Are there high quality thin leather jackets?

[phario]

I own a Schott 654 in Black Cherry which I like, but which I find slightly not too versatile. I'm looking for a high quality but thin jacket that I can wear in certain indoor moments (think like a lobby event or similar) and during British summer months (25-30C).

Style-wise, I like simple clean styles---fitted and short back length, but if it's a good jacket I would almost certainly get it tailored so it fits perfectly.

Basically I want a thin jacket like the sort you can find in a high street shop like Zara, but made of actual quality leather.

It feels a bit contradictory to ask for a high quality leather that is thin enough, but do any of you have any suggestions? Do companies like Aero Leather do something similar?

I am located in the UK.

 

[Mysteryo]

you need the Campus jacket by Mister Freedom:
https://misterfreedom.com/collections/jackets/products/stallion-campus-jacket
but above 25°C, I personnaly don't wear leather.

 

[Doctor Strange]

My "summer weight leather" for 18 years now has been a Wested Raiders in lambskin with an all-cotton lining. It is definitely lighter than the Schott 654 - I've got one of those too - and the Indy design is very flattering, functional, and comfortable. I find I can wear it up into the low 70s over a short sleeve shirt... as long as it's not full blazing sun and/or major humidity.

And I gotta say, Wested offers tremendous bang for the buck. Their stuff may not be "milspec tough", but they are damn nice. Even their customized versions (necessary for that all-cotton lining, and if like me, you always need the sleeve length adjusted) are still around $300, whereas jackets like the Schott 654 have doubled in price over the last decade. And no expensive shipping cost to you, being in the UK.

Anyway, very worth considering!

Custom Made (wested.com)

 

[Monitor]

It feels a bit contradictory to ask for a high quality leather that is thin enough.

It's not, though a lot depends on your definition of thin. Super thin, heavily processed lambskin that was in heavy use several years ago certainly is junk but 0.9mm leather, which is considered a standard lightweight, can certainly be as high quality as anything heavy and will last you just about the same.

That said, Zara, H&M, etc. have vastly improved their leather jackets, not to mention Levi's, Lee, etc. so why not look into these before blowing a grand on something over-hyped. High fashion brands have also immensely improved their leather, too. You can't go wrong by buying fashion anymore, I believed.

If you're in the UK, you've got plenty of options. If money isn't an issue, my first choice would be either Lewis Leathers in, say, lighter-weight sheepskin or Ralph Lauren. There's Belstaff, too.

Go through Farfetch to get an idea of what you dig and you can always ask here for an opinion. This, for instance, sounds like something you'd want.
https://www.farfetch.com/hr/shoppin...ather-jacket-item-16725883.aspx?storeid=10952

 

[Marc mndt]

Y2 leather lightweight horsehide single riders

 

[nick123]

Probably not the style you’re after but I wholly recommend Eastman’s A-1 in cape skin. I believe their Hartmann Luftwaffe jacket is made from it too.

You may also want to check out Headwind Mfg. for more cape skin ideas.

 

[phario]

Lots of great suggestions from people and I'll want to comb through them when I get back home. But a quick response:

Probably not the style you’re after but I wholly recommend Eastman’s A-1 in cape skin. I believe their Hartmann Luftwaffe jacket is made from it too.

You may also want to check out Headwind Mfg. for more cape skin ideas.

I do like that A1 by the way! But I think for indoor wear the largish pockets might not be the best. That said I wanted to comment that their description

This A-1 really is a pleasure to wear, too, being light in weight and extremely flexible, feeling as if you have nothing much more on than a cardigan. It is an ideal jacket for spring, summer and early fall, which can be worn upon entering a building and not making one feel the need to remove their jacket.

Was exactly what I was trying to describe.

 

[Marc mndt]

Lots of great suggestions from people and I'll want to comb through them when I get back home. But a quick response:



I do like that A1 by the way! But I think for indoor wear the largish pockets might not be the best. That said I wanted to comment that their description



Was exactly what I was trying to describe.

