Five Star Leather Jackets

[spectre6000]

Maybe if they ever get their website to work...

 

[KBlake]

Maybe if they ever get their website to work...

Email info@johnsonleathers.com

 

[MrProper]

It appears I'll not be cracking the Fivestar code after all. I went round and round with Shawn and Fargham trying to get leather samples. All the means, methods, and addresses, including a cold video chat at one point. Could not get the communication to work well enough for it to happen. I told Shawn I had a design I was working on, and was down to the final details trying to nail them down in an attempt to let him know I was seriously trying to buy a jacket, and not just trying to get tiny pieces of random hides. He asked to see it, so I sent him a link with the warning that it was a draft, and that I was still finalizing the details. I had 38 pages of photos, notes, and annotated drawings, etc., but was still working on figuring out the specifics of the darts. He told me he didn't want to make it because I was TOO DETAILED, and if they missed 1 or 2, they'd have to remake it. I responded to that email to try to salvage the effort, but he's no longer responding. So... ...

View attachment 598129

We know from extensive collective experience that not providing enough detail leaves the door open for (often incorrect) interpretation and assumptions and guesswork. The solution to this problem is apparently NOT to eliminate the need for any guesswork or assumptions by providing those details (or even let slip that you have said details in draft form). Wish I could say what the answer actually is (and have a great jacket to show for it), but that's all I got and all I'll likely be able to get. Major bummer. Did not see that one coming...

At least it didn't cost me anything but time. I learned a lot in the process, and seem to have maybe found a cool new project to work on in the evenings as time, space, budget, etc. allow.

So... I guess I'll be shifting my focus to just making something from scratch over a much longer period of time, and at much greater expense...

Are you surprised?
For me it's completely understandable and in a 5* position I would have rejected the order too.
Far too costly in relation to the expected profit.
That might be justified if I were going into mass production, but not for a single jacket.
Or would you be prepared to pay the surcharge that really compensates for the effort?
I think it would be different if you deliver a completely finished pattern. But 5* has to create the pattern from a 38-page PDF and the cost increases with every detail and every special request.
So be glad that 5* managed to say no. Nothing satisfactory would have come of it.
I think you've worked so hard on it now that maybe you should start sewing your own jacket.

 

[Aloysius]

Yeah I didn't realize he was going to send his full research paper, lol. I thought that was just his process of coming up with the spec.

 

[ton312]

Are you surprised?
For me it's completely understandable and in a 5* position I would have rejected the order too.
Far too costly in relation to the expected profit.
That might be justified if I were going into mass production, but not for a single jacket.
Or would you be prepared to pay the surcharge that really compensates for the effort?
I think it would be different if you deliver a completely finished pattern. But 5* has to create the pattern from a 38-page PDF and the cost increases with every detail and every special request.
So be glad that 5* managed to say no. Nothing satisfactory would have come of it.
I think you've worked so hard on it now that maybe you should start sewing your own jacket.

^All of this. Extraneous effort on their part which surely would result in some missed spec and complaint. No maker in their right mind would take that on or even entertain the notion. The only option for something like this is to do it yourself. Good for Shawn, spared himself an absolute pain in the ass no doubt.

 

[ton312]

This is great news! Call Johnson Leather and have them make you a jacket that fits.

I don’t think they’d touch this with a 10’ pole.

 

[El Marro]

I don’t think they’d touch this with a 10’ pole.

In its current form no, nor should they!
I should have been more clear, what I meant is that he should reach out like a normal customer and talk to them about ordering a jacket based on one of their stock models and adjust it to his measurements.

 

[PilotJens]

I can give you the contact information of a different Pakistani company if you want.Leather sample kits and all are available .Just a bit pricey. Are they going to deliver? I don't know. I am currently in the process of getting samples from them .I don't know why I am doing that to myself.I guess I like disappointment, wasting time,money and rage lol

 

[spectre6000]

Keep me posted on how it goes with this alternate company. The thing is, I actually NEED a jacket before next fall. I would prefer to have it now, but I'm willing to wait and make due for something that is exactly what I want. Someone on here told me in PM that the group has moved on from Fivestar, and is looking for the new kid on the block. I'm also now looking for the new kid.

