Vegecow Lewis Leathers quality

[Joshua Holland]

I placed the order about three weeks ago, and then Rip and I exchanged some emails to nail down all the measurements and details, which took about a week. I started with the 38 and changed the shoulder, sleeve length and opening - keeping the chest as is.

Mine took about 6 weeks, last spring, also with some custom measurements.

 

[Salmosalar]

I've seen some described as Rutland Sheep, is that the same as Sheep?

No - it is not the same as the standard vegtan sheep (the one that I have) - I have not seen the Rutland sheep up close but it is an option they offer on request but only in black I believe, and it is a smoother (and maybe slightly thicker?) grain than the standard offering. Others in FL might have more direct experience of it?

 

[Salmosalar]

Mine took about 6 weeks, last spring, also with some custom measurements.

Mine have all been custom made and taken between 6-12 weeks from placing the order to completion….15 days is pretty nimble indeed!

 

[Jin431]

15 days after finalising my order, it arrived in Texas! I really just threw it on and snapped some pics before getting back to work, but overall impression is very good. The sheep hide feels like a glove.

Only negatives I can find are the pocket layout (which many have said is impractical) and the thick leather bunching at the sleeve when fully zipped (something I never do)

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Looking good! What a very cool piece, what seems to be a perfect fit. How do you like the leather and how's the Range of motion on it?

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

15 days after finalising my order, it arrived in Texas! I really just threw it on and snapped some pics before getting back to work, but overall impression is very good. The sheep hide feels like a glove.

Only negatives I can find are the pocket layout (which many have said is impractical) and the thick leather bunching at the sleeve when fully zipped (something I never do)

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Well done. It's just awesome

 

[Pandemic]

Looking good! What a very cool piece, what seems to be a perfect fit. How do you like the leather and how's the Range of motion on it?

Thanks. It’s too early to say conclusively, but the range of motion feels really good. This thing is really slim, yet feels perfect and just disappears when I slip it on.

The leather is reasonably thick but buttery soft. To be honest, it feels so nice to the touch (like nice gloves or maybe a handbag?) that there will be a temptation to baby it.

 

[Jin431]

Thanks. It’s too early to say conclusively, but the range of motion feels really good. This thing is really slim, yet feels perfect and just disappears when I slip it on.

The leather is reasonably thick but buttery soft. To be honest, it feels so nice to the touch (like nice gloves or maybe a handbag?) that there will be a temptation to baby it.

That's good to know, I'm thinking it has better range of motion and shoulder comfort to other heritage brands since LL is a motorcycle jacket specialist. Looks real slim and am imagining very pleasant to wear compared to other hides you have/had before.

Congrats on this, this is really very different to your other jackets so the collection is very varied. Well played!

 

[red devil]

15 days after finalising my order, it arrived in Texas! I really just threw it on and snapped some pics before getting back to work, but overall impression is very good. The sheep hide feels like a glove.

Only negatives I can find are the pocket layout (which many have said is impractical) and the thick leather bunching at the sleeve when fully zipped (something I never do)

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Wow!

That smile says it all! Nice jacket!

Exactly my thoughts when I saw the pics

 

[Imuricecreamman]

SO MANY COOL JACKETS HERE!!

Anybody know this model?

 

[Salmosalar]

SO MANY COOL JACKETS HERE!!

Anybody know this model?

Looks like their newer Memphis 723?

 

[Imuricecreamman]

Looks like their newer Memphis 723?

Looks like a perfect match except for the different angle on the handwarmer pockets.

 

[Salmosalar]

Looks like a perfect match except for the different angle on the handwarmer pockets.

Good point wrt the handwarmers - it doesnt seem to match exactly with any of their current line up and seems to have elements of their different jackets - I think the Memphis is the closest overall, but maybe this is some kind of prototype before they released the current version?

 

[Imuricecreamman]

Good point wrt the handwarmers - it doesnt seem to match exactly with any of their current line up and seems to have elements of their different jackets - I think the Memphis is the closest overall, but maybe this is some kind of prototype before they released the current version?

Yeah... Couldn't find a good match on their site but the Memphis is definitive the closest. This one don't seem to have the leather gussets for the zippers on the arms as well. A few odd details.

 

[Tom71]

15 days after finalising my order, it arrived in Texas! I really just threw it on and snapped some pics before getting back to work, but overall impression is very good. The sheep hide feels like a glove.

Only negatives I can find are the pocket layout (which many have said is impractical) and the thick leather bunching at the sleeve when fully zipped (something I never do)

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Well done, both you and LL! Looks awesome, and I can only echo Marc´s "Rockstar" comment!

 

[Tom71]

No - it is not the same as the standard vegtan sheep (the one that I have) - I have not seen the Rutland sheep up close but it is an option they offer on request but only in black I believe, and it is a smoother (and maybe slightly thicker?) grain than the standard offering. Others in FL might have more direct experience of it?

No experience, but I was interested and exchanged some e-mails with Rip about Rutland.

It is chrome tanned and thicker than the regular (veg-tan) sheep. In the end Rip suggested I go with the regular hide as I was looking for that distinctive grain pictured in many LL-sheep photos. I was assured it´s pretty substantial too.

