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Five Star Leather Jackets

gunnarthefeisty

New in Town
Messages
29
Hi folks, I am looking at getting a totally custom job from them. There are a lot of posts in the thread and so I'm not sure where to start with reviews. I have a current vintage jacket that has details I want, and I intend to measure certain parts of it to make sure every detail is correct. They say they can do it for $350. Is this a good option for a broke kid like me?
 

Marc mndt

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,445
There are a lot of posts in the thread and so I'm not sure where to start with reviews. I have a current vintage jacket that has details I want, and I intend to measure certain parts of it to make sure every detail is correct. They say they can do it for $350. Is this a good option for a broke kid like me?

Just read the last two pages of this thread and you'll have your answer.
 

MrProper

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,429
Location
Europe
Hi folks, I am looking at getting a totally custom job from them. There are a lot of posts in the thread and so I'm not sure where to start with reviews. I have a current vintage jacket that has details I want, and I intend to measure certain parts of it to make sure every detail is correct. They say they can do it for $350. Is this a good option for a broke kid like me?
Assuming the leather options suit you, the best thing to do will be to send your jacket to 5* and order a 1:1 copy. I did this with one of my daughter's fashion jackets and the result was very good.
 

gunnarthefeisty

New in Town
Messages
29
Assuming the leather options suit you, the best thing to do will be to send your jacket to 5* and order a 1:1 copy. I did this with one of my daughter's fashion jackets and the result was very good.
This is exactly what I asked them if I could do. I'm a little worried that they could still mess it up (see: complaints on measurements). You think they do a good job copying, though? I worry a lot, because $350 is a lot of money one way or the other. I'd really love for this to work out, though- I just can't afford busting $1000 for an Aero jacket.
 
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MrProper

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,429
Location
Europe
This is exactly what I asked them if I could do. I'm a little worried that they could still mess it up (see: complaints on measurements). You think they do a good job copying, though? I worry a lot, because $350 is a lot of money one way or the other. I'd really love for this to work out, though- I just can't afford busting $1000 for an Aero jacket.
I think that if 5* can do something well, then it's copying. The problem is that the selection of leather is not optimal.
But I can't really judge that any more because it's been a while since my last 5*. But I would be surprised if it had got much better. Premium black goat waxed still seems to be the best option.

On the right is the copy.
IMG_1680.jpeg IMG_7938.jpeg
 

gunnarthefeisty

New in Town
Messages
29
I think that if 5* can do something well, then it's copying. The problem is that the selection of leather is not optimal.
But I can't really judge that any more because it's been a while since my last 5*. But I would be surprised if it had got much better. Premium black goat waxed still seems to be the best option.

On the right is the copy.
View attachment 600833 View attachment 600834
Those look nice. I'm looking for a brown Horsehide (I think). Which, it would seem, they don't have a good version of. He quoted me shipping and it would turn out to $410 plus whatever I spent getting the thing there. It looks to me like it's a better idea to go to Johnston Leathers. They seem to be under 1,000 usually (correct me if i'm wrong!) and can copy jackets too.
 

MrProper

I'll Lock Up
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4,429
Location
Europe
It looks to me like it's a better idea to go to Johnston Leathers.
I would assume the same. I think it's better to save a bit more and have exactly what you want.
Since you want a copy of your jacket, classifieds won't be an option.
What if you had your jacket restored or restored it yourself? Maybe Johnson leathers can do the same?
 

Aloysius

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,160
Those look nice. I'm looking for a brown Horsehide (I think). Which, it would seem, they don't have a good version of. He quoted me shipping and it would turn out to $410 plus whatever I spent getting the thing there. It looks to me like it's a better idea to go to Johnston Leathers. They seem to be under 1,000 usually (correct me if i'm wrong!) and can copy jackets too.
If you’re going Five Star, send in your jacket and have them remake it exactly in the goat that Mr Proper recommended. This has pretty consistently worked, like with the Guidemaster Wolf jacket and others.

The horse raises it to a point where you’re diminishing the value proposition and it’s not actually as consistent as the goat.

Johnson is great and has incredible jackets hanging in the shop. I think duplicating a jacket would be over that mark since they’ll have to make a pattern for it. Going the Johnson route I’d recommend going with one of their existing models that’s the same type of jacket as your vintage, since an exact copy isn’t required the way it would be with an overseas factory, and the pattern is just about guaranteed to be excellent.
 

abbaralph

One of the Regulars
Messages
109
Location
Beaverton Oregon
Got some pictures of the jacket based on an original u boat jacket I sent them to replicate. They developed a new tanned goat leather for it. I asked them to copy jacket exactly since the original fits me. Here are some photos of the progress so far
 

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robinsongreen68

New in Town
Messages
14
thanks, i just have quite a clear idea of the proportions i want, based on jackets i own. i wear my trousers wider/higher waist than most here so i find a cropped/boxy shape works best for me.
the five star pattern seems longer/more tapered from what i've seen, so perhaps they're just not the right ones for me.
 

abbaralph

One of the Regulars
Messages
109
Location
Beaverton Oregon
Here is pictures from the maker of the finished u boat jacket from my original
 

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PilotJens

A-List Customer
Messages
357
Looks great.I wonder if your original uboat coat had that famous horrible smell to it
Is is a rare coat since most uboats sank in the war
 

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