Leather Jacket Dyes

[JeremyT]

Hi everyone, I’m knee deep in the leather jacket rabbit hole. I’m wondering, what should I look for if I want a black jacket to stay…black. I understand I should stay away from tea core, black over brown, but any specifics and experiences you may have would be greatly appreciated! I’m in the market for a split collar highwayman style with button cuffs. I like DudsbyDel shop examples, have also seen Master Supply but think they make jackets specifically for fast fading. Can’t fit in the Premier Highwayman, arms are too big unfortunately. Thanks!

 

[timrpi]

I think chrome tanned would be durable since the dye penetrates really deep.

 

[Edward]

AFAIK, Chrome tanned is a better bet, yes. Worth speaking to whomever you ask to make you a jacket about this as they should be able to confirm what black hides are stay-black.

 

[JeremyT]

Thank you guys for the replies, I’ll look into Chrome tanned - appreciate the feedback

 

[LightenUpFrancis]

This may not be what you were asking, but any of my drum-dyed black jackets have the most consistency in color and finish across wear points, and I think they happen to be veg tanned.

 

[codex]

Just ask if the leather is dyed through black. Most makers have that option available.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Thank you guys for the replies, I’ll look into Chrome tanned - appreciate the feedback

What you want is a dyed-through aniline or semi-aniline leather, veg- or chrome tanned makes no difference. Pigment: colour coat that chips offand reveals either brown or grey leather under it depending on tanning. Teacore Aniline isn't dyed through and will reveal brown once the colour wears off/fades.

Ask DudsbyDel for a custom made from Vansons in-house leather. that will stay black. it is pigment-finished but very hard wearing colour coat for many many years. Most of his jackets are Vanson Collabs, so that should be possible,

 

[raf]

Hi everyone, I’m knee deep in the leather jacket rabbit hole. I’m wondering, what should I look for if I want a black jacket to stay…black. I understand I should stay away from tea core, black over brown, but any specifics and experiences you may have would be greatly appreciated! I’m in the market for a split collar highwayman style with button cuffs. I like DudsbyDel shop examples, have also seen Master Supply but think they make jackets specifically for fast fading. Can’t fit in the Premier Highwayman, arms are too big unfortunately. Thanks!

Are you talking about "touching-up" wear/discoloration on some surfaces/wear surfaces, or something else? If overall surface/finish wear is very light and not "concentrated" on some specific points, a simple application of decent leather oil/conditioner may do. Less is more; a number of light applications always better than dousing the leather. Oil application is not a replacement for original waterproofing finish, but it helps.

If Re-Dying existing leather, suggest having the leather item professionally cleaned beforehand. Doing so will reduce impediments to re-dying specific spots. Always an alternative to apply alcohol to bare spots to promote new dye acceptance.

I would think that any leather item which was "Drum Dyed" with the original dye completely penetrating the leather might be preferable for your stated purposes. Re-Dying a Black leather jacket Black, or even "touching-up" wear points is generally much easier than attempting to replicate various shades of different colors.

Also depends on whether the original leather had a water-resistant, kinda glossy finish, or not. Sheepskin jackets may or may not have any sort of externally applied waterproofing finish.

Tell us what you have, and what your goal is.