The mysterious bending Aero collar -- help sought

[Sir Jacket]

Loungers, I've identified a possible fault in my otherwise excellent M422A: the collar. One half bends over properly and the other lies almost flat (see picture). I tried to mould the flat half into shape (fixing it into place overnight with a monkey clip) but to no avail. Has anyone experienced similar problems? Can anyone help?

Sir J

 

[JanSolo]

Wet both sides of the fold with hot water and use that monkey clip again. Should do the job... The jacket is veg tanned so water shaping works very well.

 

[ButteMT61]

That's nothin'!

 

[Otter]

Liberator pilots? Their right arms all look overdeveloped, a problem I am told due to control surface pressure.

 

[Edward]

Loungers, I've identified a possible fault in my otherwise excellent M422A: the collar. One half bends over properly and the other lies almost flat (see picture). I tried to mould the flat half into shape (fixing it into place overnight with a monkey clip) but to no avail. Has anyone experienced similar problems? Can anyone help?

Sir J

I like it, kinda... looks "natural". I'd be trying to flatten the other side (your left) out, were it mine, probably. Vive la difference! As Jan says, water treatment...

 

[Seb Lucas]

It's a leather jacket... that's what they do.

If it bugs you it can be trained to do the right thing as per above observations.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Yes Sir...soak it..then choke it...!

 

[billyb]

Hence the beauty of a snap-down collar.

 

[Sir Jacket]

Thanks, fellas. Jan, I shall try your miracle hot water treatment (which did seem to lengthen the Stockman sleeves -- thanks -- although I still sent them back bc they were too narrow).

I am intrigued by this statement: "It's a leather jacket... that's what they do." This has a nice ring to it -- but what is it that leather jackets do?

Sir J

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

i always mold my collars with warm water, but i soak the entire collar under the tap (only the collar)

then i mold it and then the jacket hangs to dry for a day, sometimes one have to check it from time to time and shape it again if it goes out, depending on the leather.

it works very good, it becomes like its pressed in that way or something afterwards, its even difficult to get out if one wants to (unless you wet it again)

 

[Seb Lucas]

Thanks, fellas. I am intrigued by this statement: "It's a leather jacket... that's what they do." This has a nice ring to it -- but what is it that leather jackets do?

Sir J

What I mean is it's an organic object, made of a natural fibre, by hand. It's not about straight lines. The whole point of a leather jacket is character: how it wears and moulds and stretches and fades and creases, etc. Your collar, therefore, is a classic example of what leather can do.

 

[Sir Jacket]

"The whole point of a leather jacket is character: how it wears and moulds and stretches and fades and creases, etc"

I agree entirely -- and very well put -- but I'm not sure I wanted to begin with an aberration. I've given it the Jan Patent Amazing Hot Water Treatment, and it is currently monkey-clipped -- so we shall see the outcome.

Sir J

 

[Atticus Finch]

Your jacket is protesting its leather collar. It wants a mouton collar like all of its M-422A friends.

AF

 

[palow]

Hallo All from newbie (first post at least) here,

I have bought custom AeroLeather, leather collared M-422A inspired by Ian Solo s great jackets (red gabardine lining, aero zipper, A2 waistband) and I have the very same problem collar, its due to the throat latch and its knob located just underneath LH collar, I am trying to use Your advices and will see the outcome.

 

[Sir Jacket]

I just checked and, after 24 hours of hot-water-soaking, followed by bending into shape with a monkey clip, the errant collar appears to have heeled!

Sir J

 

[HoosierDaddy]

i always mold my collars with warm water, but i soak the entire collar under the tap (only the collar)

then i mold it and then the jacket hangs to dry for a day, sometimes one have to check it from time to time and shape it again if it goes out, depending on the leather.

it works very good, it becomes like its pressed in that way or something afterwards, its even difficult to get out if one wants to (unless you wet it again)

I have done the same thing for years,Griff. This works especially well with the heavy FQHH. Wetting the waxy hide does make it very pliable enought to shape and form by hand.
HD

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

Yeah its a great technique and it worked amazing on my midweight oilpull collar.

 

[dr.velociraptor]

I wouldn't consider that one of those little things on the jacket that give it some character, I wouldn't consider uneven sleeves character either. Try to bend it to form because that would drive me nuts too, especially after dropping $1000 for a jacket.

 

[Sir Jacket]

Thanks, Dr Velociraptor! I do find Aero can be a bit slapdash about these things. But are you also saying you think my sleeves are uneven?

Sir J

 

[dr.velociraptor]

Thanks, Dr Velociraptor! I do find Aero can be a bit slapdash about these things. But are you also saying you think my sleeves are uneven?

Sir J

No I'm saying the defect on that collar is akin to uneven sleeves, it isn't just a little eccentricity that I would let go.