Budget A-1 jacket

[Blackadder]

Ok, I've gotta ask. According to the automatic translation from my browser the Taobao listing is described as "BRONSON vicious dog domestic vegetable-tanned goatskin A1 flight jacket A-1A-2 Men's leather jacket"

Vicious dog?

Edit: Never mind, I'll bet it means "dogfight."

Vicious dog is 100% correct. Bronson is the English brand name. Chinese brand name is 惡犬 which means vicious dog.

 

[Blackadder]

Dogfight! Of course, yeah, that makes much more sense. Those auto translations can be tricky. I even tried putting some of the other text in original Chinese into other internet translators and didn't get much clearer than Google translate. I was trying to decipher the vendor notes about the tanning process and leather:

"Another friend made sheepskin taste slightly larger, because we are using the method does not destroy the texture of leather processing organization to try to restore their own style leather, sheepskin taste is normal and does not meet a friend to take the dry cleaners leather processing, about 100 yuan."
另外有朋友提出羊皮的味道略大，因为我们是用不破坏肌理组织的方法去加工皮革，尽量还原皮革本身的风貌，有羊皮味道属于正常，不适应的朋友可以拿去皮衣干洗店处理，大约100元左右。

I think the last part is about how this is real leather that smells like leather and don't take it to the cleaners if it smells like leather when it arrives!

"Tanneries professional production, die cut pieces, one day only cut a few pieces, one piece to do, only to ensure quality."
专业皮革厂制作，开刀模裁片，一天只能裁几件，一件件的做，方可确保品质。

In the end, the info from the taobao and aliexpress web pages led me to conclude that this is 2.5 oz (1.0-1.1 mm) vegetable tanned goatskin leather. Not too shabby!

I chatted with the aliexpress.com seller, who was very nice, easy to talk with, and informed me that only the size M and XXL in Dark Brown were still available. He said that they expect more to be available in September or October, and that the price should remain the same as long as the material costs don't increase.

Last night I found a jacket at home with a 20.5" pit to pit and discovered I could, in fact, wear a thick sweater beneath it. It was just about at the limit, but I like my jackets pretty snug.

So...I placed an order for the last size M they had, and my order is currently processing! (side note: aliexpress.com is on many cashback sites, so hopefully I'll get some $$ back)

I'm so thankful to everyone on this thread for the info and pics, and I'll be sure to contribute once my A-1 has arrived!

P.S. I think I found the jacket on which this Bronson was based/took inspiration, since seal brown with olive drab is somewhat unique. Check out the Real McCoy A-1 from their fall 2014 line: http://www.superdenim.com/the-real-...ype-a-1-mfg-co-leather-jacket-seal-brown.html

You are right about customers' complaint regarding the smell. The seller explains that the smell is due to the process tanning etc and it is natural to have leather smell. Anyone who can't stand it can take it to the dry cleaner. The cleaning costs about a hundred RMB. LOL.

 

[Blackadder]

when i buy chinese i have to order 2XL - which equals 44 - most of the interesting stuff i'd be after (like the A1) isn't available in my size in China anyway which i hardly understand coz they are more an Export-country and after 7 years livin' in China i'm pretty sure there is no real intensive domestic-market for such Kind of garment

44 is pretty hard to get but impossible to get anything larger

so far i didn't had any real dissappointments when ordering something and as per my Impression there is a "Evolution" in the Quality of the stuff they produce

if the A1 would be available in my size i'd definately order

The Chinese exports mostly OEM stuffs for global name brand. The Chinese repro brands merely provides to the locals a cheaper alternative because the imports are very expensive and/or they are not cut for Chinese. These are small scale operations. The only brand that has the foreign markets in sight from the beginning is Red Cloud and Red Cloud has its own factory.

 

[dinomartino1]

[QUOTE

I chatted with the aliexpress.com seller, who was very nice, easy to talk with, and informed me that only the size M and XXL in Dark Brown were still available. He said that they expect more to be available in September or October, and that the price should remain the same as long as the material costs don't increase.

Last night I found a jacket at home with a 20.5" pit to pit and discovered I could, in fact, wear a thick sweater beneath it. It was just about at the limit, but I like my jackets pretty snug.

So...I placed an order for the last size M they had, and my order is currently processing! (side note: aliexpress.com is on many cashback sites, so hopefully I'll get some $$ back)

[/QUOTE]

MQ7 the jacket comes via DHL courier so it arrives arrives pretty fast once they send it 4- 5 days to Australia.

 

[McQ7]

MQ7 the jacket comes via DHL courier so it arrives arrives pretty fast once they send it 4- 5 days to Australia.

I hope so--that's quick!


Three years ago I bought an Edwards LP style guitar (amazing, by the way) from a Japanese seller who shipped it using EMS and the guitar arrived 6 days later via United States Postal Service (regular mail). I had paid on a Friday and it got to me the following Thursday. I was impressed.

 

[McQ7]

Wow, I just got a message from the AliExpress seller, AL Jeans, saying that he had a light color size medium come back in stock from a buyer who exchanged it for a large. The light color is now on its way to me, and he said it should get here hopefully by July 28.

I had chatted with the seller a few days ago saying I really, really wanted the light color. It was a hard decision to place the dark version, and I did it in part to make sure I had that jacket before October. I knew I would like either color, but deep down preferred the light color. I'm so impressed that the seller thought to remember our conversation and set aside that light version for me.

The light brown version definitely leans more traditional and more similar to the higher end Eastman and Goodwear color versions, I think. The dark brown version gives off a more contemporary, custom vibe, in my opinion. Both are such good color combos, really. Since we've already had pics posted of the dark version, it should be interesting to have the light version represented here, too.

