Leather Monkeys info

[Seb Lucas]

Leather brings out funny reactions - some people expect the best to be soft (and that is probably true for high end fashion leathers) and other neophytes except leather to be mega thick and heavy. In my experience both are typical reactions.

Jacket's were not especially popular when I was young here and I remember many men telling me proudly in the 1970's that they didn't own a jacket because it was never cold enough. I certainly spent a few years not wearing anything more than a thin windbreaker over a t-shirt, even in the coldest winter.

 

[Motorhead82]

My buddy got a Leather Monkeys lightning ripoff from Ebay and he is absolutely over the moon about the fit and the leather itself (he is a lanky lad and has a hard time finding jackets with long enough arms). I have not seen it in person yet so I cannot judge for myself. I'm happy for him though.
I keep trying to get him to post on here about it since LM comes up so much!

 

[Motorhead82]

To be fair, I am unsure why everyone is always ripping on them for copying Lewis. That has always gone on. Kett, Belstaff, etc all had jackets similar to Lightning.
Love those Brit leathers. Wish I could pull that look off but I'm an all American Schott boy.

 

[Edward]

Hi, looks like there is a link to a returns page and a full address on their Terms page - in the main menu.
Also a phone number on Google when I searched?

There better be; as they are Uk based, the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 require that any ecommerce outfit *must* provide a 'real world' address/ contact details. Article 6, if I recall correctly.

Yeah I just looked at their IG. Hides do look awfully thin. Would be nice if the OP could post some photos of his. I don't think there's ever been one posted here...

Not in the wild, no. I would expect -having seen one but not handled it - them to be at the heaviest similar to a Schott 618. Real Lewises were, of course, on the light side back in the day (and still are if you opt for the sheepskin).

To be fair, I am unsure why everyone is always ripping on them for copying Lewis. That has always gone on. Kett, Belstaff, etc all had jackets similar to Lightning.
Love those Brit leathers. Wish I could pull that look off but I'm an all American Schott boy.

I think it's less copying the designs all from one, still- going brand and more some of their other behaviours. For a long time they abused Lewis' rtms by using them in eBay auctions for their own jackets. They also got kicked off the Lewis facebook page for aggressively selling their second hand real Lewis and own label jackets on there.

Of course, back in the day there were many similar lines; the Lightning was not the first Brit version of a Perfecto (that was the Bronx - Lewis' Telecaster to their Lightning as Stratocaster), but the basic design became a real standard. Rivett's of Leytonstone were making a Corsair style jacket under their Highwayman brand in the late fifties; Lewis only introduced their shirt collar straight zip models in 1962. (Lewis later bought Rivett's, though never used any of its marks, hence why Aero now own the Highwayman tm). LM started out as second hand dealers specialising in Lewis before introducing their own copy line.

 

[saculer]

no experience first hand but I really like this jacket that looks an awful lot like another British jacket. What the hide like?
View attachment 135780

Well for what it'll be worth, I just ordered one. Didn't want to wait for the other, much more well-known maker to make me one (for 2.5 times the price). I emailed LM and was informed it is 4oz full grain aniline cow. The measurements given for their in-stock jackets are right in line with what I would send a custom maker, so I'm puttin' the team on my back and going in.

If you don't hear from me in a few weeks, CALL KURT RUSSELL.

 

[navetsea]

Kurt Russel would have killed the monkeys and put holes on your half finished jacket, better call Steven Seagal he would just slap them around the face with flurry hand sober them up a bit and so they can continue making your jacket.