The quality of hides from round the world.

[Worf]

I was looking in my closet the other day and I found I had an old Wilson 3/4 jacket made of Indian leather (See pics).

While I'm NOT in love with the style and the multitudinous stitching. I do LOVE the quality, lustre and thickness of the leather which, in that its made in India I'll assume is NOT cowhide? Looking and luxuriating in the feel of this coat which I purchased in a Wilson outlet some 15 years ago, I'm wondering what are the opinions of FL members about coat/jacket leathers from countries outside the U.S. and England. Thanks in advance...

Worf

 

[Philalethes]

From the pictures, it looks like horsehide to me, although I have never heard of Wilson's selling anything in horse.

In answer to your other question, I know that Eastman sources at least some of their horse from Italy.

 

[Jack Burton]

From what I remember, the Wilson and M. Julian coats made in India and Pakistan used a lot of goat and lamb. Due to the show Supernatural and the jacket that the main character (Dean Winchester) wore, some of those 1990's jackets became very desirable all of a sudden. The last time I was in a Wilson's leather about 2 years ago, I didn't see a single thing I would have even considered buying. It all looked like crap to me. 25 years ago, that was not the case.

If I were in one of those countries and saw the hides and the shop making the jacket, I'd have no problem ordering one up. It seems that no shops from those countries have any online presence hence no reputation to precede them. I'm always suspect of backing material being glued to leather to make it thicker. Tanning methods vary around the world too since the chemicals used are considered toxins in the U.S. When I contacted Pop's leather (based in Turkey) by email, I got no response. When I called their U.S. rep, he could not tell me about leather thicknesses. He also added that the shop in Turkey gets suspicious when people ask about leather thicknesses but he said he would ask them and call me back, which he never did. Bottom line is I'd rather not roll the dice on something sight unseen with no reputation to back it up.

 

[Worf]

From what I remember, the Wilson and M. Julian coats made in India and Pakistan used a lot of goat and lamb. Due to the show Supernatural and the jacket that the main character (Dean Winchester) wore, some of those 1990's jackets became very desirable all of a sudden. The last time I was in a Wilson's leather about 2 years ago, I didn't see a single thing I would have even considered buying. It all looked like crap to me. 25 years ago, that was not the case.

If I were in one of those countries and saw the hides and the shop making the jacket, I'd have no problem ordering one up. It seems that no shops from those countries have any online presence hence no reputation to precede them. I'm always suspect of backing material being glued to leather to make it thicker. Tanning methods vary around the world too since the chemicals used are considered toxins in the U.S. When I contacted Pop's leather (based in Turkey) by email, I got no response. When I called their U.S. rep, he could not tell me about leather thicknesses. He also added that the shop in Turkey gets suspicious when people ask about leather thicknesses but he said he would ask them and call me back, which he never did. Bottom line is I'd rather not roll the dice on something sight unseen with no reputation to back it up.

Interesting, I just looked at the label I does have "M. Julian" beneath the Wilson. Who knew!! Thick leather, cordavan coloring and it's held up an awfully long time without any help. Goat or lamb you say... Thanks for the information.

Worf

 

[Jack Burton]

Interesting, I just looked at the label I does have "M. Julian" beneath the Wilson. Who knew!! Thick leather, cordavan coloring and it's held up an awfully long time without any help. Goat or lamb you say... Thanks for the information.

Worf

Well, your jacket is definitely not goat and Wilson using horsehide is news to me. I'd say lamb. A lot of Wilsons newer Pelle Studio stuff is lamb too.

 

[dr.velociraptor]

Water Buffalo most likely.

 

[Tomasso]

leathers from countries outside the U.S. and England.

France is at the top of the pyramid standing on Italy's shoulders.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Indian jackets are often made of high quality leather. Remember that nearby Pakistan produces some of the best hides, especially goat. G&B use this goat as do many others.

The better Wilsons are generally goat. But no matter what you read here it is very difficult to tell leather from a photo. How soemthing is tanned, dyed and treated and the quality of photos, mess with the perception.

Some MJulian's have a cult following because of the silly cult series Supernatural - one of the leads often wore a Wilson's car coat.