Chinese leather jackets

[Canuck Panda]

I just reinstalled Taobao app on my phone after seeing a Simons jacket on Youtube.

Any one here has bought one of these recent production jackets? Is the leather majorly improved like he claims or just marketing?

This is the first time I see them using Waldes repro zippers. Is the production the same or just photo using one sample?

 

[MickeyPunch]

The jacket I posted earlier in this thread was from Chrus on Retro and didn’t have any issue. YMMV.

 

[Gerald Parel]

If you want direct contact with one of the makers search razor_502 on Instagram.
I asked him if he is ok with posting it here and he is .

Ah great! Tailor Brando is one of the AE shops I want to order from.
That said Tailor Brando on AE sells different "brands". Is it just one manufacturer that labels its items depending on the tier?

 

[Gerald Parel]

I just reinstalled Taobao app on my phone after seeing a Simons jacket on Youtube.

Any one here has bought one of these recent production jackets? Is the leather majorly improved like he claims or just marketing?
View attachment 660288
View attachment 660289

This is the first time I see them using Waldes repro zippers. Is the production the same or just photo using one sample?

I bought the Jiashi version on Aliexpress, from C&C Factory Store.
No foul odour, a slim fit (I was expecting something a bit roomier) but a good fit. Good leather as well, overall very well made, solid.
Terrible messaging with the seller when I requested an exchange for a size larger.
The seller does NOT want returns, play the blame game, and ended up saying that the returned items were destroyed automatically. Whether it's true or not, I don't know, but they should specify it on their ad one way or another.
In the end they gave me back 40% of the price for me to keep the jacket and extra significant reduction if I buy from them again.
We came to a good deal. Part of the rudeness from their end comes from the translation, I am sure, as I dealt with Chinese clients before for my job. So all in all, an OK experience.

The jacket has a SLIM FIT, that should be specified. In the end it still fits good as they expected but not as I expected. I will wait for spring to see if I really like the jacket or not.
XXL is a 40

(I attached a funny bit of the messages from the seller - to which I almost answered: "You must be very weak" but ultimately refrained from it knowing the translation makes them sound terribly rude)

 

[Gerald Parel]

Here's a bit of my short experience with Chinese online stores:
Crush On Retro:
+Good communication and customer service
-Just another middle man, priced higher than Aliexpress sellers, bad smell on the 3 items bought.

C&C Factory Store:
+Good Prices, accurate photo/product, offers significant reductions in disputes, no moldy smell
-Missing infos, awkward communication, do not accept returns.

YR Clothes Factory Store:
+Good Prices, accurate photo/product, offers significant reductions in disputes, no smell at all
-Not so keen on exchanges, but alright.

AnnualRing Store:
+Fast shipping, reliable, accurate, no smell

Bronson MFG:
I have no negative with this store. I buy from them since 2019 and I would buy exclusively from them if they had the items I am looking for.

Also, based on what I ordered:
-Curphey leather, Jiashi:
XL: 38
XXL: 40-42
XXXL: 44-46
-Red Tornado jeans sizes are exactly as Levis.

Bronson sizes are kinda odd, but I usually take 1 size higher than their model.

Curphey leather: the one jacket I bought while having a really nice flattering pattern/cut and nice design overall, had a very poor looking paper thin "horsehide" material - what I believe some of you would describe as the "Ikea sofa leather". I'd clearly stay away from it, even if this is based on one experience.

Jiashi: 2 jackets, good quality, thick leather. It does smell, but smells like the actual leather they're supposed to be made of.

 

[PilotJens]

Ah great! Tailor Brando is one of the AE shops I want to order from.
That said Tailor Brando on AE sells different "brands". Is it just one manufacturer that labels its items depending on the tier?

Tailor Brando is a new name of Cidu or the company behind many brands .Cidu is a local Chinese brand and Tailor Brando is supposed to be for the market outside of China .
They currently still sell stock they have in inventory with other brand names attached to it .
Once the new brand gets established more and more items will carry the name and packaging.

There seem to be a few sellers or brands that steal their pictures and send lower quality "reproductions" of their product line.
Some may be advertised with repro zips like talon or even niche zips like German riri zippers and then come with generic zips and embossed leathers .
Similarly to the beginning of 5* where a lot of Pakistani makers stole pictures of the real thing ("because apparently everyone does it") and you could buy 100 different badly made jackets in the same style

 

[alexandria636]

Ah great! Tailor Brando is one of the AE shops I want to order from.
That said Tailor Brando on AE sells different "brands". Is it just one manufacturer that labels its items depending on the tier?

I've bought a few of their jackets, the leather is odorless, vegetable tanned leather makes up the majority of the products, Dylan says almost all of the products are full grain leather, delivery is very fast, three of the jackets were shipped via ups, and one of the jackets I received on the 8th day of purchase, I even suspected they have a warehouse in the US ......

Dylan is a very patient seller, I had a question about the size chart, but if you ask him for the size, he will patiently list out the chest, shoulder width, length and sleeve length (Chinese prefer to use centimeter as unit).

He even got someone almost my height and weight to try them on and took pictures for me! That's why I love dealing with him, he would measure the jacket with a ruler and take pictures (one thing that impressed me was that he used inch ruler to measure me so that I could read the measurements), and he would also take pictures of the details of the jacket for me!

This is a super 5 star seller, the only regret is that they don't have a private order service at the moment .

 

[bootsonatrain]

I have been buying from TaoBao for over 5 years and I’m offering a shopping service for leather jackets (and boots) sold on TaoBao. I will work with you to choose and purchase the item and have them shipped to you.

Small service fee included. Hit me up if you are interested.

