New purchase: Vintage SAWYER OF NAPA SHEARLING Jacket

[scottmcl]

This is my first vintage purchase, and I think I got a great deal.

VINTAGE SAWYER OF NAPA SHEARLING,


Bought for $140.00 (can) shipped of ebay. Its defiantly real shearling and the quality and condition are just amazing.

What do you guys think? I will take some pics of me wearing it if you guys are interested.

Here's some info on the company from another forum [style forum], great post

Sawyer shearlings were generally considered the best domestic maker of shearling coats. Company was in business from the late-1800's to their demise in the early 1990's. They were located on Coombs Street in Napa, CA (tanneries, production area, warehouses, ofices...buildings are still standing, but are now parceled out office space). The EPA (and other special interest groups), along with rising manufacturing costs, finally killed them off due to the chemicals/wastes resulting from the leather tanning process.

The company tried to adjust by sourcing off-shore tanned hides and emphasizing lambskin jackets and coats (non-shearling), made in Korea. This staved off the inevitable for a few years, until their California plant closed and their machinery was sold and exported to India.

The name has changed hands and is dusted off every so often by one firm or another, but the coats are not US-produced; they are not the genuine item that was produced in Northern California.

You can spot a Sawyer pretty easily, as they used larger, higher quality pelts (California Spring Lamb...big panels/less seams), high quality stitching (not this wrapped stitch crap that is a telltale sign of many imports), horn buttons (though many accounts opted to use leather or plastic buttons). Not a stiff coat, but usually a bit heavier shearling than what today's tastes dictate. If you like old school shearlings, you can't do better. Often found on e-bay for a song.

If anyone has any questions on their coats prior to an e-bay bid, feel free to pm me...I'd be happy to help. I'm pretty familiar with their line and still wear them.

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Thanks for the information.

Welcome to the Lounge

Perhaps the first of many vintage jackets?

James

 

[Akubra Man]

That is a very good find ... I think you will have many good years of wear from that jacket. From the photos it looks thick and soft. Cheers

 

[scottmcl]

Just wondering, how is a jacket like this in the rain?