Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Chinese leather jackets

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
908
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
So Aliexpress sellers are back to using expedited freight options like UPS/Fedex/DHL?


Hmmmm.... Come to think of it, AE is offering free returns now (It seems there is a $7.99 fee involved, so not totally free, BUT still damn good for return shipping to China IMO ;) )... I suppose it makes sense for them to use carriers like UPS with this type of promotion:

Screenshot 2024-06-27 at 15-32-31 Free returns policy.png
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
Hmmmm.... Come to think of it, AE is offering free returns now (It seems there is a $7.99 fee involved, so not totally free, BUT still damn good for return shipping to China IMO ;) )... I suppose it makes sense for them to use carriers like UPS with this type of promotion:

View attachment 623565

That certainly takes a lot of the risk out of the picture. I've only bought small things on aliexpress to date - canvas and denim caps in the main - but they've been pretty good about the one time I needed a refund (was send a cap in completely the wrong size, right item but wrong size, unwearably small) - the Aliexpress bods decreed I should be refuned the entire amount, and didn't expect me to return the cap either.

It'll be interesting to see what arrives. There are one or two jackets I see online from Chinese sellers I very much like the look of - and they offer my size. Problem is they're all using the same generic photos, so I've not yet risked it as I'm really not sure what will arrive. At some point I'll hopefully fidn the time when I'm in Beijing to be able to track down somewhere selling this sort of thing off the rack so I can actually see the pproduct.No luck finding anywhere yet, but I've been so busy the last few trips, no real time to go looking.
 

AHP91

One Too Many
Messages
1,066
I’ve bought a fair bit of items from aliexpress recently, all have arrived quite quickly to the us. I have one item to return and it looks like it will be a totally free return with a prepaid label generated. Will see how it goes.
 

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
908
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
Well, color me impressed! The package was in Alaska yesterday.... UPS managed to get it across the country, and will be delivered to me today!! o_O

That's 8 days from when ordered, and only 4 days from when the label was actually printed. :) I'll get some initial impressions and pics of the jacket posted up ASAP for those interested.... ;)
 

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
908
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
The jacket just arrived.... It appears exactly as in the AE pics. Overall construction and stitching is decent, along with the "uncoated" Italian cowhide (attached material origin tag states leather was sourced from Italy) The shipping weight was 5.5 lbs. If I had to guess, I would say the leather thickness is around 1.2mm, perhaps a bit less.

100% cotton body lining with satin lined sleeves. I am surprised to see a belt included since one wasn't mentioned in the listing :). Zippers and snaps appear sturdy.

I managed to slip the jacket on for a whole minute before breaking out into a sweat, so no fit pics till I can crank the AC up for awhile. I can say that the listed measurements are correct for the XXXL, and the jacket fits well in the shoulders, chest, and sleeves.

I'll get some better, more detailed pics up as time allows. I can say already that I'm pleased with the jacket for the $$.... ;) :)

TBJ241.jpg


TBJ242.jpg


TBJ243.jpg


TBJ244.jpg


TBJ245.jpg
 
Last edited:

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
908
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
That’s the best Chinese leather jacket I ever saw…

It really is one helluva jacket for the price. MUCH better than my hit-n-miss attempts with "bargain" jackets made in Pakistan... ;) I have a feeling the Italian cowhide is going to break in well and look great over time... :cool:

Still too hot this morning for fit pics, but here's some taken out in the daylight. Whoever patterned this jacket for production did a fantastic job IMO.

TBJ248.jpg


TBJ249.jpg


TBJ247.jpg


TBJ246.jpg
 

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
908
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
If I had to guess, I would say the leather thickness is around 1.2mm, perhaps a bit less

Evidently, the same leather was used for the zipper pulls, and is 1.3mm..... :)

TBJ2410.jpg


The D-pocket is patch-stitched to the body with no lining:

TBJ2411.jpg


Pocket linings are substantial, and should hold up well:

TBJ2412.jpg


EDIT: Best I can do for a fit pic ATM:

TBJ2413.jpg
 
Last edited:

Technonut

Practically Family
Messages
908
Location
West "By Gawd" Virginia
We still have to see now how it all ages over time...

Agreed.... :) I'm hopeful that the Italian cowhide sourced for the jacket will age well... ;) The stitching and construction is solid, as well as the hardware. I was surprised to see the Chinese importing in Italian cow / horsehide, and calfskin / sheepskin from the UK for jackets and other goods.

In general, Italian-tanned leather is well regarded. This particular leather has a nice smell from the process used. Here's the material source tag from the jacket:

TBJ2414.jpg


In the short time I've had the jacket, I can already see some grain starting to show. This was advertised as "uncoated" Italian cowhide, so time will tell as far as how well the finish wears:

TBJ2415.jpg
 

KBlake

One Too Many
Messages
1,866
Can anyone comment on the construction quality of this jacket? In particular I'm interested in whether it's actually Horween and whether the button holes are executed properly. Thanks!
 
Messages
17,490
Location
Chicago
Can anyone comment on the construction quality of this jacket? In particular I'm interested in whether it's actually Horween and whether the button holes are executed properly. Thanks!
Why not avoid the risk and inevitable disappointment and go to JL, they already have this pattern, they are geographically near you, and this is actual Horween. You can buy 100 knock-offs or you can buy something truly good. The jacket you referenced looks costume grade by comparison.
IMG_8287.jpeg
 

Canuck Panda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,666
Can anyone comment on the construction quality of this jacket? In particular I'm interested in whether it's actually Horween and whether the button holes are executed properly. Thanks!
Not this one. The way they did the button holes makes me worry about the leather. It might be too stiff (not garment leather) and their garment button holers breaks needle so they did what they did. There are other ways to do it like making a mini welts for each button holes. Maybe they will pick that up for the next production run. But still for 500 its a bit too much. Expand your search to include Aero Maxwell, SB Klondike, Y'2 Leather LS-16, Rainbow Country car coat, you might find one around 500 and it'd be for sure better leather than the Cidu one. All of them are stock no custom jacket anyways.

Button hole finish without using a button holer machine should look like this with the mini welt method to lock up the opening leather,
1720802783886.png
 

Canuck Panda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,666
@KBlake

I knew I remember seeing this jacket before for less. From Curphey. Another copy brand on Aliexpress. But this one is much less ($178) and has those proper button holes,

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...er|query_from:&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

Don't expect brand name leather, top grain leather at best, but the jacket is decent, I've bought many of these before at around the same time of my 5* jackets. Constructions are about equal, but Chinese jackets are stock jackets and 5* was made to order. Chinese jackets were actually less money than 5* then too, but no custom sizing and their sleeves tend to run short, nape sleeve length was 34.5" at best. Not sureif they had any pattern updates now.

1720815723249.png


I still think if you are ok with used jackets the premium brands on the 2nd hand market can be had as little as $400 and they'll come with much much better leather. Construction isn't lightyears better but the leather is night and day better.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,094
Messages
3,074,027
Members
54,091
Latest member
toptvsspala
Top