Lesser Known Japanese Jacket Brands

[sshack]

Anyone have recommendations for Japanese Jackets that are not one of the "heavy hitters" : McCoys, FreeWheelers, Rainbow Country, Double Helix, Y'2.

I've heard and looked into Fine Creek. I'm sure there's more out there!

 

[Guppy]

Anyone have recommendations for Japanese Jackets that are not one of the "heavy hitters" : McCoys, FreeWheelers, Rainbow Country, Double Helix, Y'2.

I've heard and looked into Fine Creek. I'm sure there's more out there!

Have a look at West Ride.

 

[sshack]

Have a look at West Ride.

Interesting. It looks like they use a lot of goat skin. And more interesting... I may have read that it was made in the US?

I would definitely like to know who's making this cut and style in the US! No need to send this jacket on a round trip!

 

[photo2u]

Johnson's leather I believe used to make some high-end customizable jackets for West ride's Japanese market line. I have seen several labels with the west ride name.

 

[Blackadder]

View attachment 469347


Interesting. It looks like they use a lot of goat skin. And more interesting... I may have read that it was made in the US?

I would definitely like to know who's making this cut and style in the US! No need to send this jacket on a round trip!

The one in your photo is not made in USA. I believe the more expensive Langlitz clones (those at close to 200000 yen) were made in USA. I don't see any of those on their website now. Their current premium leather line have different labels and cut and I don't think those are made in USA anymore. I am not sure though. Anyway, the old Langlitz clones are seriously undersized.
Here is the pants likely old stock and discontinued.
https://masuya1997.com/item/westride-chpps-reguler-model-made-in-usa/

 

[sshack]

The one in your photo is not made in USA. I believe the more expensive Langlitz clones (those at close to 200000 yen) were made in USA. I don't see any of those on their website now. Their current premium leather line have different labels and cut and I don't think those are made in USA anymore. I am not sure though. Anyway, the old Langlitz clones are seriously undersized.
Here is the pants likely old stock and discontinued.
https://masuya1997.com/item/westride-chpps-reguler-model-made-in-usa/

Thanks for the heads up. Does anyone know their website? I can't find it.

 

[Jasonissm]

Not sure about their quality but here are some I know of:
Dapper's
Orgueil (sister brand of Studio D'Artisan)
Gladhand (and sub-label Gangsterville)
Colimbo (I believe many of these are made by Rainbow Country)
Cushman also have jackets that are made by Rainbow Country
Eight Leathers (Eight-G is the main label and primarily make jeans I believe, probably the most unknown of the ones I've found)
DALEE'S & Co. (They have some relation to the Deluxeware or Dapper's brand I think?, who usually make Amecaji-style stuff, they have some repro of early French vintage leather jackets)
Deluxeware/Gremen&Vill.Eight (sub-label of Deluxeware)
Pherrow's
Blackmeans (more fashion focused, not sure on the actual quality)
Toys McCoys (not too sure on the history of this brand, I've heard they used to be associated but have completely branched off from The Real McCoy's now)
Four Speed (they have made jackets for Iron Heart)
Mushmans is a store in Saitama, they sell Rainbow Country and other brands but also have their own label, I believe it is made by Electric Leather Studio
Dry Bones
Attractions
Addict Clothes
Tenjin Works
Moto Leather and Silver
Black Sign

In addition many popular/well-known Denim/amekaji-style labels also make leather jackets.
Sisii (They have a collaboration with Denime, popular denim brand from Osaka)
Warehouse also have leather jackets
Samurai Jeans (Recently they have a new collaboration with The Few, former NZ Real McCoy's maker?)
West Ride
Toyo Enterprise labels: Indian Motorcycle, Buzz Rickson's, Whitesville, Laskinlamb
Trophy Clothing
Jelado (also John Gluckow when they collaborated on a clothing line that was made by Jelado)
Tenderloin/At Last Co.
Ooe Yofukuten

 

[ton312]

View attachment 469347


Interesting. It looks like they use a lot of goat skin. And more interesting... I may have read that it was made in the US?

I would definitely like to know who's making this cut and style in the US! No need to send this jacket on a round trip!

You could have a nicer looking version of that jacket made by Vanson (Oxford 9D) Aero (Sheene), Schott (689HH), Johnson Leathers(m-200), or Langlitz (sindwinder).

 

[Blackadder]

Thanks for the heads up. Does anyone know their website? I can't find it.

https://www.w-river.com/shop/westride-tokyo/

 

[sshack]

Not sure about their quality but here are some I know of:
Dapper's
Orgueil (sister brand of Studio D'Artisan)
Gladhand (and sub-label Gangsterville)
Colimbo (I believe many of these are made by Rainbow Country)
Cushman also have jackets that are made by Rainbow Country
Eight Leathers (Eight-G is the main label and primarily make jeans I believe, probably the most unknown of the ones I've found)
DALEE'S & Co. (They have some relation to the Deluxeware or Dapper's brand I think?, who usually make Amecaji-style stuff, they have some repro of early French vintage leather jackets)
Deluxeware/Gremen&Vill.Eight (sub-label of Deluxeware)
Pherrow's
Blackmeans (more fashion focused, not sure on the actual quality)
Toys McCoys (not too sure on the history of this brand, I've heard they used to be associated but have completely branched off from The Real McCoy's now)
Four Speed (they have made jackets for Iron Heart)
Mushmans is a store in Saitama, they sell Rainbow Country and other brands but also have their own label, I believe it is made by Electric Leather Studio
Dry Bones
Attractions
Addict Clothes
Tenjin Works
Moto Leather and Silver
Black Sign

In addition many popular/well-known Denim/amekaji-style labels also make leather jackets.
Sisii (They have a collaboration with Denime, popular denim brand from Osaka)
Warehouse also have leather jackets
Samurai Jeans (Recently they have a new collaboration with The Few, former NZ Real McCoy's maker?)
West Ride
Toyo Enterprise labels: Indian Motorcycle, Buzz Rickson's, Whitesville, Laskinlamb
Trophy Clothing
Jelado (also John Gluckow when they collaborated on a clothing line that was made by Jelado)
Tenderloin/At Last Co.
Ooe Yofukuten

Awesome! Thanks for my weekend reading list!

