Freewheelers Leather

[jon11]

Wondering if anyone from the Lounge can help please?. I have been interested in a lot of design Freewheelers make in their leather jackets. However I have handled the Freewheelers Dustbowl in Auburn colour, but really don't like the finish. The leather looks (to me anyway), as if its finished in a very glossy varish top layer (very cheap looking), I would go as far as saying painted finish. This for me is a lot different than say RMC's leather which have a pigment semi glaze finish to their Shinki leather. Is this the style to all Freewheelers leather jackets? on their web page the jackets have a semi shine but the grain pops out, but is a far cry what I experienced looking and touching the Dustbowl in person. Any comments please?

 

[58panheadfan]

From my experience with FW Jackets I have seen/handled some and own/owned a Switchyard & Brakeman both in black shinki... the overall appearance looks like you described: "on their web page the jackets have a semi shine but the grain pops out" similar to some RMC Jackets I have seen/handled/own e.g. RMC CarCoat. Not seen a Dustbowl in person, yet. FW & RMC are focused primary on Japanese Market/Customers... and they like this shiny/glossy Pigment finish. Also there are some controversy about Shinki Horsehide for some it's the "best" Leather on Market others call'em "stinky"... or simply don't like it. I like it! For me, nicest leather on earth... and the smell outstanding but that's just me...

Edit: Also it seems FW used a very smooth nearly "perfect" (with no imperfections) leather in past on earlier models like your suggested Dustbowl in Auburn (from 2013). Also seen on RMC J-24 Jackets... but changed to a more grainy leather recently, just my opinion.

 

[58panheadfan]

... if you don't like, as described "The leather looks (to me anyway), as if its finished in a very glossy varish top layer (very cheap looking)..." do it this way:

 

[ton312]

... if you don't like, as described "The leather looks (to me anyway), as if its finished in a very glossy varish top layer (very cheap looking)..." do it this way:

Make jacket look

 

[Milesdeathescape]

Wondering if anyone from the Lounge can help please?. I have been interested in a lot of design Freewheelers make in their leather jackets. However I have handled the Freewheelers Dustbowl in Auburn colour, but really don't like the finish. The leather looks (to me anyway), as if its finished in a very glossy varish top layer (very cheap looking), I would go as far as saying painted finish. This for me is a lot different than say RMC's leather which have a pigment semi glaze finish to their Shinki leather. Is this the style to all Freewheelers leather jackets? on their web page the jackets have a semi shine but the grain pops out, but is a far cry what I experienced looking and touching the Dustbowl in person. Any comments please?

Calm down Virginia, the shine only lasts a lil while

 

[Dr H]

Wondering if anyone from the Lounge can help please?. I have been interested in a lot of design Freewheelers make in their leather jackets. However I have handled the Freewheelers Dustbowl in Auburn colour, but really don't like the finish. The leather looks (to me anyway), as if its finished in a very glossy varish top layer (very cheap looking), I would go as far as saying painted finish. This for me is a lot different than say RMC's leather which have a pigment semi glaze finish to their Shinki leather. Is this the style to all Freewheelers leather jackets? on their web page the jackets have a semi shine but the grain pops out, but is a far cry what I experienced looking and touching the Dustbowl in person. Any comments please?

I owned an Auburn Dust Bowl, but had to sell it on as it was a size too small.
I really liked the Shinki, which was a more satin finish rather than glossy.

I have two Freewheelers now: a Journeyman in Tatanka Brown Shinki and a Brakeman in a more chestnut brown (I’m not sure of the shade as it’s an older example).

Both are developing plenty of character. They’re worn regularly in rain or shine and the finish dulls to a warm sheen quickly.

 

[Dr H]

Here is the other jacket, the Journeyman in Tatanka Brown (I’ve had it for around 4 months and it came to me practically unworn).

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Freewheelers uses Shinki, but they do the finishing themselves which explains why it is different than the Shinki from The Real McCoys. All of my leather jackets are Shinki and I have owned several more that I have sold. My Shinki jackets from Freewheelers actually have the most grain and character. I personally love the shine that they start off with, but it absolutely does begin to lessen after wear.

