Custom Aero A1 in Tobacco Badalassi

[Blackadder]

Japanese makers have been using Badalassi hides to make jackets for quite a few years now. Thedi started using them almost a year ago as well. It isn't really new... just new to the forum here as a whole.

Mention of Badalassi on this forum dating back to 2010 about the Few Hurricane in 2009.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-few.47298/
https://highnotch.exblog.jp/11531152/

 

[ton312]

Mention of Badalassi on this forum dating back to 2010 about the Few Hurricane in 2009.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-few.47298/
https://highnotch.exblog.jp/11531152/

Oof...this jacket is insanely beautiful!

 

[red devil]

Oof...this jacket is insanely beautiful!

Certainly is!

 

[hondurasdave47]

I can see an Indian Ranger in this hide ...

 

[barnabus]

This is what it looks like with Thedi

As far as I know they aren't too thick either, knowing Thedi, they most likely did some work on the hide to get the right feel. I have been planning to get something in the red hide for quite a while now, still working out what type and style of jacket

Good grief! That red looks stupendous.

 

[Lebowski]

Oof...this jacket is insanely beautiful!

Ton, this one is best of the best!

 

[Bulldozer]

As many of you know, I weightlifted myself out of my old RMC A2 which was my longest lived leather jacket. Fortunately, it went to a friend who is extremely happy with it. This also left me enough money to get a replacement for it and my girl and I both agreed that an A1 would look even better on me. The RMC A1 measurements were not good for me at all and I wanted a slightly lighter brown color because my dark brown boots aren't all that dark. Fortunately, some conversations with Aero let me know that they had Badalassi in stock. I have said multiple times on this forum that I wanted a jacket in Badalassi. My two favorite leathers are Shinki and Badalassi and with Aero having this and the ability to customize my jacket specs, I couldn't resist.

I now have Badalassi and Shinki both on jackets and on boots and I am extremely happy about that. What's more is that this leather is insanely beautiful. The samples I got were very nice, but this tobacco badalassi blew me away in person. The grain is more varied than I expected and I am ecstatic about that. It is pebbly in some places, but has much larger grain in other areas. Even the pebbly grain is larger and more beautiful than I'm used to seeing on most cowhides or goatskins. Vicenza never appealed to me. Seeing both in person and handling both as I have, I would say Badalassi is better in every single way. The grain is more varied and more beautiful (Vicenza looks more like cowhide than Badalassi does with how pebbly its grain is), the color is incomparably richer and deeper, the shine is nicer without looking like plastic, and the color variation is better too. This hide is the best part of the jacket and I don't say that as an insult to every other aspect, it's just a testament to how great this leather is. This jacket sits in a closet full of Shinki and it's not out of place. I think that should tell you just how great it is.

The fit is good. It's a tad tight in the shoulders, but I can still move around in it. My only real issue is that it's looser at the waist than I was expecting. I should have asked to drop it down by at least an inch, but I have lost 10 pounds in two weeks so maybe that has contributed as well. Still, I think it looks good and it will likely look better as it breaks in. The construction is good. For the most part, it is quite neat and fairly dense. For the price, I am pleased with the finishing, but no, it's not at the level of my Himel or Freewheelers jackets. That said, it's less than half the price of many of them and about 60-65% the price of my least expensive FW jacket so putting it in perspective, I have nothing to complain about. The biggest mistake is some uneven stitching on the bottom of the liner that you can see. It's not great, but it's not something most people will see so I don't mind. The more visible stitching looks solid so that's great. I really don't understand why Schott charges as much for some jackets as I paid for this beauty. There is no contest in terms of leather, customization, and construction quality/finishing.

This is all initial and I will post a full review on my website eventually, but so far I am very happy. Aero's service was great, the jacket fits well, is solidly made, and looks even better than I expected it to. Personally, I think adding Badalassi is a bigger deal for Aero than adding Vicenza was because this leather is several levels better IMO. In fact, this hide is better than some Shinki hides I've handled and owned. It's that good. Feel free to ask any questions and enjoy the pics!

Is it as heavy as the CXL FQ HH from Aero, or is it more like the Vicenza HH?

 

[JMax]

I can see an Indian Ranger in this hide ...

great minds think alike. I actually reached out to Carrie about it. Probably will be my wife’s Xmas present to me, that I pay for lol.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Thanks everyone so much for the kind words! I am very happy with this jacket and just wish I could wear it more right now.

Leather looks amazing. Agreeing with you, much better than Vicenca. Fit looks good too, shoulders don't seem very narrow on pictures and waist not too wide either.

I do think the waist is a little wide now, but it will hopefully look better after some more wear.

The jacket is good, but the leather is absolutely gorgeous!

Agreed. The leather is the absolute star of the show here.

Wow!! That leather looks like root beer candy!! Love it. Absolutely beautiful. Was there an up charge from Aero to use this hide? Also, how’s the weight?

All your choices are spot on. The OD knit bits are a perfect compliment to the hide. While this particular style isn’t one I would choose I have to say it looks incredible. You’ve done extremely well!

Thanks man I appreciate it. I do think it works well for me and the rest of my wardrobe/style. As others have said, it's 100 pounds more than standard which I think isn't bad at all. It weighs roughly the same as my Shinki jackets, though a little less because it has more knits and less leather. Lighter than CXL, but not actually lightweight.

I’m in agreement with the crowd Dude.. you have a beautiful jacket, which looks like a real good fit.
This looks like the kind of jacket that that looks it’s worst on the first day and will get consistently better each time it’s worn.

That's what I am thinking and hoping for. Breaking it in should help with the fit a lot.

 

[marker2037]

Just checking on how this jacket is holding up for you and if you could possibly post some better pics of the true color.

 

[hondurasdave47]

Just checking on how this jacket is holding up for you and if you could possibly post some better pics of the true color.

I think he sold it, if I’m not mistaken.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[marker2037]

Oh, that seems like a real shame if true...

 

[breezer]

outstanding fit pics as usual - everybody note, this is how its done!