Johnson Leather Jacket

[gainghiskhan]

The tannery no longer makes the heavy goathide they've used, so the decision is a bit easier now . These are the samples they sent my way. top-bottom: naked cowhide, Kampelli Cowhide, Obsidian Cowhide, Phantom Horsehide (that I scuffed up a bunch with sandpaper, the bottom edge is untouched). The two pebbled cowhides look nice, but don't really play with light or creasing in as interesting a way. The obsidian looks a bit too uniformly textured as well. De-shined phantom it is!

 

[Aloysius]

The tannery no longer makes the heavy goathide they've used, so the decision is a bit easier now . These are the samples they sent my way. top-bottom: naked cowhide, Kampelli Cowhide, Obsidian Cowhide, Phantom Horsehide (that I scuffed up a bunch with sandpaper, the bottom edge is untouched). The two pebbled cowhides look nice, but don't really play with light or creasing in as interesting a way. The obsidian looks a bit too uniformly textured as well. De-shined phantom it is!

Don't de-shine it. Let that happen on its own. Glossy horse/cow hide looks so good!

 

[red devil]

Don't de-shine it. Let that happen on its own. Glossy horse/cow hide looks so good!

Agreed!

 

[postman10mm]

The tannery no longer makes the heavy goathide they've used, so the decision is a bit easier now . These are the samples they sent my way. top-bottom: naked cowhide, Kampelli Cowhide, Obsidian Cowhide, Phantom Horsehide (that I scuffed up a bunch with sandpaper, the bottom edge is untouched). The two pebbled cowhides look nice, but don't really play with light or creasing in as interesting a way. The obsidian looks a bit too uniformly textured as well. De-shined phantom it is!

Is the Obsidian cow struck-through, or does it have a brown, tea core?

 

[gainghiskhan]

Don't de-shine it. Let that happen on its own. Glossy horse/cow hide looks so good!

I'm just not personally a fan of the higher sheen. I agree that it looks nice, but I'd like the jacket more if it was a little more matte to start with.

Is the Obsidian cow struck-through, or does it have a brown, tea core?

It's struck through, same with the other samples. They were all pretty solidly black, maybe a charcoal base at the lightest.

 

[ProfG]

I'm actually in a similar boat - been thinking of commissioning a jacket in either black cowhide or Phantom horsehide. I handled the Phantom recently in the store and loved it, it felt very premium. But it is a bit too shiny for me. Also, I like the pebbled/grainy texture of cow. Somehow it screams "leather" to me! Wish they had a heavy cow in 4-5oz weight.

 

[gainghiskhan]

I'm actually in a similar boat - been thinking of commissioning a jacket in either black cowhide or Phantom horsehide. I handled the Phantom recently in the store and loved it, it felt very premium. But it is a bit too shiny for me. Also, I like the pebbled/grainy texture of cow. Somehow it screams "leather" to me! Wish they had a heavy cow in 4-5oz weight.

Yeah, I finally decided on a matte'd down Phantom and started the order. Just seemed much nicer than the obsidian, texture and grain-wise, but the two pebbled swatches I got would've also made very nice jackets.

Wish I could've checked out the store in-person, but I'm on the other side of the US. They decided to do a cloth mock-up jacket for fit adjustment, which I'm really happy about. I gave them a pretty simple list of modifications, just their trocadero model with some hardware material/color changes, pocket location adjustments, added a hanging loop at the collar, and the custom measurements. Can't wait!

 

[AttemptingToStyleUp]

Yeah, I finally decided on a matte'd down Phantom and started the order. Just seemed much nicer than the obsidian, texture and grain-wise, but the two pebbled swatches I got would've also made very nice jackets.

Wish I could've checked out the store in-person, but I'm on the other side of the US. They decided to do a cloth mock-up jacket for fit adjustment, which I'm really happy about. I gave them a pretty simple list of modifications, just their trocadero model with some hardware material/color changes, pocket location adjustments, added a hanging loop at the collar, and the custom measurements. Can't wait!

Which style did you go for? When I checked with them a month ago, they said their lead time was about 3 months. Has that changed/improved?

 

[ProfG]

Yeah, I finally decided on a matte'd down Phantom and started the order. Just seemed much nicer than the obsidian, texture and grain-wise, but the two pebbled swatches I got would've also made very nice jackets.

Wish I could've checked out the store in-person, but I'm on the other side of the US. They decided to do a cloth mock-up jacket for fit adjustment, which I'm really happy about. I gave them a pretty simple list of modifications, just their trocadero model with some hardware material/color changes, pocket location adjustments, added a hanging loop at the collar, and the custom measurements. Can't wait!

Do you know how they are able to reduce the shininess of the Phantom? Do they sand it or something? I would be worried about harming the leather...

 

[gainghiskhan]

Do you know how they are able to reduce the shininess of the Phantom? Do they sand it or something? I would be worried about harming the leather...

I mangled some of the swatch just for testing, but it took only a few seconds of light pressure with 3000 grit sandpaper to dull down the top coat. it's a leather they seem to have worked with a lot, and I don't have any concerns about them using drastic methods that would damage it (plus I don't want to nag them with any more emails lol), but I'm sure they'd go into specifics if you asked.

Which style did you go for? When I checked with them a month ago, they said their lead time was about 3 months. Has that changed/improved?

Mine is gonna be in their trocadero pattern. They took the basic model off of their site, but there's still a version you can look at on their paradise garage section. They told me they were aiming for 10 weeks for the mock-up, maybe sooner considering that the modifications were simpler.

 

[nirvana42]

Just a heads up JL is having a president's day/weekend sale. I would suggest calling or emailing them to ask for options not shown on their website.

 

[ProfG]

Does anyone have a Phantom horsehide jacket which has been worn quite a bit? I'm thinking of commissioning a jacket in this leather and I want to see how it ages.

 

[X83]

Phantom

 

[ProfG]

Phantom View attachment 770021

Thanks for the pic, that's an awesome jacket. How long have you had it? If you get a moment, would you mind posting a close-up pic of the grain?

 

[X83]

Thanks for the pic, that's an awesome jacket. How long have you had it? If you get a moment, would you mind posting a close-up pic of the grain?

I’ve had it for about two years i try to put it in the rotation but it gets harder with time due to collecting jackets

 

[X83]

Thanks for the pic, that's an awesome jacket. How long have you had it? If you get a moment, would you mind posting a close-up pic of the grain?

Just took these hope this helps to be completely transparent. I’ve only warned his jacket 15 times or so.

 

[ProfG]

Just took these hope this helps to be completely transparent. I’ve only warned his jacket 15 times or so. View attachment 770584 View attachment 770585 View attachment 770586

Wow, thanks so much for these pictures! Actually, they make me even more interested in Phantom - I love the graining! Has the shine worn down at all?

 

[X83]

Wow, thanks so much for these pictures! Actually, they make me even more interested in Phantom - I love the graining! Has the shine worn down at all?

I’m going to say no but I’m sure it will with enough wear I just got a jl custom that came in that has more shine then this it’s a vantum steer hide

 

[ProfG]

I’m going to say no but I’m sure it will with enough wear I just got a jl custom that came in that has more shine then this it’s a vantum steer hide

What is the vantum like? Don't think I've seen it.

 

[X83]

What is the vantum like? Don't think I've seen it.