Vicenza leather in new Aero is inconsistent

[domaineminent]

Hey guys, I'm a bit concerned about a potential issue with my new jacket and wanted to run it by the experts here. The main problem is that the lower right arm, lower back, and some of the lower front of my new jacket are very noticeably thinner and have a much different texture than the rest of the jacket. Besides these parts, the jacket is much more grainy and has a slightly lighter and more consistent color. The right arm bunches up a bit differently than the left, looks a little darker and has more depth, is a bit more flexible, etc. It's almost like a different leather in the sections of the jacket that feel thin. I actually like the way it looks and feels better than the parts that aren't thin. My concerns are that these thin parts are all in areas that are likely to take the most wear and tear (I'm right handed), possibly compromising the longevity of the jacket, and potentially will visibly age differently. They already have a noticeable difference in appearance from the rest of the jacket, I'm concerned that will become even more noticeable. Thoughts?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Doesn't sound good. Any photos..??

 

[AeroFan_07]

^^ what HD said, please take photos and upload them....welcome to FL too!

 

[domaineminent]

Sorry for the delay in responding, been busy. It was surprisingly difficult to get a good shot but attached to this message should be pictures of the left and right sleeves that shows how much smoother the thin leather of the right sleeve is. Or not... is there some trick to adding pictures? I tried upload file and it errors out

 

[Monitor]

Dunno, the variations in the texture and the way the jacket creases sound perfectly normal to me. That's natural leather for you. Jackets are made from all parts of the hide, you can't expect it to be uniform all over. You can but then you can also expect it to be made out of the so called corrected leather.

I am curious about the variation in thickness, though. You sure the parts you mention are actually that much thinner and not just softer, giving the impression of being not as thick as the rest of the jacket?

Either way, I wouldn't worry about it. The wear should eventually even out and even really lightweight leather is actually very tough and will survive far longer than you would actually care to wear it. Let alone something something heavier and as high grade as Vicenza. The longevity we're talking about here is measured in decades.

 

[Sloan1874]

Can I also suggest in the first instance that you contact Aero with the pics and your concerns. They'll be able to tell you better than anyone here if there's an issue with your jacket.

 

[HPA Rep]

Dunno, the variations in the texture and the way the jacket creases sound perfectly normal to me. That's natural leather for you. Jackets are made from all parts of the hide, you can't expect it to be uniform all over. You can but then you can also expect it to be made out of the so called corrected leather.

I am curious about the variation in thickness, though. You sure the parts you mention are actually that much thinner and not just softer, giving the impression of being not as thick as the rest of the jacket?

Either way, I wouldn't worry about it. The wear should eventually even out and even really lightweight leather is actually very tough and will survive far longer than you would actually care to wear it. Let alone something something heavier and as high grade as Vicenza. The longevity we're talking about here is measured in decades.

My EXACT thoughts!

 

[willyto]

I have a jacket from Aero made in mid weight horsehide from Horween. At first I had the same concerns, thinking the leather was actually thinner and it showed more character and more creasing. Then I realised it was just all part of the leather itself, the area is not thinner nor more prone to fail or anytyhing but it's just more soft and breaks in better showing a lot more grain.

In fact I wish all the jacket was like that! I would contact Aero with your concerns, after all they made the jacket.

 

[tropicalbob]

^Same here. When I first got my LHB some years ago I had the same concerns, but then I noticed as it was breaking in that the larger piece of leather that makes up the back was breaking in differently in the shoulder and at the bottom, down by the belt: they looked like two different pieces of leather but were just different ends of the same piece. One end was extremely grainy and the other very smooth. As it has broken in the grain has appeared somewhat more uniform, but the whole jacket now has different shades and the patina varies. The brown CXL HH is really fantastic.

 

[Chris7273]

Same for my blue Vicenza board racer. Wear it : the patina will come quickly. After being drenched, the leather has darkened a lot and now it's more uniform.
If you find it unbearable : contact aero, they are really customer focused and easy to speak with.

 

[Edward]

As others have noted, if you have concerns about a product the best person to speak to is usually the manufacturer themselves, as they'll be more familiar with the materials than any of us here. Do bear in mind, of course - as, again, many have said, that leather is an organic material. No two animal hides will ever be perfectly identical, and there will be some variance even across the single hide from which your jacket is probably made. That's the difference between something organic and full grain than dealing with a leather which has been artificially created, or a wool or nylon or other textile which can be woven to a set, even spec. In terms of creasing and wear, leather will always show a different break-in pattern to some extent based on how different parts of the jacket are worn / moved: I'd expect more creasing much more quickly on your dominant arm, for example.

FWIW, one of my early leather jackets had a thin spot which I initially worried about, then forgot about, and years later it's never been an issue.

 

[Hh121]

My eastman, it's certainly normal, am I happy? No

 

[Monitor]

My eastman, it's certainly normal, am I happy? No

Why not, what's wrong?

 

[Hh121]

The sleeve of my eastman a2 consist of two totally different leather (color, texture), I am sure the company knows what they are doing, but for a jacket cost more than 1k, I am not happy with this.

 

[nick123]

The sleeve of my eastman a2 consist of two totally different leather (color, texture), I am sure the company knows what they are doing, but for a jacket cost more than 1k, I am not happy with this.

There’s a method to that madness. Many reproduction A-2s have mismatched panels, as this was how they were often put together in the 40s. It’s a good thing!

 

[pak]

The differences in that sleeve would be of no concern to me. I would enjoy watching it age.

 

[Hh121]

There’s a method to that madness. Many reproduction A-2s have mismatched panels, as this was how they were often put together in the 40s. It’s a good thing!

Of course I know, I didn't mention the both mismatched leather are placed under the arm.
During that time, they also use the skin from stomach because of shortage of material.
I don't see that is the fact cause the mismatch in reproduction a2 today, the only thing I can think of is to saving the cost during the production, just my opinion.

 

[Monitor]

The sleeve of my eastman a2 consist of two totally different leather (color, texture), I am sure the company knows what they are doing, but for a jacket cost more than 1k, I am not happy with this.

Was it like that when you got it?

There is a tag in every good leather jacket that states that the variation and imperfection in the leather is a proof of its genuineness.

This still looks like a perfectly normal thing on a quality leather jacket. Desirable thing, to be honest.

 

[Hh121]

Was it like that when you got it?

There is a tag in every good leather jacket that states that the variation and imperfection in the leather is a proof of its genuineness.

This still looks like a perfectly normal thing on a quality leather jacket. Desirable thing, to be honest.

Don't get me wrong, I like the jacket a lot, and I honestly don't care the mismatch since it is under the arm, just want share the same experience to show it is normal to have two totally different leather, again, they know what they are doing.

 

[El Marro]

My new Eastman horsehide G-1 has the exact same mismatch where the outer sleeve panel has a ton of grain and wrinkles while the inner panel is pretty smooth and boring. I only noticed this the other day after wearing the jacket nonstop for couple weeks since I received it.
This doesn't bother me since they put the boring leather where it was pretty unnoticeable, perhaps there is a method to their madness.