Alter a Vanson Assoc White Label?

[Trouser Bark]

I have a few jackets and among them is an old White Label Vanson. It says "welcome to 1970" in a way that most older jackets can't. When I think of the jackets of that era several designs were over the top and something I couldn't wear with any regularity now. This one though is clearly a casual wear jacket w/ a CR cut but the thing that's all about the 70's is the color. The front of the jacket is super dark brown. Looks pretty much black until you really stare at it for a minute. The rear of the jacket is a much lighter brown and the lower panel at the back is close to black. The sleeves are similarly unusual.

The fit is awesome for me in the shoulders and the most comfortable of all my leather jackets. The shoulders fit like a 48, the waist fits as a 48 and the jacket is tagged a 46. What I want to do is send it in to Vanson for their wash and re-dye spa treatment (although I'm not sure it needs the re-dye as color isn't an issue. It smells like an old fart's closet (no, I didn't do that part) and I'd like to get rid of that but have three questions:

- The Vanson clean and re-soak... have you had that done and do you recommend it? Does it chase off the old closet stank? It's not strong but it's definitely there.

- The Vanson re-dye. Done it? Thoughts? Think it would hurt anything if it were done but not really needed?

- I'd like the waist to fit like a 46 but am a little concerned about altering a jacket that's survived 50 years in nearly perfect and not quite broken in condition. I'm not Vanson's own museum but as a guy that likes to honor history and enjoys old jackets I'm not sure that I should be chasing down the old stuff only to make it less authentic to the original build. A newer jacket I would alter without hesitation but a half century out... not sure.

I'll probably have it altered as the jacket is beautiful (to me) absent the issue of fitment. Still, I hesitate.

Your thoughts?

 

[Bennarion]

You have too many doubts about this jacket, so think well worth messing with it. First of all, I would like to see a photo of the jacket and how it suits you

 

[Trouser Bark]

It's as dark as the inside of a dead cow here. I'll upload a few to the site tomorrow..

 

[Monitor]

These old Vanson jackets aren't worth all this work and the price of having Vanson redye it is going to cost you more than the jacket did.
They're fun acquisition if there isn't any work involved but for the kind of project you intend of making this jacket, you're better off finding one that is a better fit for you. They are quite common and always cheap, too, especially the cafe racers.

 

[Marc mndt]

I once owned a Vanson white label cr, it's probably the lowest quality jacket I've handled in the past five years. The leather was so spongy I'm not even sure it was actual leather, more like synthetic material with a topcoat. If this is your jacket then it's not worth anyone's time trying to improve the condition or fit.

 

[Al 916]

If it smells wash it (Bath or machine, there are plenty threads for either).
If it fits well and you enjoy wearing it do just that, enjoy it as it is (sans stink).

 

[Will Zach]

Yes, no, no.

 

[Al 916]

Yes, no, no.

is this the 'what 'they' said' joke again....?

 

[Monitor]

I once owned a Vanson white label cr, it's probably the lowest quality jacket I've handled in the past five years. The leather was so spongy I'm not even sure it was actual leather, more like synthetic material with a topcoat. If this is your jacket then it's not worth anyone's time trying to improve the condition or fit.

View attachment 648327 View attachment 648328 View attachment 648329

That's 100% genuine plasticized split leather.

 

[Trouser Bark]

Here are a few pics of the jacket:

#54,200

Today I'm wearing it as well but instead of putting it on and thinking about fit I instead put a vest on first. It's a Fox Creek, black, thick and heavy leather w/ braided accents and buffalo nickel snaps. My wife thinks it looks like a stripper's vest and maybe I can get some mileage out of that somehow. The vest hogs up enough space that the jacket fitment is nearly right. I suppose it's a little like wearing a hoodie under the jacket but I've never done that before and don't see that changing for me. Might just give it a hard cleaning and leave the sizing matter to my vest though.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Here are a few pics of the jacket:

#54,200

Today I'm wearing it as well but instead of putting it on and thinking about fit I instead put a vest on first. It's a Fox Creek, black, thick and heavy leather w/ braided accents and buffalo nickel snaps. My wife thinks it looks like a stripper's vest and maybe I can get some mileage out of that somehow. The vest hogs up enough space that the jacket fitment is nearly right. I suppose it's a little like wearing a hoodie under the jacket but I've never done that before and don't see that changing for me. Might just give it a hard cleaning and leave the sizing matter to my vest though.

This is a Model A, must be an early one. Leather looks like competition weight stuff of later decades, not like some experimental leathers you see on early models. Good find. Leather looks good condition apart from the slight fading into brown. I would leave it as is and just wear it. Taking in the waist.. idk, I wouldnt. Spent too much money trying to optimize ill fitting jackets only to wear them just as little after modifications.

 

[Bawheid]

Wash 'n wear I say.

On the link photos the jacket looks good

 

[Trouser Bark]

Wash 'n wear I say.

On the link photos the jacket looks good

Xlnt choice. I called Vanson today and asked if they'd wash and redye.

They said "wash, yep".

"Dye, nope".

Looks a little like the choice might be getting a little easier.

 

[VansonRider]

I've had Vanson do a wash and condition of a track suit for me. It needed some holes repaired and the wrists needed to be taken in.
The suit didn't smell, but the leather needed conditioning.
I was happy to pay to get the leather into track ready condition.

I've also cleaned and conditioned my own stuff, including track leathers, and if it hadn't needed the other work done I'd have conditioned it myself.

This was more of a "while you have it there for repair work, why not give it a bath, too." situation.

It came out great, it will get the smell out.

If I were you, I'd try cleaning and conditioning myself first though, and see if you really need to send it in. If you're dead set on alterations though, go ahead and add it to the shopping list.

Only you can decide if alterations are "worth it". If you love it, go ahead and make it yours. Now is a great time to have them tailer something for you, riding season's ending and they might be able to get it back to you in a reasonable amount of time, but be prepared to wait for the work to get done. Whatever time they estimate, double it, and understand it might take even longer...

 

[Trouser Bark]

Xlnt info. Thanks to all.

I've got a Vanson test fit jacket en route to me and they said I could put my jacket in w/ theirs for the return trip once fitment's been sorted. I'll send it back to them w/ my old white label and get it professionally cleaned. In the interim I'll think a little more about the alteration.

Will post up on the decision, process, result and timeline once I get it back.