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Chinese leather jackets

Motocann

One Too Many
Messages
1,698
Location
San Francisco
This is the Chinese leather jackets thread. We know these aren't the highest quality.

I have owned some very high quality jackets. I have eaten Michelin star meals and I also eat fast food. Can we just stop having these debates?
Not a debate. People just having a discussion. I’m always interested in others buying experiences with various leather jackets. For better or worse…
 

Gerald Parel

New in Town
Messages
34
A bit too soon to do a full review of my experience with "Crush On Retro", but I did receive a jacket this week.
The staff (Jimmy) does really care about sending the right size and thoroughly asks for specifics and explains the options you get from measurements, height and weight. That's very positive!
The jacket arrived also pretty fast, less than 2 weeks after it was actually shipped.
The jacket itself has a really nice cut, I mean really nice. It is very flattering, it has room where it should and gets trimmed in strategic areas, wrists and hips.
If it wasn't for "Jimmy's" advices I would have bought a jacket that's 2 sizes 2 big!
Now the aforementioned smell is real. The thing reeks chemical and it's barely bearable! It hangs now for 3 days after some baking soda treatment, but it stills smells like (chemical) death. It does get better though but damn!
The horsehide leather is quite thin for what I am used to, but stiff as expected. Texture feels a bit odd and definitely needs conditioning and care.
Let's see how it evolves in the next weeks.
 

Gerald Parel

New in Town
Messages
34
Interesting… so the size charts they have are totally wrong??
A bit of both me doing it wrong and their western sizing.
I usually wear 40-42 depending on the jacket style and I often overlook the chest size for the shoulder and sleeve length. For that particular jacket, they suggested a 38 or a 40 for either a slim or a relaxed fit, solely based on the chest measurements of the jacket and my body weight and height.
After some exchanges, I came to the conclusion that their size rule starts with the chest.
So they have it right and wrong(ish) on the size but not the actual measurements. It also depends on the jacket style.
The one I bought fits exactly as they described.
Side note: On the smelly department, the odor vanished drastically after one night in a box stuffed and wrapped with newspaper.
 
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Arnold

One of the Regulars
Messages
217
Location
Europe
Side note: On the smelly department, the odor vanished drastically after one night in a box stuffed and wrapped with newspaper.

Is it chrome tanned or vegetable tanned? Asking because someone selling a Jiashi jacket told me it's veg tanned, which surprised me, and from what I've observed personally (comparing a veg tanned Aero with chrome tanned Schott, LW and others) veg tan may have a stronger/ more pungent smell initially.
 

Gerald Parel

New in Town
Messages
34
Is it chrome tanned or vegetable tanned? Asking because someone selling a Jiashi jacket told me it's veg tanned, which surprised me, and from what I've observed personally (comparing a veg tanned Aero with chrome tanned Schott, LW and others) veg tan may have a stronger/ more pungent smell initially.
So this jacket is a "Curphey" (I have a Jiashi jacket coming next week or so). I can't tell if it's veg tanned tbh, but I would really be surprised if it was! The odour vanished after 24 hours in newspaper treatment. I honestly don't know what the smell came from, but it is not the first time I got this from Chinese packages. It isn't a moldy and thrift smell but rather chemical.
 

TartuWolf

One Too Many
Messages
1,320
Location
Tartu, Estonia
I'm getting strong 5* vibes when looking at the Crush on Retro leather jacket catalog.

Very cool that they have such a wide array of styles and even several versions of the same famous style.
I mean they have 6(!) J-24 versions :D

Ranging from 190$ to 370$:
Men's J24 Jacket with Detachable Collar : https://crushonretro.com/products/mens-j24-leather-jacket-with-detachable-collar
1730548188835.png


Men's J-24 Shearling Leather Jacket : https://crushonretro.com/products/mens-j-24-shearling-leather-jacket
1730548247421.png

WTF with the "shearling" in the name?

1950s J-24 Motorcycle Leather Jacket: https://crushonretro.com/products/1950s-j-24-motorcycle-leather-jacket
1730548318084.png


Men's J24 Leather Biker Jacket: https://crushonretro.com/products/mens-j24-leather-biker-jacket
1730548349625.png


Men's J24 Riding Leather Jacket : https://crushonretro.com/products/riding-leather-jacket-for-men-j24-horsehide
1730548403051.png


Men's J-24 Shearling Collar Moto Jacket : https://crushonretro.com/products/mens-j-24-shearling-collar-moto-jacket
1730548445151.png


Pick your (Chinese chemical reeking photocopied Aliexpress-esque) poison!
 

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
916
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
I currently own 4 leather jackets purchased from AE, and have owned 6 from 5-Star. I have sold all but 2 of the 5-Star jackets, and keeping ALL purchased from AE...

NONE of the 4 jackets purchased from AE had an offensive smell. If they did, I would have promptly utilized AE's FREE returns offer (which I have successfully used before) and sent them back... ;)

The Chinese are excellent copier / replicators. Many of the patterns used are directly copied from high-end original maker jackets, some of which are manufactured in Chinese factories.

As for the leather quality.... Quite decent for the $$ IMO. My oldest one in cowhide, purchased around 6-7 years ago is holding up well and shows nice grain. ALL are better than any leather 5-Star used for my previous jackets, with exception of the 1.4mm steer used in one of them.