 

[alexandria636]

I have been buying from TaoBao for over 5 years and I’m offering a shopping service for leather jackets (and boots) sold on TaoBao. I will work with you to choose and purchase the item and have them shipped to you.

Small service fee included. Hit me up if you are interested.

Sorry, I have no interest in this, I also have Taobao, I compared the prices, according to the price I bought from Taobao and paid extra for shipping, I prefer to buy directly from their store, and there is no return guarantee from Taobao purchasing agents

 

[Technonut]

Three of the Chinese leather jackets I currently own have material origin export tags showing that the cowhide was sourced from Italy (two of which were not even advertised as such in the AE listings), including the FW La Brea copy posted above, and the cowhide is indeed decent garment quality IMO.... Not bonded, cardboardy, or cheap-feeling to the hand in the least.. Well-tanned IMO

Regardless of whether the material origin export tag showing the leather as being sourced from Italy is legit or not in my Chinese FW La Brea copy, I'm VERY pleased with it....

After wearing the jacket almost exclusively since it's arrival, the leather is getting very supple, along with some nice popping grain and creasing. This jacket has by far the best cowhide out of all Chinese leather jackets I've purchased to date:

 

[Canuck Panda]

Is Gizemo on Taobao? If so, which store?

How does Gizemo compare to RTWB? Are they the same thing?

Thanks.

 

[martin073]

I guess UPS is not their ultimate service .....

I purchased their jacket on December 15th and Dylan said I was a regular customer and to give me a different service and experience.

He actually used DHL.

I live in Portland and the package took 28 hours from shipment to receipt.

I love this store so much.

View attachment 2..jpg View attachment 3.jpg

I've bought a few of their jackets, the leather is odorless, vegetable tanned leather makes up the majority of the products, Dylan says almost all of the products are full grain leather, delivery is very fast, three of the jackets were shipped via ups, and one of the jackets I received on the 8th day of purchase, I even suspected they have a warehouse in the US ......

Dylan is a very patient seller, I had a question about the size chart, but if you ask him for the size, he will patiently list out the chest, shoulder width, length and sleeve length (Chinese prefer to use centimeter as unit).

He even got someone almost my height and weight to try them on and took pictures for me! That's why I love dealing with him, he would measure the jacket with a ruler and take pictures (one thing that impressed me was that he used inch ruler to measure me so that I could read the measurements), and he would also take pictures of the details of the jacket for me!

This is a super 5 star seller, the only regret is that they don't have a private order service at the moment .

 

[Canuck Panda]

I also have two packages coming from Taobao sellers. Gizemo M43 whole kit include hood and liner. And a N2b from RTWB. Not sure how the international leg of delivery works now, I will soon find out...

 

[Gerald Parel]

I guess UPS is not their ultimate service .....

I purchased their jacket on December 15th and Dylan said I was a regular customer and to give me a different service and experience.

He actually used DHL.

I live in Portland and the package took 28 hours from shipment to receipt.

I love this store so much. View attachment 665627 View attachment 665629 View attachment 665630

The fastest I had was 10 days. And that included the time between the purchase and the shipping. German customs package checks also take random times going from 1 day to 2 weeks, no explanation.

 

[Gerald Parel]

I just received an "Aliexpress" A-2, Jiashi brand, sort of a V.HILTS replica if there is such thing. I am truly shocked by the good quality of it! Really thick leather, solid zipper, NO BAD ODOUR. It will need some break in and possible shrinkage (my bad, I took one size too big - used to end up with snug stuff from China) But dayum! It beats the last A2 jacket I bought from a reputable shop in Europe, by far!
Cherry on top, I bought it during the 11.11 week, so got it real cheap!

Update on this.
I ended up asking for an exchange and it cost me! Something worth mentioning is that while they do say "free return, exchange" It isn't free. I paid for the shipping (45 Euros) and the seller make you buy some sorta coupon (that is the item you truly want - not the girl in hot pants on a motorbike that is on the picture) with the promise they'll pay you back the full amount. This coupon has a value of 50 Euros + shipping 35 Euros, and it's made to avoid custom issues. While it does work a charm, there are Aliexpress fees on each transaction. So that is 20USD more that I lost.
Ultimately, I have paid the difference I saved from the 11.11 sales in return/exchange.
Was it worth it?
Yeppers! The XXL (truly a 42) fits very well, the quality is superb, the odour very bearable, 1.6 mm thick cowhide teacore supple leather. I adore this piece of garment and I wear it every day ever since!
Upon inspection, this Jiashi A2 jacket should be Aero Leather inspired (Contract 42-18775-P)

 

[bootsonatrain]

I've only had experience with Gizemo, who's a repro shop and they don't deviate (too much) from vintage.

I got the M43 and Stormrider. Really impressed with both. Measurements provided are on the spot and quality is great.

M43 jacket is double layered in cotton and heavy for a cotton jacket. The supima fabric is strong, and stiff. Over multiple wears and iron steams the jacket softens up and it's easier to wear.

Is Gizemo on Taobao? If so, which store?

How does Gizemo compare to RTWB? Are they the same thing?

Thanks.

View attachment 664535

 

[Canuck Panda]

I've only had experience with Gizemo, who's a repro shop and they don't deviate (too much) from vintage.

I got the M43 and Stormrider. Really impressed with both. Measurements provided are on the spot and quality is great.

M43 jacket is double layered in cotton and heavy for a cotton jacket. The supima fabric is strong, and stiff. Over multiple wears and iron steams the jacket softens up and it's easier to wear.

I am getting my package just after the holidays, really looking forward to it. Gizemo is basically 25 dollars more than the Bronson but promises the use of supima cotton from the US whereas Bronson is all locally sourced material. It was worth a try for me.