Johnson Leather Jacket

[digdiss]

Picked up my jacket from johnson the other day.

Truth be told, i was little worried about it since it wasn’t a stock style and this was my first experience doing a custom job.

It turned out better than I'd hoped.

English Tan Steer with a 7berry green patchwork lining. I was looking for something like an Aero long half belt so we added outside snap flap pockets with side entry hand warmers and extended the back a few inches. Primary purpose is not a riding jacket but it will end up on a bike for around town type stuff, so we extended the arms and the windflap and added a double zipper.


Leather was split to make it more wearable for the warmer temperatures on my side of the SF bay. It’s still stiffer than I expected (note the requisite standing on its own photo) but after a few hours of “around the house” wear it’s already starting to loosen up. The leather has a lot of pull up so even with that little wear it’s starting to show some really nice texture and character.


Looking forward to seeing how this breaks in.

 

[Harris HTM]

Picked up my jacket from johnson the other day.

Truth be told, i was little worried about it since it wasn’t a stock style and this was my first experience doing a custom job.

It turned out better than I'd hoped.

English Tan Steer with a 7berry green patchwork lining. I was looking for something like an Aero long half belt so we added outside snap flap pockets with side entry hand warmers and extended the back a few inches. Primary purpose is not a riding jacket but it will end up on a bike for around town type stuff, so we extended the arms and the windflap and added a double zipper.


Leather was split to make it more wearable for the warmer temperatures on my side of the SF bay. It’s still stiffer than I expected (note the requisite standing on its own photo) but after a few hours of “around the house” wear it’s already starting to loosen up. The leather has a lot of pull up so even with that little wear it’s starting to show some really nice texture and character.


Looking forward to seeing how this breaks in.

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Wow! Just wow! Congratulations!

 

[Ohmufasaa]

It looks awesome! Congrats!!

 

[Leathergato]

I love that leather. Awesome pull up.

 

[dinhnguyen57]

please update us in a year on how it will age. Beautiful jacket

 

[digdiss]

please update us in a year on how it will age. Beautiful jacket

Thanks for the nice comments all. I'll post some update pics once it starts really showing wear.

 

[cbez]

These look really cool

Never been a fan of the snap buttons they use

 

[Peacoat]

Thanks for the nice comments all. I'll post some update pics once it starts really showing wear.

That hide will age beautifully.

 

[Bozbag]

TLDR -- if you don't have experience with, and are considering JL, go in person if you can. Pictures and leather samples, in my opinion, don't really do the finished jackets justice.

I recently went with the intention for a very specific purchase, and found the experience of handling finished jackets and different leathers very worthwhile and educational. I actually ended up doing a complete 180 and getting a different style and leather then i initially set out to, after seeing someone pick up a jacket.

If you're of a conventional size and are considering off-the-rack, there were plenty of MLEI, Moroder, and M200 style jackets to try on if you fall within their standard range. Plus I think they're doing a 20% off sale atm. Anyone size 46 and under will have a good time going in-person.

Taking the recent advice of other members in this thread, and my personal experience of handling heavier leathers, i've decided on a brown naked cowhide at 2.75 oz. I'm just oscillating between my choices while I wait for my fit jacket for my Barneveld.

From top to bottom: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and Bella naked cowhide, 2.75 oz. I'm leaning towards the Bella after seeing someone pick up a finished jacket but the milk chocolate grain is very nice also.

Anyone have any experience with the Bella cowhide?

 

[AeroFan_07]

^^ No experience with those leathers. But 100% agree - go in person and try on many jackets.

 

[AttemptingToStyleUp]

Has anyone have had difficulty communicating with them via email recently? In the past they used to be super prompt in responding to questions I've had. But in the last month or so, questions about starting a potential custom order have been completely ignored (despite occasional pings), which is putting me off.

 

[nirvana42]

They didn't respond to a recent email, so I just gave them a call

 

[Rossn12]

Yeah, I had quite a bit of back and forth quickly recently about a custom order. I asked a follow-up last Friday and haven't heard back.

 

[jacketjunkie]

They are having a sale. I bet they are being flooded with sales and enquiries right now.. it is a small shop after all

 

[AttemptingToStyleUp]

They are having a sale. I bet they are being flooded with sales and enquiries right now.. it is a small shop after all

This happened prior to the sale and the new items that landed in the Paradise Garage, though.

 

[Rossn12]

I chalk it up to someone on vacation or something. Not concerned, as he said it's a small shop.

 

[liahos1]

Just ordered a the type two in pitch blue Horween Es***! I don’t have any blue leather jackets other than a lamb skin bomber I bought 15 years ago.

Excited but also nervous! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a jacket in Horween Es*** steerhide !

 

[Perlysinthehouse]

Disclaimer: noob doing a review. I don't normally start threads but I want to highlight the work of Johnson Leathers of San Francisco

hey guys, I would like to share my new JL jacket (it's my 3rd with them). JL is local to me and I'm lucky to be within such a short distance from their shop. I've been treated well and it's always a pleasure doing projects with them. They have been offering more and more options regarding to the hides/hardware/lining they offer so I'm sure they will be getting more business from me in the future.

The jacket is made with their new offering of Masaye HH (a 2.75oz midweight vegetable tanned horse hide out of Germany which used olive leaves with the tanning process with JL adding a sheen once the jacket is made). I don't know if it's full aniline or semi aniline but it is dyed through. I did notice what seems to be blue grayish fibers when I inspected the zipper pulls. The leather itself is soft to the touch. I don't have a lot of experience handling different kinds of Leather but with what I have in my closet i would say it's less stiff than a shinki, definitley won't stand on its own like a cxl, in saying that it feels like a heavyweight goat. It is very easy wearing for sure and just the right weight for my local climate. It's a good windbreaker and it does repel water well when I tried splashing water on it probably because of the added sheen which probably means a light coat of paint? The sheen will eventually fade according to JL so that will be interesting to see over time. What I have on my jacket is a mixed smooth/grainy batch but I see a lot more grainy to be honest which I like, hope more grain pops out when the seen wears off.

Hardware is #5 repro talon in brass
Shell made from cotton lining from Japan (dunno what it's called)
Black satin in the sleeves
Leather strip to bottom sweep to protect liner
Small gauntlet looking design to the outer sleeve (@ton312 inpired)
Zipper sleeves on the inside sleeve panel (loved this from my FL CR jacket)
Interior pocket to left chest
Hidden size tag and made in USA tag
Subtle single point western yoke
Collar is 4" at its widest point

This jacket is probably going to be one of my grab and go jacket, it wears easy and just a simple clean looking black jacket that seems easy to dress up/down.
Maybe I should have added a little bit on the back length but maybe it's because I'm not used to wearing such a short jacket and I hate tucking my shirt too lol

Here you go (pretty overcast so sorry for the bad lighting)

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Jacket looks amazing congrats but leave SF soon Russia will bomb it just saying ‍

 

[liahos1]

Jacket looks amazing congrats but leave SF soon Russia will bomb it just saying ‍

Ha! I live in Texas! But I have two jackets on order (one for my gf) with Damon. I saw the sale and this jacket caught my eye

 

[onstar]

Has anyone have had difficulty communicating with them via email recently? In the past they used to be super prompt in responding to questions I've had. But in the last month or so, questions about starting a potential custom order have been completely ignored (despite occasional pings), which is putting me off.

This.. .... Did they ever respond and did you get a coustom order?
I emailed them about a few questions and they were quick to respond. But the moment I ask them how to start a custom order, they went silent.