Hi all!
A few months ago, back in November, I booked my turn for one of the amazing Steele & Jones's Indiana Jones jacket replicas.
I've been a fan of Raiders since I saw it for the first time as a kid and it started my passion for leather jackets. Over the years I've had all sorts of brands, from budget to first division brands like The Real Mccoys, Buzz Rickson, Eastman Leather... and also true vintage, but never jumped on an Indiana Jones jacket simply because any replica I saw spoke to me the way the one I saw in the movie did. I just assumed it was all in my head tho. It wasn't the jacket but the idea of it, the experience of seeing Indy living adventures, and I made peace with that idea. The Bill Kelso Relic Hunter caught my eye probably the most and I was this close to ordering one but I never pulled the trigger either even though I know Kelso jackets are superb. That was until I discovered the Steele & Jones Cazadora about a year ago, and I knew that was the one I've been waiting for so long. That jacket spoke to me the same way the movie did.
I was looking for a particular fit tho. As a fan of Raiders since I was a kid, my intention was not to make it a cosplay piece but something I could integrate with my overall wardrobe, basically to steal the look if you will. I opted for the Main Hero version of the jacket, being that one the model we see the most in the film.
My time came in April and Diego, after reviewing my measurements, some photos of me wearing a different jacket, and that jacket's measurements, suggested me to go with a trial jacket first, just to be sure. I agreed and about 3 weeks later the trial jacket came.
I couldn't be happier with the fit. I think it matches what we see in the movie but also feels extremely wearable with my daily outfits. According to my chest measurement, I should have got a size 40, however, I opted for a 38, and Diego adjusted the rest of the measurements to match my own proportions. My only note was that I felt like the sleeves were a bit too wide for my taste. I told Diego but I also said that I didn't want that to compromise the pattern, I wouldn't like that if I altered the proportions too much that would affect the look and the way we perceive the silhouette. Funny enough Diego answered that thanks to my note they reviewed the pattern for their size 38 and the sleeves were in fact just a tad wider than they should be according to the original proportions on Ford's size, so making them a bit less wide was only not a problem but also a necessity.
That chat took place about 3 weeks ago and finally yesterday Diego sent me the photos of the finished jacket:
I am more than stoked. The jacket is all I would have ever dreamed the Indy jacket would be. It matches exactly what I see in the movie and even though it is not in my hands I know thanks to the trial jacket that the fit will be spot on.
What amazes me the most are the details. Steele & Jones Chocolate ribby lambskin, at least from the photos, looks like it came straight from the same batch they used for the movie. The way the striations spread and blend through the chest is exactly what you see in many of the shots:
And also the back piece texture:
This is by far the most accurate replica of a Raiders of the Lost Ark jacket I've seen, and again, I couldn't be happier with the look of it and I can't wait for the jacket to arrive, and of course, I will post the final fit photos over here when I have it, along with my overall and final impressions of Steele & Jones and their process, hopefully in a few days!
A few months ago, back in November, I booked my turn for one of the amazing Steele & Jones's Indiana Jones jacket replicas.
I've been a fan of Raiders since I saw it for the first time as a kid and it started my passion for leather jackets. Over the years I've had all sorts of brands, from budget to first division brands like The Real Mccoys, Buzz Rickson, Eastman Leather... and also true vintage, but never jumped on an Indiana Jones jacket simply because any replica I saw spoke to me the way the one I saw in the movie did. I just assumed it was all in my head tho. It wasn't the jacket but the idea of it, the experience of seeing Indy living adventures, and I made peace with that idea. The Bill Kelso Relic Hunter caught my eye probably the most and I was this close to ordering one but I never pulled the trigger either even though I know Kelso jackets are superb. That was until I discovered the Steele & Jones Cazadora about a year ago, and I knew that was the one I've been waiting for so long. That jacket spoke to me the same way the movie did.
I was looking for a particular fit tho. As a fan of Raiders since I was a kid, my intention was not to make it a cosplay piece but something I could integrate with my overall wardrobe, basically to steal the look if you will. I opted for the Main Hero version of the jacket, being that one the model we see the most in the film.
My time came in April and Diego, after reviewing my measurements, some photos of me wearing a different jacket, and that jacket's measurements, suggested me to go with a trial jacket first, just to be sure. I agreed and about 3 weeks later the trial jacket came.
I couldn't be happier with the fit. I think it matches what we see in the movie but also feels extremely wearable with my daily outfits. According to my chest measurement, I should have got a size 40, however, I opted for a 38, and Diego adjusted the rest of the measurements to match my own proportions. My only note was that I felt like the sleeves were a bit too wide for my taste. I told Diego but I also said that I didn't want that to compromise the pattern, I wouldn't like that if I altered the proportions too much that would affect the look and the way we perceive the silhouette. Funny enough Diego answered that thanks to my note they reviewed the pattern for their size 38 and the sleeves were in fact just a tad wider than they should be according to the original proportions on Ford's size, so making them a bit less wide was only not a problem but also a necessity.
That chat took place about 3 weeks ago and finally yesterday Diego sent me the photos of the finished jacket:
I am more than stoked. The jacket is all I would have ever dreamed the Indy jacket would be. It matches exactly what I see in the movie and even though it is not in my hands I know thanks to the trial jacket that the fit will be spot on.
What amazes me the most are the details. Steele & Jones Chocolate ribby lambskin, at least from the photos, looks like it came straight from the same batch they used for the movie. The way the striations spread and blend through the chest is exactly what you see in many of the shots:
And also the back piece texture:
This is by far the most accurate replica of a Raiders of the Lost Ark jacket I've seen, and again, I couldn't be happier with the look of it and I can't wait for the jacket to arrive, and of course, I will post the final fit photos over here when I have it, along with my overall and final impressions of Steele & Jones and their process, hopefully in a few days!