The capeskin is indeed perfect for warmer weather, but I'm not sure I'd wear it indoors.

 

[phario]

The capeskin is indeed perfect for warmer weather, but I'm not sure I'd wear it indoors.

View attachment 344778

That's a great look. Is that the A1?

 

[Monitor]

But y'know, it's my experience that once it's too hot for a jacket of any weight that isn't warmly lined, leather thickness no longer makes any difference how you'll feel. Lightest lambskin will be as hot as the thickest cowhide so be careful. 30 degrees Celsius and I can't wear a jacket.

 

[Marc mndt]

That's a great look. Is that the A1?

Yep, the Eastman A1

 

[phario]

But y'know, it's my experience that once it's too hot for a jacket of any weight that isn't warmly lined, leather thickness no longer makes any difference how you'll feel. Lightest lambskin will be as hot as the thickest cowhide so be careful. 30 degrees Celsius and I can't wear a jacket.

Thank you for your response above. I was going to ask if you knew what the thickness of the Scott 654 is and how it compares to the 1.0mm leather you mentioned.

I realised after I wrote it that the estimate of 25-30C weather was silly since that's shirt weather. I mean cardigan or sweater or blazer temperature range.

 

[jonesy86]

I spoke with Theodoros about a year ago about his lightest leather. He said that his normal goatskin is 1.1 to 1.3 mm, but that he could have the tannery thin it down to .8 to .9.

Thedi's burnished goat skin looks really cool.

 

[nick123]

Lots of great suggestions from people and I'll want to comb through them when I get back home. But a quick response:



I do like that A1 by the way! But I think for indoor wear the largish pockets might not be the best. That said I wanted to comment that their description



Was exactly what I was trying to describe.

have no fear about the pockets. They’re much too small for about anything. Purely for looks or a lighter or whatnot. Definitely not a jacket to choose if you need pockets.
Though I think cape skin is a good route to pursue.

 

[jonesy86]

have no fear about the pockets. They’re much too small for about anything. Purely for looks or a lighter or whatnot. Definitely not a jacket to choose if you need pockets.
Though I think cape skin is a good route to pursue.

A capeskin Californian civilian aviator cross zip would be fun.

 

[dubpynchon]

Y2 leather lightweight horsehide single riders

View attachment 344755

Man that is nice...

 

[phario]

Though I think cape skin is a good route to pursue

I hadn't known about it before today!
I had a quick google search but was there a good company for cape skin jackets in the UK? From what I could see, most of the recommendations, like Eastman, are US-based.

I need to look at cape skin jackets after some significant wear. I wonder how it compares to light cowskin or horse hide like the Y2 jacket posted above.

Y2 leather lightweight horsehide single riders

View attachment 344755

 

[jonesy86]

I hadn't known about it before today!
I had a quick google search but was there a good company for cape skin jackets in the UK? From what I could see, most of the recommendations, like Eastman, are US-based.

I need to look at cape skin jackets after some significant wear. I wonder how it compares to light cowskin or horse hide like the Y2 jacket posted above.

Eastman is in the UK.

https://www.eastmanleather.com/germ...tmann-wwii-german-flying-jacket-capeskin.html

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Pick something up from the Santa Croce Leather School, Florence.

Here are their current offerings. I did not check out all of them, but those I did were all lambskin.

https://scuoladelcuoio.it/en/84-jackets

Here is a general article about the Leather School:

https://anamericaninrome.com/wp/2020/01/leather-school-florence/

 

[jonesy86]

I asked Shawn at Five Star for his lighter jackets and had 2 different Freewheeler's Sunset copies made, one in light goat, around 1 mm, and another in light lamb around .8mm. The goat drapes much nicer.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/five-star-leather-jackets.101762/page-4

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/five-star-leather-jackets.101762/page-10