Why only Japan makes high-quality jackets?

[Jamesonisliar]

Hello. I'm a man from South Korea who loves vintage clothing and military.

I bought Toys McCoy's A-2 a few years ago and it was really cool. But a few months ago when I moved to another city, I lost my A-2

So I wanted to buy my new A-2. so i traveled to Fukuoka, Japan, and there I met A-2 leather jackets of the brands(Buzzrickson, Rainbow country, Real McCoy, AVIREX, COCKPIT U.S.A and Aeroleather)

This is only my opinion, but the Japanese brand a-2 was much more expensive and of better quality.

The shopman told me that if I was looking for the best quality A-2, I had to buy Japanese clothing. I had to agree to it. And I bought Real McCoy's A-2.

I love Japanese clothing and respect clothing makers and owners.

But I wonder Why is high quality A-2 only made by Japan? Are there any high quality A-2 Brands I've never experienced?

Please forgive me if my post was offensive or bad. My English is not perfect...!

Thank you for reading and have a nice day!!

 

[dannyk]

Well military jackets are not my specialty but I know people who love Aero, Eastman, Goodwear Bill Kelso, Lost Worlds to name a few that are not Japanese. They are considered high end and very very well made on par with the Japanese brands. Although Aero and Lost Worlds may not be the most accurate, I believe Eastman, Goodwear and Kelso are very well known for their accuracy. Thats about the extent of my knowledge though. Im sure others will jump in and give you all the information you need. But yes, japan is known for their incredible jacket makers and reproductions. The last 15 or so years they have been one of the most reliable and accurate markets. In any case, nice having you on the forum and your English is better than some people I know from my own English speaking country! ha

 

[LaymanX]

It's not just jackets. They make high quality.. well.. almost everything! Cars.. pastries.. fountain pens.. pasta

Their culture is to go abroad, learn and master specialized skills and bring them back to their homeland.

A funny story, I was in Florence a few years ago, the city of artisans. I was looking for a decent leather belt and a lot of the local leather workers had decent wares, but nothing that lived up the city's reputation. Then I stumbled across this one small humble shop and was wowed by the quality. Turns out, it was a Japanese leather worker who had learned his trade with the local artisans and mastered it.

 

[Dav]

Isn't Goodwear considered the holy grail of repro A-2s.

I don't speak from experience, I've never owned, handled or even seen one.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Welcome to the Lounge.

Jackets have different qualities and people care about different aspects of quality.

For example I own a goatskin jacket made in Pakistan which will look as new 30 years from now because that is what chrome-tanned goatskin does. Your Real McCoy A2 will have plenty of scratches, color loss and alike - some call it patina, some call it a damaged, undesirable and deem such a jacket unwearable - within six months of wear. This aspect of a jacket, longevity, is also a form of quality. And someone who cares much about longevity may call my pakistani goatskin a quality jacket and not care about the McCoys at all.

Then there is historic accuracy. In this field your A2 will win, definitely a very high quality jacket from this perspective. I believe Eastman is fairly accurate in their patterns too, you may look there if you care about historic accuracy.

Then stitching is also a form of quality. Stitching on your jacket is one of the best out there, but I believe @Carlos840 who owns many quality jackets and has a keen eye for stitching, has much praise for non-japanese brands like Lost Worlds or Lewis Leathers too, so in this field there are other "quality" makers too which you may want to look at.

This list continues. Jackets have so many different attributes and depending on which attributes you value, you may call different makers and product such of high quality - or not.

 

[Jamesonisliar]

Well military jackets are not my specialty but I know people who love Aero, Eastman, Bill Kelso, Lost Worlds to name a few that are not Japanese. They are considered high end and very very well made on par with the Japanese brands. Although Aero and Lost Worlds may not be the most accurate, I believe Eastman and Kelso are very well known for their accuracy. Thats about the extent of my knowledge though. Im sure others will jump in and give you all the information you need. But yes, japan is known for their incredible jacket makers and reproductions. The last 15 or so years they have been one of the most reliable and accurate markets. In any case, nice having you on the forum and your English is better than some people I know from my own English speaking country! ha

Thank you so much for your compliment and good information!!

