none of this should stop anybody from buying a Chinese made jacket or feel bad about about it.
I'm also certain there's a large spectrum from materials, stitching and and QC from a $50 to a $600 Chinese Leather. It does seem that many of the jackets purchased are in the $200 to $300 range and are either Jiashi or Veluokldly. Which in most cases seem to be the sweet spot in terms of quality and value for even some of the more discerning collectors or buyers. These prices seem to be going up as well.
When people say: "It's amazing" or "Wow" or even "Great quality and value" they're not lying. I'm sure some or even many may not know the the ins and outs of leather making and are over looking things. But that doesn't mean that they don't own more expensive counterparts and are stupid and naive either. Especially with the leather in hand comparing it to them.
Everybody knows China is synonymous with cheap labor, cheap and poorly made products. Not to mention aiding to the disposable lifestyle or out of the box faulty products as well.
But not all these Chinese Leather Jackets are poorly made or trying to fool you by piggy backing on known brands. However, in any naysayers defense I have seen some red tag Truckers that obviously want to be portrayed Aero Truckers without actually saying it's Aero. (But isn't the red tab Aero a rip off of Levi's?) I don't think it makes it a replica but there is a partial vibe of "fake" as China is the Counterfeit King of all things and brands. But in the big picture how many people actually know Aero outside the community. And the Jacket doesn't actually say Aero on it. And to compare a Chinese Leather jacket to a fake selvedge strip sew on cheaper jeans holds little water. This whole paragraph "In Defense of" is pretty stupid and none of this should stop anybody from buying a Chinese made jacket or feel bad about about it.
I'm also certain there's a large spectrum from materials, stitching and and QC from a $50 to a $600 Chinese Leather. It does seem that many of the jackets purchased are in the $200 to $300 range and are either Jiashi or Veluokldly. Which in most cases seem to be the sweet spot in terms of quality and value for even some of the more discerning collectors or buyers. These prices seem to be going up as well.
When people say: "It's amazing" or "Wow" or even "Great quality and value" they're not lying. I'm sure some or even many may not know the the ins and outs of leather making and are over looking things. But that doesn't mean that they don't own more expensive counterparts and are stupid and naive either. Especially with the leather in hand comparing it to them.
Last edited:
Featured products
-
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather. -
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. -
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style.
Trippylongstocking
New in Town
- Messages
- 5
Wore the jacket for the first time and received an immediate compliment from a complete stranger of the opposite s-e-x. I get a lot of attention but it definitely was the jacket.
I think what's different about this jacket which makes it stand out is the contrast stitching and brass buttons. You just don't see it done well when you do see it at all. This is a striking jacket.
Last edited:
ABCD
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 7,710
I think this is true for a lot of people, even for experienced high end jacket buyers.
But just because things get overlooked doesn't mean these budget jackets are 'just as good' or '80% as good' or even half as good.
Of course, perceived quality is subjective and hard to define, if not impossible. But I do recognize poor construction quality when I see it.
Here's another closeup of a Real Simons, the 'LA Brea'.
You can clearly see the seam was pulled too tight before doing the topstitching.
I'm sure people will say this, or the puckering, or the sloppy stitching, or the incorrect thread tension we saw in earlier posts don't matter to them. But that doesn't change the fact that these jackets are entry level jackets.
A little over 20 years ago I bought a comp weight Comet for myself and for my girlfriend (now wife). I loved the jacket but the fit was never quite right so I sold it to a buddy, who looked amazing in it. I’ve always wanted another jacket in that style but somehow never got around to buying one, until now. After well over a year of perusing Crush on Retro’s site, I finally decided to order a J100 made by Veluokldly.
It took about 12 days for me to receive the jacket from China to San Diego. I dealt with Jimmy and he was responsive and very helpful. I usually wear a 42, 44, or 46 (depending on the brand). I wanted to be able to layer so Jimmy recommended a size 4XL. I’m very happy with the fit.