 

[PilotJens]

Something cheap they make for a customer

 

[PilotJens]

I send them multiple pictures of aeros and he says he can get similar leathers .I am skeptical but he will also send goat leather which should be good regardless which Indian/Pakistani hill billy tannery is involved

 

[PilotJens]

Similar to fesho wear with over 20years of family business and they have their own tannery. The sweaters and shirts from them are great so far .

 

[ton312]

Keep me posted on how it goes with this alternate company. The thing is, I actually NEED a jacket before next fall. I would prefer to have it now, but I'm willing to wait and make do for something that is exactly what I want. Someone on here told me in PM that the group has moved on from Fivestar, and is looking for the new kid on the block. I'm also now looking for the new kid.

Why not just look at the established makers and find something that gets you what you need. I briefly perused your pdf. You can find something similar from Aero, JL, etc. The downside is you’ll have to pay for it. The upside is it won’t suck.

 

[bn1966]

I’m done personally with custom. None of my projects worked out totally to my satisfaction...either fit wasn’t right or leather wasn’t as specified. Don’t own any now where I sent measurements & eventually a jacket dropped through the post. There were a couple of nearly rans, close but no cigar. Have used various companies and individuals. These days it’s just small alterations from a stock pattern or local leather tailor takes a bit off of the arm length etc.

 

[ton312]

Something cheap they make for a customer

I send them multiple pictures of aeros and he says he can get similar leathers .I am skeptical but he will also send goat leather which should be good regardless which Indian/Pakistani hill billy tannery is involved

I’d sooner wrap myself in a Hefty bag and run around with no pants on.

 

[PilotJens]

I’d sooner wrap myself in a Hefty bag and run around with no pants on.

I have no idea why I keep torturing myself .

 

[spectre6000]

I send them multiple pictures of aeros and he says he can get similar leathers .I am skeptical but he will also send goat leather which should be good regardless which Indian/Pakistani hill billy tannery is involved

After what I've seen from the samples in the microscopy thread, I'm pretty thoroughly sold on horsehide. It's almost certainly a requirement at this point.

Why not just look at the established makers and find something that gets you what you need. I briefly perused your pdf. You can find something similar from Aero, JL, etc. The downside is you’ll have to pay for it. The upside is it won’t suck.

I've bookmarked and looked at every manufacturer I've seen mentioned here. Aero is the only one that has anything that comes close to piquing my interest. I've seen comments from others on here about how they won't do "big drops", which is kinda the reason I'm here at all. Doubling the price is also an issue, as for the prices they charge, I can buy a lot of leather and tooling, and just do it as many times as I want with exactly what I want and no compromises. If I haven't figured out something by this fall, maybe I'll go that route, but that's a lot of evenings worth of puttering around...

 

[ton312]

I have no idea why I keep torturing myself .

I don’t either. There’s no value in these.

 

[AHP91]

After what I've seen from the samples in the microscopy thread, I'm pretty thoroughly sold on horsehide. It's almost certainly a requirement at this point.

I've bookmarked and looked at every manufacturer I've seen mentioned here. Aero is the only one that has anything that comes close to piquing my interest. I've seen comments from others on here about how they won't do "big drops", which is kinda the reason I'm here at all. Doubling the price is also an issue, as for the prices they charge, I can buy a lot of leather and tooling, and just do it as many times as I want with exactly what I want and no compromises. If I haven't figured out something by this fall, maybe I'll go that route, but that's a lot of evenings worth of puttering around...

^All of this. Extraneous effort on their part which surely would result in some missed spec and complaint. No maker in their right mind would take that on or even entertain the notion. The only option for something like this is to do it yourself. Good for Shawn, spared himself an absolute pain in the ass no doubt.

There’s probably good reasons why makers don’t want someone with 0 experience telling them how to create a jacket. If I’m not mistaken, Stu at Lost Worlds doesn’t even want a customer’s input on what size to get - he’ll get it right for you.

And this is a company who is charging premium prices for premium products. Not surprising in the least bit that someone who sent over a thesis paper to a budget maker got turned away.

 

[JDarwin52]

Here’s that new A1/Earhart in Seal brown veg-tan goat. My first hide of that type. Feels great. The idea of choosing a hide based on wide availability within the region made sense to me. Fit-wise… well I cut it a little close with very little room for layering. But seems to pair nicely with a plain old T-shirt. Last shot was me struggling w/ the tech, but left it in for the grain-zoomers, ha.