A few minutes ago, I found a website for Bill kelso and Eastman. There are very nice a-2 jackets.
And it's amazing to have found flight jackets in Germany and British(RAF)!!!

 

[sweetfights]

Hello. I'm a man from South Korea who loves vintage clothing and military.

I bought Toys McCoy's A-2 a few years ago and it was really cool. But a few months ago when I moved to another city, I lost my A-2

So I wanted to buy my new A-2. so i traveled to Fukuoka, Japan, and there I met A-2 leather jackets of the brands(Buzzrickson, Rainbow country, Real McCoy, AVIREX, COCKPIT U.S.A and Aeroleather)

This is only my opinion, but the Japanese brand a-2 was much more expensive and of better quality.

The shopman told me that if I was looking for the best quality A-2, I had to buy Japanese clothing. I had to agree to it. And I bought Real McCoy's A-2.

I love Japanese clothing and respect clothing makers and owners.

But I wonder Why is high quality A-2 only made by Japan? Are there any high quality A-2 Brands I've never experienced?

Please forgive me if my post was offensive or bad. My English is not perfect...!

Thank you for reading and have a nice day!!

Good Wear, Himel, Lost Worlds. Just to start.

 

[Carlos840]

For A2s i would say: Goodwear, Eastman, Bill Kelso, Platon (J.A Dubow mfg), Lost Worlds, and Aero all make a decent one, with the edge on authenticity going to Goodwear, Eastman, BK and Platon.

If i wanted "the bet ever" i would probably try to find a Goodwear, his civilian jackets are very very nice and his A2s are supposed to be even better.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

They're a culture of detail. I'm sure you know this, as being South Korean? Ever watched a Japanese person sharpen a knife, or how they get their sharpening stones? Or create ink from a rock for their pens? Or even baseball gloves. I don't think you're going to find this philosophy and dedication concentrated anywhere else on earth. Maybe a person here or there, or a group here or there, but not like this. A culture that embraces and, continues to, reward master craftsmanship. Art.

 

[Blackadder]

OK let's get one fact straight. RM leather jackets were made in New Zealand before 2001. Then some time after 2001, they stopped buying from New Zealand and started making leather jackets in Japan but that is more a business decision than a quality issue. Because in 2001, Real McCoy's was under financial difficulties and it was taken over by the current owner. The New Zealand factory i.e. the Few continued to make quality jackets for Japanese market under its own brand.

 

[Jamesonisliar]

led

It's not just jackets. They make high quality.. well.. almost everything! Cars.. pastries.. fountain pens.. pasta

Their culture is to go abroad, learn and master specialized skills and bring them back to their homeland.

A funny story, I was in Florence a few years ago, the city of artisans. I was looking for a decent leather belt and a lot of the local leather workers had decent wares, but nothing that lived up the city's reputation. Then I stumbled across this one small humble shop and was wowed by the quality. Turns out, it was a Japanese leather worker who had learned his trade with the local artisans and mastered it.

I agree with you! all japanese products are perfect.
I have a honda motorcycle and it is perfect !!

I think their mentality in pursuit of perfection is necessary for the development of culture.

Perhaps this can be expressed in terms of 'craftsmanship'.

There're many clothing brands in S.Korea, but sadly most of them are not interested in military reproduction. The market can't grow because many people don't know its value. But I want a good brand to appear someday!

 

[Jamesonisliar]

Isn't Goodwear considered the holy grail of repro A-2s.

I don't speak from experience, I've never owned, handled or even seen one.

I found information about it on the forum.

And there is some information about it on the Korean website, but no one with it found.

Nice and mysterious. I'll investigate more about it !!

 

[Blackadder]

https://masterfilm.co.kr/goods/catalog?code=0001
A friend of mine bought from these guys in S Korea. I tried it on and it is not bad.

 

[Blackadder]

I found information about it on the forum.

And there is some information about it on the Korean website, but no one with it found.