 

[Big J]

Given the brand name cache that Shinki Leather has (undeservedly in my opinion, but whatever) I'm really surprised that they'd sell an unfinished product to a jacket manufacturer and allow the jacket manufacturer to 'finish' the hide themselves, since the possibility that the finish could be less than excellent would negatively impact the customers experience and damage the Shinki brand name.

I'd be really interested to know;
How to FW finish this leather? Who does it? What training and experience do they have? Where do they do this?
Why do they do this if Shinki is so good? Why don't Shinki finish their own leather like this themselves?

And I'd be really interested to see them explain this in Japanese. I suspect there's a bit of sleight of hand going on that exploits the language barrier to misrepresent the truth. Wouldn't be the first time a Japanese company has said something in English and something completely different in Japanese. The Fukushima report is a classic example.

 

[ton312]

Given the brand name cache that Shinki Leather has (undeservedly in my opinion, but whatever) I'm really surprised that they'd sell an unfinished product to a jacket manufacturer

Yes indeed. This a game of Russian roulette with something that is as much a brand name, if not more so, than the jacket manufacturer itself. Quite a bit at stake.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Given the brand name cache that Shinki Leather has (undeservedly in my opinion, but whatever) I'm really surprised that they'd sell an unfinished product to a jacket manufacturer and allow the jacket manufacturer to 'finish' the hide themselves, since the possibility that the finish could be less than excellent would negatively impact the customers experience and damage the Shinki brand name.

I'd be really interested to know;
How to FW finish this leather? Who does it? What training and experience do they have? Where do they do this?
Why do they do this if Shinki is so good? Why don't Shinki finish their own leather like this themselves?

And I'd be really interested to see them explain this in Japanese. I suspect there's a bit of sleight of hand going on that exploits the language barrier to misrepresent the truth. Wouldn't be the first time a Japanese company has said something in English and something completely different in Japanese. The Fukushima report is a classic example.

The Real McCoys apparently does their own finishing as well.

I don't really care if it's true or not, this is just what I've been told. I love the leather.

Bartender Edit: Play nice, kids, or nanny will have to reach for the spanking paddle. Don't say you weren't warned.

 

[Bennarion]

... if you don't like, as described "The leather looks (to me anyway), as if its finished in a very glossy varish top layer (very cheap looking)..." do it this way:

 

[jeo]

Wondering if anyone from the Lounge can help please?. I have been interested in a lot of design Freewheelers make in their leather jackets. However I have handled the Freewheelers Dustbowl in Auburn colour, but really don't like the finish. The leather looks (to me anyway), as if its finished in a very glossy varish top layer (very cheap looking), I would go as far as saying painted finish. This for me is a lot different than say RMC's leather which have a pigment semi glaze finish to their Shinki leather. Is this the style to all Freewheelers leather jackets? on their web page the jackets have a semi shine but the grain pops out, but is a far cry what I experienced looking and touching the Dustbowl in person. Any comments please?

It might just be the one jacket you handled. Most FWs I've seen have a lot of character and grain to the leather, so even if it has a painted finish, it doesn't cover up the natural the beauty of the hide. It might be shiny to begin with but will dull and definitely develop over time. I have a Rainbow Country jacket that I got last year that started out pretty shiny but has already toned down a bit with wear. From my experience RMC jackets have a more painted on finish that are made to age quickly, although my RMCs are older models and the jackets you buy new today might be different.

 

[Lebowski]

Gentlemen,
if anybody around possibly don't like their new or almost new jackets made of Shinki HH by RMC, Freewheelers or Rainbow Country and if those jackets are in size 44 - please PM me an offer. I'd take any of them with my great pleasure. Seriously. (Himel Bros including too).

 

[zebedee]

I like the look of quite a lot of the FW stuff I've seen (particularly the Switchyard Coat), but I am hesitant about ordering because of a) sizing, b) prices and c) the relative complexity of possible returns. If I were in Japan and could try one on, I might be swayed...