My LL is out for delivery as of today. Three weeks order to delivery. Much faster than expected, but still one week more UK-Germany than UK-Texas.

 

[Pandemic]

No experience, but I was interested and exchanged some e-mails with Rip about Rutland.

It is chrome tanned and thicker than the regular (veg-tan) sheep. In the end Rip suggested I go with the regular hide as I was looking for that distinctive grain pictured in many LL-sheep photos. I was assured it´s pretty substantial too.

My LL is out for delivery as of today. Three weeks order to delivery. Much faster than expected, but still one week more UK-Germany than UK-Texas.

That’s about what Rip told me as well. Rutland is a chrome and veg tanned hide that is a little thicker but lacks grain. He described it as a cross between their standard horse and sheep, while recommending I go with standard sheep.

Can’t wait to see yours when it arrives!!

 

[Edward]

15 days after finalising my order, it arrived in Texas! I really just threw it on and snapped some pics before getting back to work, but overall impression is very good. The sheep hide feels like a glove.

Only negatives I can find are the pocket layout (which many have said is impractical) and the thick leather bunching at the sleeve when fully zipped (something I never do)

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This look superb. Great fit - neither oversized, nor too-tight. (Some of us have in the past made the mistake of going too tight.) Pocket layout can be an issue on a lot of jackets - on my Schott 618, I still have to take it off to easily get at the "handwarmers" - too far back. Still, imo the primary purpose of zip pockets on this sort of jacket's exterior is really more about decoration than anything...

Thanks! I was afraid I'd look like a sad, aging rock star (Keith Richards?), but I'm feeling pretty good about this purchase so far! Hahah, it just arrived 90 minutes ago.

Keith will always be cool. For sad, aging you need to look at Jagger or especially Ronnie Wood.

Their sheep is actually thicker than their standard HH - it is nothing like lambskin and is a fantastic hide - the green Super Phantom I have in it is my most comfortable jacket to date and it was like that straight out of the box.

To the best of my knowledge, lamb and sheep used between the wars for most British leathers was very fragile (one reason they're so rare), but this stuff does definitely seem to have the durability factor given the sheer number of 60s originals I've handled that have been worn a lot and are still in good nick. I don't know that I'd be confident about its abrasion-resistent properties in an off from a bike, but it clearly holds up to being worn as a garment.

SO MANY COOL JACKETS HERE!!

Anybody know this model?

This is the most American style of Lewis I've ever seen. (One or two older, Perfecto-alikes aside). Delete coin pocket, change the pocket angles slightly, and most distinctively the front belt (which back when was one of the "problems" of the American design that Lewis deleted when aiming at a British market where bike and riding style tended to be different). I also rather like the lack of gussets behind the sleeve zips.

 

[Pandemic]

This look superb. Great fit - neither oversized, nor too-tight. (Some of us have in the past made the mistake of going too tight.)

Thanks! I can only just close it at the bottom, over a thick belt and there isn't much extra space in the chest. Yet it does not feel tight at all, which I think is a testament to the design.

Rip advised me to go a cm wider on the shoulders than I initially suggested, and I think that was a good move. He also suggested a touch more length, which is funny because usually it's people telling me to go shorter, and that was also spot-on.

Pocket layout can be an issue on a lot of jackets - on my Schott 618, I still have to take it off to easily get at the "handwarmers" - too far back. Still, imo the primary purpose of zip pockets on this sort of jacket's exterior is really more about decoration than anything....

Absolutely. If I have well placed hard warmers I may stick my mitts in there occasionally, but the only pocket I ever use for storing things is the inside one - and I got a well placed, deep zippered pocket on the right side which is perfect for me.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

My wallet is in danger here. LOL. I think once I see a few more pics, I'm going to succumb. Curious for the US members what the customs hit is? I'm guessing the jacket is around $1200 and I think we pay something on anything over $800.

I guess I'm in no rush, so can wait for that one day when one appears on Ebay. But this line feels like you kind of want it honed into your measurements.

 

[Salmosalar]

My wallet is in danger here. LOL. I think once I see a few more pics, I'm going to succumb. Curious for the US members what the customs hit is? I'm guessing the jacket is around $1200 and I think we pay something on anything over $800.

I guess I'm in no rush, so can wait for that one day when one appears on Ebay. But this line feels like you kind of want it honed into your measurements.

I would certainly recommend getting LL tailored to fit tbh - they do an amazing job and the second hand market is a bit of a lottery - they still tend to fetch pretty high prices (sone of them ridiculously high) but some of the jackets from the 80s for instance took a bit of a dive in quality imo, plus quite a lot of them seem to be custom anyway, so you are at the mercy of the seller making reliable measurements - which I have found to be the exception rather than the rule. I think the best vfm to be had is by getting a new custom order done, though you might be lucky and find a real vintage gem from the 70s or earlier at a good price if the seller doesn't know what they have on their hands….but that could be a long wait! Marc Mndt picked up a SH beauty recently, so they are out there if you are patient and/or lucky. The modern hides and linings they offer now are really excellent and they make them to fit like a glove if you can supply accurate measurements. They also do a few direct sales items of stock seconds on their bay shop for about £500 so that might be a good middle ground, and at least the measurements will be reliable!