Nice and mysterious. I'll investigate more about it !!

http://www.goodwearleather.com/pages/index.html

 

[Jamesonisliar]

Welcome to the Lounge.

Jackets have different qualities and people care about different aspects of quality.

For example I own a goatskin jacket made in Pakistan which will look as new 30 years from now because that is what chrome-tanned goatskin does. Your Real McCoy A2 will have plenty of scratches, color loss and alike - some call it patina, some call it a damaged, undesirable and deem such a jacket unwearable - within six months of wear. This aspect of a jacket, longevity, is also a form of quality. And someone who cares much about longevity may call my pakistani goatskin a quality jacket and not care about the McCoys at all.

Then there is historic accuracy. In this field your A2 will win, definitely a very high quality jacket from this perspective. I believe Eastman is fairly accurate in their patterns too, you may look there if you care about historic accuracy.

Then stitching is also a form of quality. Stitching on your jacket is one of the best out there, but I believe @Carlos840 who owns many quality jackets and has a keen eye for stitching, has much praise for non-japanese brands like Lost Worlds or Lewis Leathers too, so in this field there are other "quality" makers too which you may want to look at.

This list continues. Jackets have so many different attributes and depending on which attributes you value, you may call different makers and product such of high quality - or not.

Thank you for your welcome!

you are right. The meaning of quality can vary depending on the person's point of view.

My Real Mccoy a-2 is already aging. My leather jacket will get a lot of damage. From this point of view this is not the best.

Perhaps the Japanese shopman told me that sewing and accuracy are perfect...!

 

[Jamesonisliar]

Good Wear, Himel, Lost Worlds. Just to start.

Himel brothers is also great. In just a few minutes I got to know a lot of cool jackets information. I'll save money to buy some of them!!

 

[Jamesonisliar]

For A2s i would say: Goodwear, Eastman, Bill Kelso, Platon (J.A Dubow mfg), Lost Worlds, and Aero all make a decent one, with the edge on authenticity going to Goodwear, Eastman, BK and Platon.

If i wanted "the bet ever" i would probably try to find a Goodwear, his civilian jackets are very very nice and his A2s are supposed to be even better.

I read a lot of information about goodware here. The reputation is enormous in this forum. I want to get a new A-2 and maybe the first will be goodware.

 

[ton312]

Japanese make everything perfect? Well, except of course nuclear power plants.
And my wool RMC crosszip felt worse than the cheapest thing at Zara. As is often the case, people associate a price tag with quality. It’s a novel self delusion. Having run the gambit on low and high priced leather jackets, I don’t find one necessarily equates to the other.

While I do think that Japanese makers are putting out some very nice stuff, in my experience it’s not any better than anything else. It’s marketed to be and it may well posses qualities that people consider to be higher quality, but to say they are the only makers of anything quality in leather is absolutely absurd, laughable and quite novice.

 

[Jamesonisliar]

http://www.goodwearleather.com/pages/index.html

Thank you for information and opinion

I also know a little about the few. And the current RM and the past rm are different. Unfortunately, I didt find the few leather jackets, a completely new product. It must be a leather jacket superior to the current RM.

And masterfilm is well known in the vintage clothing community(고아캐드) in Korea. The owner knows how to respect the original a-2 and how to make his own a-2!

Honestly I was surprised that you know it!

But I didn't choose it because I wanted an A-2 similar to Toy's McCoy that i lost before

 

[Blackadder]

Thank you for information and opinion

I also know a little about the few. And the current RM and the past rm are different. Unfortunately, I didt find the few leather jackets, a completely new product. It must be a leather jacket superior to the current RM.

And masterfilm is well known in the vintage clothing community(고아캐드) in Korea. The owner knows how to respect the original a-2 and how to make his own a-2!

Honestly I was surprised that you know it!

But I didn't choose it because I wanted an A-2 similar to Toy's McCoy that i lost before

The Few is no longer in business, at least not in regular business. You may find some old stock here.
http://wriver.com/gorilla/?sec=few
https://www.facebook.com/pg/GORILLA...57626051234&rt=6&referral_code=page_shop_card