 

[Blackadder]

Given the brand name cache that Shinki Leather has (undeservedly in my opinion, but whatever) I'm really surprised that they'd sell an unfinished product to a jacket manufacturer and allow the jacket manufacturer to 'finish' the hide themselves, since the possibility that the finish could be less than excellent would negatively impact the customers experience and damage the Shinki brand name.

I'd be really interested to know;
How to FW finish this leather? Who does it? What training and experience do they have? Where do they do this?
Why do they do this if Shinki is so good? Why don't Shinki finish their own leather like this themselves?

And I'd be really interested to see them explain this in Japanese. I suspect there's a bit of sleight of hand going on that exploits the language barrier to misrepresent the truth. Wouldn't be the first time a Japanese company has said something in English and something completely different in Japanese. The Fukushima report is a classic example.

The hand finish likely mean hand dye which is quite common to create "artifical teacore". It is quite not an unfinished product because the leather was usually properly dyed brown at Shiniki then shipped to the makers who apply a separate coat of paint by hand so the brown showing through would be more vibrant or subtle than a raw light brown. Clinch does it, Diamond Dave does it. You can find that in A-1's post about his Diamond Dave Buco J-21 thread.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/diamond-dave-buco-j-21.84178/page-8

 

[El Marro]

I have four jackets made from shinki horsehide and I would say that their reputation as one of the premier tanneries is well deserved. I don’t hold them above Horween or the italian tanneries used by Eastman and Aero but I think they are in the top tier when it comes to making beautiful leather.
Here is a shot of the back of my GW Ventura:

The grain and marbling on that back panel is the nicest that I have ever seen or handled in person.

 

[Colin G]

I like the look of quite a lot of the FW stuff I've seen (particularly the Switchyard Coat), but I am hesitant about ordering because of a) sizing, b) prices and c) the relative complexity of possible returns. If I were in Japan and could try one on, I might be swayed...

I am right with you. I see so many nice jackets but the fit is strange and none ever seem to match up to the measurements I need. Also, It would be nice to actually see in person since returns are pricey due to post to Japan.

 

[Big J]

@El Marro, that is a great looking piece of leather, and I think you're right; Shinki is no better than Horween and Vicenza, but it's relative unavailability due to being in Japan, and used in smaller sized Japanese jackets has made it relatively inaccessible and therefore given it an undeserved 'mythical' status. It's just another top tier leather. The tannery is an hour and a half drive from me, I've been there. There is no secret magic involved.

@Blackadder, maybe you are right. It seems a fair assumption, but it's just a guess. Who knows? No one has checked, and they aren't telling. Or are they?

I said it in my first comment on this thread; what is this 'finish' FW are applying themselves? How do they do it? Where do they do it? How are the people doing it qualified to do so?

If we don't know this, then we're just mindlessly repeating what we're told with no critical thinking. And that's what happens with mainstream fashion isn't it? We're 'told' something is 'cool' and 'in', and we're supposed to rush out and unquestioningly buy it. So I just think we need to be a bit more self aware than that.

 

[Blackadder]

@El Marro, that is a great looking piece of leather, and I think you're right; Shinki is no better than Horween and Vicenza, but it's relative unavailability due to being in Japan, and used in smaller sized Japanese jackets has made it relatively inaccessible and therefore given it an undeserved 'mythical' status. It's just another top tier leather. The tannery is an hour and a half drive from me, I've been there. There is no secret magic involved.

@Blackadder, maybe you are right. It seems a fair assumption, but it's just a guess. Who knows? No one has checked, and they aren't telling. Or are they?

I said it in my first comment on this thread; what is this 'finish' FW are applying themselves? How do they do it? Where do they do it? How are the people doing it qualified to do so?

If we don't know this, then we're just mindlessly repeating what we're told with no critical thinking. And that's what happens with mainstream fashion isn't it? We're 'told' something is 'cool' and 'in', and we're supposed to rush out and unquestioningly buy it. So I just think we need to be a bit more self aware than that.

I am merely responding to your assumption about Shiniki willingness to sell "half finished" product.