The 1.3 mm Italian tea core horsehide is stiff, but comfortable, and it has nice character and a wonderful sheen. I’m sure the character and fit will continue to improve as it breaks in. The Talon zippers are sturdy and the main zip is left handed, like my Lewis Leathers jackets. I paid $289 USD and I’m thrilled with the jacket at this price. I’m sure someone with more experience than me will be able to point out flaws, but I’m very satisfied.
Cheers,
Jon
It took about 12 days for me to receive the jacket from China to San Diego. I dealt with Jimmy and he was responsive and very helpful. I usually wear a 42, 44, or 46 (depending on the brand). I wanted to be able to layer so Jimmy recommended a size 4XL. I’m very happy with the fit.
The 1.3 mm Italian tea core horsehide is stiff, but comfortable, and it has nice character and a wonderful sheen. I’m sure the character and fit will continue to improve as it breaks in. The Talon zippers are sturdy and the main zip is left handed, like my Lewis Leathers jackets. I paid $289 USD and I’m thrilled with the jacket at this price. I’m sure someone with more experience than me will be able to point out flaws, but I’m very satisfied.
Cheers,
Jon
Warren Crone
New in Town
- Messages
- 32
Looks fantastic!!
To me this is the perfect example of how I view the Chinese jacket market.
On one hand, it looks great! Fit could be better IMO (a bit boxy for my taste), but for 289 USD that's a banger. Also I highly doubt the horse is Italian, but then again, am I gonna care for 289!? Not at all! It still looks fantastic and I'm sure it'll last a lifetime. It's not like I would believe this is a RMC (pattern looks somewhat weird even when laying flat on the floor, very square, not even rectangular) but I would still easily believe it was at least twice the price. It also reinforces that I fully understand "newbies" coming here and saying this is the best leather jacket they've seen and [almost] as good as InsertYourBrandOfChoice.
Now we get to my other side of things: In the last few months I've been going around getting a cafe racer, possibly a J100 specifically. I've considered buying a Chinese one but I dismissed it cause I was quite sure it wouldn't scratch the itch. Now I've seen yours, I've gone from quite sure to absolutely sure.
I've seen J24s, J31s, Grizzlies and other jackets here in this thread that I've thought "Mmmm maybe I could buy it just to try", as I was not considering to get one of those models yet they looked very good on fellow loungers. Meanwhile, as the J100 is one I'm quite interested in, I've instead thought "nope, this one wouldn't be worthy of my time". It's possible this one is 80% of the way to what I want, the problem being that 80% still wouldn't be enough, no matter how cheap. First world problems.
Beyond the quality and perceived quality of these jackets, which you can really go back and forth on forever, does anyone know about how ethical these manufacturers are in terms of material and worker’s rights?
I’m not naive and expecting artisanal workers and the most ethical supply chain, but does the Chinese leather market rely on effectively slave labour in the way their cotton industry does?
I’m not going to buy one of these jackets, but I’d be interested in learning more.
I’m not naive and expecting artisanal workers and the most ethical supply chain, but does the Chinese leather market rely on effectively slave labour in the way their cotton industry does?
I’m not going to buy one of these jackets, but I’d be interested in learning more.
I'll just say that if I don't believe the horse is Italian, I would not believe anything they say on how ethically made the jackets are. The same applies to practically any brand having their jackets made overseas.
Warren Crone
New in Town
- Messages
- 32
I have the J24 from COR and you nailed it with the comment this is a banger. For me I feel it scratches every itch that the Real Mcoys version does, I’ve had that one and returned it because of the fit. The leather they call it Italian horse and I get the point is the location of the tannery but who cares if the horse is Italian or Chinese or Alien?! lol all I know is the leather feels amazing and is a beautiful tea core extremely similar in feel and look to the RMC I had all for $300 I’m stoked on it.
Attachments
I mean... I don't even trust the tannery is in Italy. My point is that Italian or Japanese horse sounds better than Chinese, Mongolian or Thai horse, at least from a marketing POV, has a higher perceived value.
At the point in which we care that it's a horse and not a cow, I would say we also care if it's Italian or not. The fact is that at this price point, we do not really care. And even if we actually cared, we cannot really know if it even is horse, let alone if it is Italian.
