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Five Star Leather Jackets

TheDonEffect

Practically Family
Messages
623
@TheDonEffect If milled CXL didn't work for you there is no way the CHL would have. I hear you now. This is a tough one. I want to say a skived down 2 oz milled cxl but I am not sure if that is possible. In theory it should work. Good to know JL has the milled ones. Cuts down the break in period and no arm rashes.

Previously the milled cxl would've worked, and I did have a CHL jacket too, my normal cxl (skived) was more wearable so this milled one definitely would've been better. I just want leather that drapes now.

JL already skived the milled cxl to 2oz ready to go. It's very similar to tumbled cxl in the way it's broken in and has a matte finish vs shinier normal cxl, but the color is deeper than tumbled.
 

red devil

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,955
Location
London
@TheDonEffect If milled CXL didn't work for you there is no way the CHL would have. I hear you now. This is a tough one. I want to say a skived down 2 oz milled cxl but I am not sure if that is possible. In theory it should work. Good to know JL has the milled ones. Cuts down the break in period and no arm rashes.

I am confident it is possible, I have a batch of navy CXL I bought from Tannery Row years ago that are clearly under 3oz, most likely 2.5oz. I don't see whey they could not go down to 2oz.

The batch I have is already much more flexible than 3.5oz
 
Messages
17,511
Location
Chicago
I have been looking at that leather and was wondering the stiffness on them. I imagine though to gain that character and texture, there's gotta be some stiffness, like a, hmm, crispiness/starchiness to the leather? So like it's soft but it still retains a structure vs just draping like a towel.
It’s a 2.5 oz hide so very little if any real stiffness to it. My jacket weighed about 5lbs on the nose. Very easy to wear. Initially a little plastic-y looking but that wears off quite quickly. Insane amounts of pull-up
 

TheDonEffect

Practically Family
Messages
623
It’s a 2.5 oz hide so very little if any real stiffness to it. My jacket weighed about 5lbs on the nose. Very easy to wear. Initially a little plastic-y looking but that wears off quite quickly. Insane amounts of pull-up


Haven't you done enough damage to my wallet?
 
Messages
17,511
Location
Chicago
Haven't you done enough damage to my wallet?
You will buy the bainbridge, then, you have my permission to close the thread.
DECEF6A8-3453-4E87-8050-3B91448308C8.jpeg
 

abbaralph

One of the Regulars
Messages
108
Location
Beaverton Oregon
They are made in Pakistan. I think there quality is great. I think they are worth more than you pay for them, but I also wonder if the others are worth less than you pay for them so go figure
 

Rugby

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
Thank you Carlos!
 

Rugby

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
They are made in Pakistan. I think there quality is great. I think they are worth more than you pay for them, but I also wonder if the others are worth less than you pay for them so go figure
Yeah, I guess US based makers use US labor prices, but I have to admit the craftmanship is excellent and the leather used is top quality. I have not had a jacket made in Pakistan with Pakistani leather, but I've seen pictures and they all looked kinda plasticky.
The term they use for their leather is "genuine leather". That does not mean it's full grain or even top grain. That's, probably, one of the reasons for the pricing.
 

Canuck Panda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,723
Thanks to Ton's recent 5Star posts which gave me the nudge to give Shawn the nudge. So now I have this coming (I think):
Ink Wrangler CXL 02.jpg

Ink Wrangler CXL 03.jpg


First I just wanna say if anyone else thinks or feels like you are stuck in communication with Shawn. Always give him one more nudge. Without seeing Ton's most recent jacket I would have just kept waiting quietly and building up some grudge against Shawn. But in reality all it takes is one more nudge to get things going. FB Messenger.

Now about the jacket. It's the "winter halfbelt" on his web store in stock size 46. Only custom changes were the additional chest pocket and the B-10 fur lining.

I supplied the leather. Which is from Maverick Leather in Oregon. They called it Horween Wrangler Horsehide. But it is just 2oz navy CXL, I have the 3.5oz navy CXL too and they are almost identical, except the wrangler version is dyed through to the back where the regular navy CXL is still somewhat brown on the flesh side.

In my most communication with Shawn, he had mentioned he could import Horween leather if there is demand. I don't suggest sending him leather ourselves after I have done it a few times. The main drawback is the shipping cost and time. If I remember correctly, It cost me 250 dollars or more to ship a 30lb box of leather to Shawn. And it took almost two months. And there was trouble at Shawn's end with the customs office. This was at the height of the Covid restrictions, but still. In comparison, I just shipped a 40 lbs box of leather to Johnson for less than 50 bucks, and the package arrived within the week from Vancouver to San Fran. So while 5Star has the clear advantage of just as skilled but lower labor wages, the logistic costs are rediculously high for single transactions. It'd be different if Shawn were importing larger amount of leather himself, but that would be a totally different thing from what's available now.

Which is why I am looking forward to Shawn's own horsehide. I don't have an ETA on mine yet. So @Hobbes1 please let us know what it is like when you get yours. Thanks.
 

abbaralph

One of the Regulars
Messages
108
Location
Beaverton Oregon
Yeah, I guess US based makers use US labor prices, but I have to admit the craftmanship is excellent and the leather used is top quality. I have not had a jacket made in Pakistan with Pakistani leather, but I've seen pictures and they all looked kinda plasticky.
The term they use for their leather is "genuine leather". That does not mean it's full grain or even top grain. That's, probably, one of the reasons for the pricing.
You should go on their Facebook page to see the leather they offer and pictures of actual jackets worn by others.
 

Imuricecreamman

One Too Many
Messages
1,598
Thanks to Ton's recent 5Star posts which gave me the nudge to give Shawn the nudge. So now I have this coming (I think):
View attachment 402836
View attachment 402837

First I just wanna say if anyone else thinks or feels like you are stuck in communication with Shawn. Always give him one more nudge. Without seeing Ton's most recent jacket I would have just kept waiting quietly and building up some grudge against Shawn. But in reality all it takes is one more nudge to get things going. FB Messenger.

Now about the jacket. It's the "winter halfbelt" on his web store in stock size 46. Only custom changes were the additional chest pocket and the B-10 fur lining.

I supplied the leather. Which is from Maverick Leather in Oregon. They called it Horween Wrangler Horsehide. But it is just 2oz navy CXL, I have the 3.5oz navy CXL too and they are almost identical, except the wrangler version is dyed through to the back where the regular navy CXL is still somewhat brown on the flesh side.

In my most communication with Shawn, he had mentioned he could import Horween leather if there is demand. I don't suggest sending him leather ourselves after I have done it a few times. The main drawback is the shipping cost and time. If I remember correctly, It cost me 250 dollars or more to ship a 30lb box of leather to Shawn. And it took almost two months. And there was trouble at Shawn's end with the customs office. This was at the height of the Covid restrictions, but still. In comparison, I just shipped a 40 lbs box of leather to Johnson for less than 50 bucks, and the package arrived within the week from Vancouver to San Fran. So while 5Star has the clear advantage of just as skilled but lower labor wages, the logistic costs are rediculously high for single transactions. It'd be different if Shawn were importing larger amount of leather himself, but that would be a totally different thing from what's available now.

Which is why I am looking forward to Shawn's own horsehide. I don't have an ETA on mine yet. So @Hobbes1 please let us know what it is like when you get yours. Thanks.
That looks extremely comfy!
 

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