In fact, I now have jacket number 5 on the way from AE. This one is a copy of the FW La Brea in brown cowhide (EDIT: Just noticed that even the french seams are present and accounted for... ;) ):

FWLB1.png


FWLB2.png


FWLB3.png


FWLB6.png


FWLB7.png


FWLB9.png


FWLB4.png


FWLB8.png


FWLB10.png
 
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Gerald Parel

New in Town
Messages
34
I currently own 4 leather jackets purchased from AE, and have owned 6 from 5-Star. I have sold all but 2 of the 5-Star jackets, and keeping ALL purchased from AE...

NONE of the 4 jackets purchased from AE had an offensive smell. If they did, I would have promptly utilized AE's FREE returns offer (which I have successfully used before) and sent them back... ;)

The Chinese are excellent copier / replicators. Many of the patterns used are directly copied from high-end original maker jackets, some of which are manufactured in Chinese factories.

As for the leather quality.... Quite decent for the $$ IMO. My oldest one in cowhide, purchased around 6-7 years ago is holding up well and shows nice grain. ALL are better than any leather 5-Star used for my previous jackets, with exception of the 1.4mm steer used in one of them.

In fact, I now have jacket number 5 on the way from AE. This one is a copy of the FW La Brea in brown cowhide (EDIT: Just noticed that even the french seams are present and accounted for... ;) ):

View attachment 651961

View attachment 651962

View attachment 651963

View attachment 651966

View attachment 651967

View attachment 651969

View attachment 651964

View attachment 651968

View attachment 651970
I have a jacket coming from AE now. Bought it from "YR!Wholesales" that seems to handle pretty much every jacket I am interested in, including the ones you posted :)
 

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
916
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
I have a jacket coming from AE now. Bought it from "YR!Wholesales" that seems to handle pretty much every jacket I am interested in, including the ones you posted :)

I purchased a jacket from them with no issues last year. I've also had good dealings with Blunt Razor, Tailor Brando, and Al's Store among others...

I've found that I must be patient when looking for vintage style jackets at AE, especially regarding the back lengths for my size / height. Many of them are made to contemporary standards of 25" or longer, when I would prefer the more accurate 24" length in those styles. I was very pleased to find that my latest purchase pictured above is just a bit over 24", and should work well.... :)
 

Gerald Parel

New in Town
Messages
34
I purchased a jacket from them with no issues last year. I've also had good dealings with Blunt Razor, Tailor Brando, and Al's Store among others...

I've found that I must be patient when looking for vintage style jackets at AE, especially regarding the back lengths for my size / height. Many of them are made to contemporary standards of 25" or longer, when I would prefer the more accurate 24" length in those styles. I was very pleased to find that my latest purchase pictured above is just a bit over 24", and should work well.... :)
I’m with you style wise. But if their measurements are correct, that does help
 

TartuWolf

One Too Many
Messages
1,320
Location
Tartu, Estonia
I purchased a jacket from them with no issues last year. I've also had good dealings with Blunt Razor, Tailor Brando, and Al's Store among others...

I've found that I must be patient when looking for vintage style jackets at AE, especially regarding the back lengths for my size / height. Many of them are made to contemporary standards of 25" or longer, when I would prefer the more accurate 24" length in those styles. I was very pleased to find that my latest purchase pictured above is just a bit over 24", and should work well.... :)
What's up with all Tailor Brando jackets having the same measurements irrespective of whether it is a long car coat or short type 2? Where do you get the actual measurements?
 

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
916
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
What's up with all Tailor Brando jackets having the same measurements irrespective of whether it is a long car coat or short type 2? Where do you get the actual measurements?

I also noticed their lack of listed measurements compared to other stores at AE, but they were listed for the J-24 style purchased. I caught a good sale at the time, and accepted a bit over 25" length on that one. I must say that I do like the jacket not entirely riding up over my belt when sitting / bending.. :) The front falls fine, just enough over my belt when standing, and just above the rear pocket tops on my jeans...

Here's Tailor Brando's J-24 listing with shown measurements (I have found AE's listed measurements to be accurate in all the jackets purchased so far):


EDIT: I would just send a message to the Tailor Brando store to inquire about measurements if not listed......
 
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TartuWolf

One Too Many
Messages
1,320
Location
Tartu, Estonia
I also noticed their lack of listed measurements compared to other stores at AE, but they were listed for the J-24 style purchased. I caught a good sale at the time, and accepted a bit over 25" length on that one. I must say that I do like the jacket not entirely riding up over my belt when sitting / bending.. :) The front falls fine, just enough over my belt when standing, and just above the rear pocket tops on my jeans...

Here's Tailor Brando's J-24 listing with shown measurements (I have found AE's listed measurements to be accurate in all the jackets purchased so far):


EDIT: I would just send a message to the Tailor Brando store to inquire about measurements if not listed......
I'm sorry if I'm misunderstanding, but where do you see the measurements listed?
This same generic size chart is listed for all of their jackets, despite them clearly being different length (like the car coat vs type 2 that I mentioned):
1730717074577.png


EDIT:
Okay my bad, now I see:
1730717397497.png

But yeah it's not always listed.
 

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
916
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
I'm sorry if I'm misunderstanding, but where do you see the measurements listed?
This same generic size chart is listed for all of their jackets, despite them clearly being different length (like the car coat vs type 2 that I mentioned):
View attachment 652279

Exactly what I was referring to... The listing that you linked has no specific measurements. However, some at their store do. The J-24 measurements are shown here when clicking the size:

TB Measurements.png


One would need to message Tailor Brando to obtain measurements if not listed....
 

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