Or we can know, but the DNA test might be more expensive than the jacket.
I think you’ve summed it up perfectly. I also doubt the leather is Italian, but it I’m very happy with how it looks and feels. Will it look good in 5 years? 10 years? Only time will tell.
The pattern is a bit boxy. The pit to pit is the same as my Vanson but the bottom hem (hopefully hem is the correct term) is about 1/2 an inch wider.
I don’t anticipate buying any more jackets from China, but who knows. For me, brand history, passion for the design and manufacturing process, and working conditions are important factors.
As much as I would’ve loved to buy the RMC version, or even the Double Helix Works version, my jacket budget has been depleted so this was really going to be my only option to get this style jacket. And honestly, I would never pay RMC money for a jacket. I would either go Double Helix Works or have Vanson or Johnson Leathers make something custom for me.
I do think it will still look good in 5-10 years as long as you take care of it like any other jacket, which I'm sure you will.
I don't anticipate more jackets from China because I already have too many, so I should be aiming for quality now. I'm at a point where I could write a whole post on which board/cafe racers/J100s I'm considering and which ones I don't, lol. But specifically on the Double Helix, I just don't like how it seems the zip cuffs don't do a thing (at least in the pictures here), which goes against the tight wrist/forearm look and is one of the things I particularly like from this jacket model.
RMC is such a ridiculous price that it's a hard no unless I finally travel to Japan and get it for a reasonable price. For >1000€ used (and how particularly impossible seems to be to find my size on it), I would just rather pay a bit more to get a new one. I would even consider going with Field Leathers despite a year of lead time on it. Even travelling to Scotland, getting measured by Aero and ordering it might be around the same price of an used RMC!
I don't anticipate more jackets from China because I already have too many, so I should be aiming for quality now. I'm at a point where I could write a whole post on which board/cafe racers/J100s I'm considering and which ones I don't, lol. But specifically on the Double Helix, I just don't like how it seems the zip cuffs don't do a thing (at least in the pictures here), which goes against the tight wrist/forearm look and is one of the things I particularly like from this jacket model.
RMC is such a ridiculous price that it's a hard no unless I finally travel to Japan and get it for a reasonable price. For >1000€ used (and how particularly impossible seems to be to find my size on it), I would just rather pay a bit more to get a new one. I would even consider going with Field Leathers despite a year of lead time on it. Even travelling to Scotland, getting measured by Aero and ordering it might be around the same price of an used RMC!
Double Helix will let you special order so you can specify dimensions to get your optimal sleeve opening.
"Beyond the quality and perceived quality of these jackets, which you can really go back and forth on forever, does anyone know about how ethical these manufacturers are in terms of material and worker’s rights?"
This is a question with a very wide range of possible answers. Given that the cutting and stitching must be of relatively superior quality in comparison to the production of mass market clothing, the Chinese jackets we’re discussing are probably made by enthusiasts in small groups and not the result of grim labour conditions, but you’d need to visit the manufacturer to be sure. I have no idea how the hides would be obtained, or if they are actually Italian/Japanese or not. Good tailors in Shanghai very often work out of their homes or actual stores (as opposed to just taking the measurements and having a courier take the order down the road to a factory).
This is a question with a very wide range of possible answers. Given that the cutting and stitching must be of relatively superior quality in comparison to the production of mass market clothing, the Chinese jackets we’re discussing are probably made by enthusiasts in small groups and not the result of grim labour conditions, but you’d need to visit the manufacturer to be sure. I have no idea how the hides would be obtained, or if they are actually Italian/Japanese or not. Good tailors in Shanghai very often work out of their homes or actual stores (as opposed to just taking the measurements and having a courier take the order down the road to a factory).
That may be a problem, I cannot be trusted to state such measurements!
From what I've seen around here, many loungers took a few attempts to be able to provide accurate measurements or proper tweaks for the desired fit. Doing that as a first time with such a jacket is just too risky for me, specially when there's a few other makers that seem to get this right.
I can certainly relate to that. Do you live near somewhere where you could try on one of their jackets? I think that’s probably the best way.
Similar threads
