Addict started off by copying various styles from Lewis and Belstaff (the Lightning and the Corsair being the most prominent). I have heard that at that time they had been a budget option in JP as opposed to importing an original LL.
At that time, of course, if you wanted a horsehide LL, you were stuck with their „house“ leather that - to this day - comes in various forms of „vinyl“, depending on the batch, while Addict were using a very nice, subtle hide. Thats how I came across them: seeing a guy with what should have been a „Lighting 392“ but with a much better leather at Hamburg airport.
Today, much has changed: you can buy LL Japan at a decent local price and you can ramp up your LL with a very nice veg tanned horsehide (or lately cowhide). The upcharge is such that you might as we’ll stick to Addict still, but that’s open to debate.
Full disclosure: I’ve come to like my LL Lightning more than my Addict copy, so I sold the later. This despite the Addict being the „nicer“ jacket. As for the Corsair, I still prefer the Addict over the LL (although perhaps only until a remake of the LL in the veg tan horse).
Addict also offers various collabs that are copies of nothing else, so this would be a different story altogether.
