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"The Grizzly"

normanf

One of the Regulars
Messages
156
Location
Salida
This is kind of funny.
grizzly.jpg

Poor Man's Grizzly - Available in Beige, Black or Brown Faux Fur. From South Korea for $74.00. Its a bargain - much like the ones advertised in catalogues in the 1930s and 1940s:

http://www.jiniy.com
 
Last edited:
D

Deleted member 16736

Guest
Don't know if I'm spilling the beans here, but John of Goodwear Leather told me in an email he was working on a grizzly jacket. He showed me the original he's copying and it's beautiful. I would email him about it before I bought one anywhere else.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,078
Location
London, UK
Poor Man's Grizzly - Available in Beige, Black or Brown Faux Fur. From South Korea for $74.00. Its a bargain - much like the ones advertised in catalogues in the 1930s and 1940s:

http://www.jiniy.com

I don't imagine the leather is great at that price, but it's interesting to see this appear on the market. It's this sort of lower end product, if it sells, that tendws to bring a style back, moreso than the kind of high end, niche stuff we prefer round these parts.

And how much is he charging? $595.00 like San Diego Leathers charges for a US-made Grizzly brings it into the realm of the affordable:

http://www.leather.com/mens_fashion/fur/grizzly_leather_jacket_fur.php

Buzz and Ricksons and Aero Leathers make nice Grizzlies but they probably are more than most people want to pay for a fur-lined leather jacket.

I don't know; it seems to me you're dealing with a very specialist market there where folks who want them are prepared to pay that sort of money. I don't think they're significantly more expensive than the average Aero or Buzz leathers. [huh]

The one in the picture above doesn't look bad, though the sleeves look a bit boxy for my tastes.
 

Red Baron

Banned
Messages
39
Location
Anywhere but here
"Hair On" Aero Jackets: Your Reactions and Knowledge About Them

First of all, "hair on" evidently is not on actual full horse hides at Aero, but merely on skin that is attached to a hide underneath. I learned this from surfing around. Not sure if the fact is true, but it seems to be.

--How fragile are "hair on" jackets? Does the skin ever separate from the hide underneath it?

--Does the hair wear off over time, particularly on the back of a jacket that rubs on things when the wearer is sitting down, etc?

--How does "hair on" it look in person? Striking, cool, or not? Does it always look "rough and rustic" or does the hair look nice and elegant, in a way?

--Does "hair on" smell weird?

--Anyone with allergic reactions to animals have a "hair on" Aero jacket? Any adverse reactions? Is horse hair on a jacket likely to trigger allergies for people with pet dander allergies, do you think? We are not talking about a collar, of course, but maybe a hair section that goes over the shoulders.

Any general reactions to "hair on" coats?
 

deluxestyling

One of the Regulars
Messages
217
Location
Suburbia. London
I really wanted a Hair On jacket from Aero and was in the thought process of ordering when one came up on ebay.

The hair had worn off in places and that didn't look good. the jacket had seen a lot of use judging by the wear on the FQHH.

I emailed Aero and they said that the hair can wear off so I decided not to buy one and went for a Windward instead.
 

frussell

One Too Many
Messages
1,409
Location
California Desert
Having owned and worked with hair-on leather and made many items out of it, I can answer some of your questions. Striking, yes. Elegant, not so much, although some old mohair chaps are elegant looking. Smell different, yes, but not unpleasant, unless really wet, then a little "doggy." Hair will wear off in areas of friction. This is not a concern with hair-on cowboy gear, and adds to the authentic look, but is not necessarily a cool thing in a jacket. Any dander that might still be left on the hide or hair should disappear fairly quickly. It's not a live animal which still produces dander. A good vacuuming should take care of the majority of it. It's cool stuff, but it gets that "lived in look" pretty quick, which is why the vintage ones that are well-preserved go for such high prices. Frank
 

frussell

One Too Many
Messages
1,409
Location
California Desert
It's true! Every once in a while you'll see some old wooly mohair, angora or other longer hair-on chaps that are just beautiful. Almost too pretty to imagine wearing them, except maybe in a parade. I love the Aero Grizzly, but I'd be heartbroken at that price every time some of the precious hair fell out of my jacket. I had some really nice hair-on chinks that I used to wear, and something about them scared the crap out of one horse in particular, don't know if it was the smell, or maybe they were made out of a relative, but he would pull back and break his halter every time I wore them near him. Frank
 

Red Baron

Banned
Messages
39
Location
Anywhere but here
I wonder if the "hair on" could be removed by Aero for an additional charge if the wearer decided he did not like it after all? Anybody know the answer to this question?

I have never seen a hair on jacket in person before so I have no idea of how it would look in person. One of the things I like about Aero is how unique their jackets are. A hair on jacket is extremely unique. It would stand out in a crowd, very much so. Still, maybe it would be too weird.

I was thinking seriously of the Stewart jacket with hair. Now I know this sounds very weird. Here is my idea.

The shape of jacket is so unique and buttons make these mid length FQHH jackets dressier. Modifying the Stewart with front and back seams on upper chest and upper back like the Zip HWM and having Aero put the hair on over top of the shoulders for that rugged look. Right over the top. No break at all, except where the collar is. In front and back, the hair would stop at the seams, leaving the body on both sides below the seams just straight FQHH. OK that is my idea.

I really like what Augustus from Berlin did with the Steward jacket. It was really quite a brilliant idea to put a V seam in back. The jacket of course is not 1930's style with the way that August ordered his, but it is a very nice looking cut of a jacket to me and very elegant.

I am not interested in the standard "biker" jacket with "hair on." I do not drive a motorcycle, so that type of fashion is not something that I like for myself. It certainly looks great on others especially those who drive motorcycles and vintage motorcycles all the better to go with vintage style jackets.
 

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