 

[sshack]

You could have a nicer looking version of that jacket made by Vanson (Oxford 9D) Aero (Sheene), Schott (689HH), Johnson Leathers(m-200), or Langlitz (sindwinder).

The heart wants what it wants.

 

[ton312]

The heart wants what it wants.

LOL. I get it. But that jacket in particular is really unremarkable. I think you could have far better looking outcomes for less output. But this is merely my opinion of course.

 

[Marc mndt]

But that jacket in particular is really unremarkable. I think you could have far better looking outcomes for less output.

I agree. This is somewhat of a Frankenstein jacket. Halfbelt with a chest pocket that's placed too high and a snap down A-2 collar. The wind flap and two way zipper as a bonus.

Buy one get three (styles) lol.

 

[sshack]

LOL. I get it. But that jacket in particular is really unremarkable. I think you could have far better looking outcomes for less output. But this is merely my opinion of course.

I'm not really in love with it, but it was on the top of the pile for a bunch of new toys to play with. Just wanted to share a pic. Looking forward to going through the whole list!

But if I'm being honest, I've never been into Vanson. Just doesn't look refined to me, I guess. I don't ride, so functional riding gear is wasted on me. I tried my hand at Aero stuff during "Peak-Aero" a few years ago and nothing really clicked. It's like I had to try too hard to enjoy it. So, the search continues!

 

[Aloysius]

You could have a nicer looking version of that jacket made by Vanson (Oxford 9D) Aero (Sheene), Schott (689HH), Johnson Leathers(m-200), or Langlitz (sindwinder).

I'm not against Japanese brands at all (I own many Japanese watches, jackets from military repro companies, tailoring, etc from Japan) but it will never be anything but funny to me when people pay big bucks to buy something from Japan that only exists to be a local cheaper alternative to import prices for Schott, Aero, Lewis, etc. (This isn't unheard of; Vanson offers several Vansonized Lewis styles for half the price of a Lewis, for instance.)

I'm sure the owner of Addict (who is a Lewis collector) would give you a meme level confused face if you told him that people a mile from Lewis's shop in England pay twice the price of a Lewis to import his Lewis repros.

 

[sshack]

I'm not against Japanese brands at all (I own many Japanese watches, jackets from military repro companies, tailoring, etc from Japan) but it will never be anything but funny to me when people pay big bucks to buy something from Japan that only exists to be a local cheaper alternative to import prices for Schott, Aero, Lewis, etc. (This isn't unheard of; Vanson offers several Vansonized Lewis styles for half the price of a Lewis, for instance.)

I'm sure the owner of Addict (who is a Lewis collector) would give you a meme level confused face if you told him that people a mile from Lewis's shop in England pay twice the price of a Lewis to import his Lewis repros.

Have you seen the prices of used Aero jackets on Yahoo Japan Auctions? They're not expensive at all. I would say, probably cheaper than the used Aero's in US. Used McCoy and FreeWheeler and Rainbo Jackets still command premium prices on the Japanese used market.

 

[Blackadder]

LOL. I get it. But that jacket in particular is really unremarkable. I think you could have far better looking outcomes for less output. But this is merely my opinion of course.

That Westride costs less than most in your list save for the Vanson Oxford 9D. Granted, one may be able to get a Schott 689hh on ebay for less than Schott's listed price.

 

[Blackadder]

Have you seen the prices of used Aero jackets on Yahoo Japan Auctions? They're not expensive at all. I would say, probably cheaper than the used Aero's in US. Used McCoy and FreeWheeler and Rainbo Jackets still command premium prices on the Japanese used market.

I think he is talking about brand new Aero at Aero's Japanese dealers. For some reasons, second hand price for a lot of the Western made jackets say from Schott, Aero, Eastman and LW are pretty low despite the fact that the new ones cost quite a lot more in Japan (well, the yen is weak now so it does not seem that much more).

 

[Aloysius]

Have you seen the prices of used Aero jackets on Yahoo Japan Auctions? They're not expensive at all. I would say, probably cheaper than the used Aero's in US. Used McCoy and FreeWheeler and Rainbo Jackets still command premium prices on the Japanese used market.

Your attempted trap fails. I frequent Yahoo Japan auctions and one can easily pick up Japanese made, Japanese brand jackets at a steep discount.

You've also shifted the goalposts. At no point did I say that Aero Japan was more expensive than every Japanese brand. The idea that a used Aero would be more expensive than a used jacket from a company that was more expensive than Aero to begin with doesn't follow.

I simply pointed out that many companies and products exist as cheaper local alternatives to the imports. Addict is one of the clearest examples.

 

[Aloysius]

I think he is talking about brand new Aero at Aero's Japanese dealers.

I was. And I lived in Asia, own lots of JDM products, etc. I also have a decent amount of Japanese cultural knowledge from my studies. I'm obviously not opposed to Japanese brands and products.

But the weird Japan fetish reflected by some threads here is odd to me (and odd to my Japanese friends.)