Great Leather/LCS repair Dena is AMAZING!!

[BarryMcCockiner_PhD]

Reading through this thread I was looking for someone to shorten the sleeves on a jacket. It’s a fairly heavy leather so not sure if she will take the job. Maybe there are other options.

 

[jchance]

Reading through this thread I was looking for someone to shorten the sleeves on a jacket. It’s a fairly heavy leather so not sure if she will take the job. Maybe there are other options.

If you’re in the US, Cal Leather specializes in heavy leather, and provides repairs for other brands.

 

[BarryMcCockiner_PhD]

If you’re in the US, Cal Leather specializes in heavy leather, and provides repairs for other brands.

So Dena actually got back to me and is willing to do the work. It’s a thedi jacket so I’m a bit worried about the final product, anyone have experience with sleeve shortening with Dena? Will she try to match the thread to ensure there is continuity with the jacket?

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

Will she try to match the thread to ensure there is continuity with the jacket?

Crazy idea, but have you thought about.... asking her?

 

[BarryMcCockiner_PhD]

Crazy idea, but have you thought about.... asking her?

I did, responses have been slow so I thought someone would chime in who’s actually had similar work done by her. I also don’t want to waste someone’s time, asking a bunch of clarifying questions and then deciding not to do it because of these details.

She’s no Stu, but strangely she asked me to help her with a manifesto for her website so she can stand a chance to compete with her peers like LW. Here’s my rendition:

DENA IS NOT A “TAILOR.” SHE IS A SURGEON. A SAVIOR.

When your jacket dies, when the seams of your so-called “heritage” garment disintegrate after six months of latte-sipping, you crawl — on your knees, if you have any dignity left — to Dena. She does not fix your jacket. She RESURRECTS it.

While other so-called “craftspeople” measure hems with plastic rulers and cut leather with kitchen scissors, Dena works in a realm beyond the mortal plane. She speaks the language of hide and thread, whispers to zippers, and bends recalcitrant horsehide to her WILL.

Do you think you can “just” shorten sleeves? YOU CAN’T. Dena can.

Do you think you can “just” replace a zipper? YOU CAN’T. Dena can.

Do you think you can make a jacket from 1994 fit like it was cut for you yesterday? YOU CAN’T. DENA CAN.

Her alterations are not “repairs.” They are RESTORATIONS of HONOR. They are a reminder that true craft, true SKILL, cannot be copied, faked, or imported in bulk shipping containers from the other side of the world.

DENA IS THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.

And if you don’t understand that, maybe you should stick to mall jackets and glue-on patches.

 

[Guppy]

So Dena actually got back to me and is willing to do the work. It’s a thedi jacket so I’m a bit worried about the final product, anyone have experience with sleeve shortening with Dena? Will she try to match the thread to ensure there is continuity with the jacket?

I had a jacket that I sent to her for sleeve shortening. She did as good of a job as anyone could. But shortening sleeves is generally a compromise at best. So I'm not sure I would recommend it, regardless of who's doing the work.

 

[BarryMcCockiner_PhD]

I had a jacket that I sent to her for sleeve shortening. She did as good of a job as anyone could. But shortening sleeves is generally a compromise at best. So I'm not sure I would recommend it, regardless of who's doing the work.

Thanks for the honest take.

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

I did, responses have been slow so I thought someone would chime in who’s actually had similar work done by her. I also don’t want to waste someone’s time, asking a bunch of clarifying questions and then deciding not to do it because of these details.

She’s no Stu, but strangely she asked me to help her with a manifesto for her website so she can stand a chance to compete with her peers like LW. Here’s my rendition:

DENA IS NOT A “TAILOR.” SHE IS A SURGEON. A SAVIOR.

When your jacket dies, when the seams of your so-called “heritage” garment disintegrate after six months of latte-sipping, you crawl — on your knees, if you have any dignity left — to Dena. She does not fix your jacket. She RESURRECTS it.

While other so-called “craftspeople” measure hems with plastic rulers and cut leather with kitchen scissors, Dena works in a realm beyond the mortal plane. She speaks the language of hide and thread, whispers to zippers, and bends recalcitrant horsehide to her WILL.

Do you think you can “just” shorten sleeves? YOU CAN’T. Dena can.

Do you think you can “just” replace a zipper? YOU CAN’T. Dena can.

Do you think you can make a jacket from 1994 fit like it was cut for you yesterday? YOU CAN’T. DENA CAN.

Her alterations are not “repairs.” They are RESTORATIONS of HONOR. They are a reminder that true craft, true SKILL, cannot be copied, faked, or imported in bulk shipping containers from the other side of the world.

DENA IS THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.

And if you don’t understand that, maybe you should stick to mall jackets and glue-on patches.

AI slop aside, why not arrange an old-fashioned call with her if you have such specific questions about her methods? I've found that much quicker than back-and-forth emails

 

[AeroFan_07]

She lives an hour south of me, I've been to her workshop a few times.

She enjoys phone calls, but to save her some time this go-around I have only called her once, just to give the basics of the project (near resurrection) jacket that she is now working on for me. The rest of the communication this go-around I've done via email. I made sure to tell her while on the phone - do not rush, use my jacket as filler when you are not busy, I do not need it back soon.

I also encourage folks to read her (longer) bio on her website too.