Here's the side by side of the light vs dark brown from the AL Jeans AliEpress web page:

 

[dinomartino1]

Also some might have snaps for the bottom or two buttons.
Snaps are probably more durable, those buttons at the bottom will get the most strain when done up, but I like the older look of buttons.
Best to ask if you have a preference.

 

[McQ7]

Also some might have snaps for the bottom or two buttons.
Snaps are probably more durable, those buttons at the bottom will get the most strain when done up, but I like the older look of buttons.
Best to ask if you have a preference.

That's a good point--I had assumed that they had gone with buttons for this latest run based on your pics on page 2 and those of mothfighter on page 1, but it is possible I guess that the light color might have buttons instead. I, too, prefer the look of the buttons and would be happy to luck out with them!

Speaking of, I realize there is a real functional advantage to fastening the knit waistband. However, knowing how I wear cardigans it wouldn't surprise me if I ended up leaving the knit undone at the bottom and buttoned only the leather.

 

[bn1966]

The A-1 is like a leather cardigan

 

[bn1966]

Wow, I just got a message from the AliExpress seller, AL Jeans, saying that he had a light color size medium come back in stock from a buyer who exchanged it for a large. The light color is now on its way to me, and he said it should get here hopefully by July 28.

I had chatted with the seller a few days ago saying I really, really wanted the light color. It was a hard decision to place the dark version, and I did it in part to make sure I had that jacket before October. I knew I would like either color, but deep down preferred the light color. I'm so impressed that the seller thought to remember our conversation and set aside that light version for me.

The light brown version definitely leans more traditional and more similar to the higher end Eastman and Goodwear color versions, I think. The dark brown version gives off a more contemporary, custom vibe, in my opinion. Both are such good color combos, really. Since we've already had pics posted of the dark version, it should be interesting to have the light version represented here, too.

Here's the side by side of the light vs dark brown from the AL Jeans AliEpress web page:

The lighter version would be my choice too..looks very similar to my ELC jacket.

 

[Blackadder]

If I remember correctly, Bronson made their prototype A-1 using two types of hides, the russet in cowhide and the seal brown or russet in goat. The cowhide costs a bit more. When I bought mine, they did not have any photo of the russet goat but in stead ask buyer to look at the russet cow for reference.

 

[mothfighter]

[QUAway fOTE="xmr, post: 2115213, member: 24594"]Dinomartino, could you pist a fit pic?

Away from home for a week but while try to post a pic
when I get back.
Mothfighters pic on page 1 of the thread is a 40.

The jackets come inside the parcel in a clear bronson plastic bag, there is one spare large and one spare collar button, they are loose and not easy to see, I only saw them when I was throwing out the bag.

Thanks to mothfighter for reviving the thread and blackadder for the original post, this is the best bargain jacket for the price I have ever bought.[/QUOTE]
Glad to see you like the jacket as much as I do !!

 

[the_funkymonsieur]

Looks great and especially for that price.

 

[l0fielectronic]

I thought it only fair I should post some photos as I only ended up buying this jacket because of this thread.

Less a week delivery door to door to the UK.

This was the XXL and is marked as a 44. I am a 44 in suit jackets and this fits me, but is a little snug. I thought when I first tried it on it was going to be too small but after wearing it a little I think I might get along with it. It came with the poppers at the bottom rather than the buttons as pictured online and this was the darker colour.

Its not a thick leather, does feel maybe a little plastic like from the coating, struggling for a description more than that. It maybe feels a bit like a cheapish leather sofa material.

For the price though I'm very happy with it. I always liked the dark blue A1 one of the Japanese makers brought out but thankfully that sold out as it was well beyond my budget and likely not in my size. I did see Aero have just posted a jacket very similar to that one. While again that is pushing the budget for me, if I really get on with this one you never know...

I'll try and get a couple of fit pics tomorrow if I get a chance.

 

[xmr]

Doesn't look cheap at all

 

[Dirk Wainscotting]

Goatskin? Probably made from dead cats. I don't want to imagine the conditions these are made under, for the goats or the workers.

 

[Technonut]

Goatskin? Probably made from dead cats. I don't want to imagine the conditions these are made under, for the goats or the workers.

I guess kinda the same thing could be said of goatskin sourced from India.. Which happens to be a popular hide choice used by a few high-end jacket makers familiar in these parts .

 

[wild_balls]

Well, there have to be some large cats then!!!

 

[AdeeC]

From what I have read, all the best goatskin comes from India or Pakistan these days.

 

[Technonut]

From what I have read, all the best goatskin comes from India or Pakistan these days.

Quite true.. Some of the Indian goat I've seen / owned is a dead-ringer for hides used in the 1940's, hence, it's popularity. It just kind of bugs me that folks will carry-on regarding the conditions, child-labor, animal-cruelty in China, while much of the same thing is going on in India, Pakistan, some of South America, etc.. All while posting up pics of their $1,000.00+ jackets made of hides which came from those places.

I don't delude myself, or I wouldn't (couldn't) own a scrap of anything made from animal products. I feel that there is not much of a line between animal cruelty, and how Westerners treat the countless millions of cows, sheep, horses, etc, in our own countries. IMO, there is no humane way to kill an animal. Quite simply, they are wholesale slaughtered for our benefit. I like to eat meat, and I like leather goods.. I just wish they didn't have to be obtained by killing. It's sad, but one has to make their own personal choices when wanting to consume those products.

Here's some pics of Indian tanneries: