Five Star Leather Jackets

[MrProper]

My only question is whether I should merge the Is this Horse Hide from 5 *?

I would say yes.

 

[Eddiesuave]

So just a summary of the current general opinion over Five Star Leather as a company:

CONS:

1. Currently too expensive for most jackets to be considered worth it.

2. Sleeves and possibly Rear Panels/Shoulders need to improve (Need a 3D shape/curvature as good patterns are made).

3. Best Patterns/Best fitting jackets are currently based of jackets they had on hand or “Replicas”.

4. Leathers are a mixed bag, some hides/colors shouldn’t even have a place in their inventory.

5. A lot of the materials are okay for the price, but lack long term satisfaction (Wool, Linings, Etc)

6. Custom sizing is a mixed bag, whether it’s 5 Stars lack of honesty/transparency with garments measurements/outcome or the customer’s sizing completely ruining the pattern.

7. Jackets being shipped with blatant defects, leveling tape, leather damage and incorrect measurements with no covered shipping.

PROS:

1. Complete control over customization of the materials on Jackets.

2. Still relatively the most inexpensive custom jackets.

3. Stitching and construction seem to be solid enough.

4. Patterns and Military Repros are interesting enough to capture our attention.

5. Premium Seal Goat Leather, Shearling and some Horsehides seem to be worthwhile.

6. Their team including Shawn Ali/Fargham Ali seems to be very communicative and willing to take on any project.

Potential Immediate Solutions to make your purchase safer:

1. Custom Sizing Restrictions: To avoid ruining patterns perhaps we should follow a rule of thumb like Aero does… For example choose a size on the chart and avoid major changes to shoulders, chest, hem and sleeve width.

- Shoulder Customization: Don’t remove more than - 0.5” than chart size.
- Chest Customization: Max +/- 0.5”.
- Sleeve Length and Jacket Length Measurements: Any customization is safe.

This is important to keep collar, hem and sleeves proportional and avoid an odd fit (I don’t think Five Star changes anything to keep things other items not specified even).

Potential Solutions/Feed Back For Five Star Leather:

1. Accept free returns on bad items.

2. Remove all jackets that are not direct replicas. They’re just going to give you a bad reputation, stick to replicating patterns you have on hand.

3. Remove poor performing leathers and materials from your available stock such as Capeskin, CHL, etc, until they are entirely improved to represent your dedication to delivering quality products.

4. Have better quality control over picking hides, mouton collars, shearling and measurements on shipping items out.

Anything I am missing?

 

[Harris HTM]

CONS:

1. Currently too expensive for most jackets to be considered worth it.

From my experience I'd say that they are (probably along AVI) the best budget options for accurate military repro's;

PROS:

1. Complete control over customization of Jackets.

I wouldn't consider this as an advantage to be honest.

Anything I am missing?

The smell.

 

[Eddiesuave]

From my experience I'd say that they are (probably along AVI) the best budget options for accurate military repro's;


I wouldn't consider this as an advantage to be honest.


The smell.

Sorry. I’m not bothered by the smell at all, actually I get compliments on the leather smell. Why wouldn’t you consider customization a advantage? You can choose thickness, color, fleece length, zipper color, stitch color, and measurements. Ultimately this is what makes them so special and truthfully I never bought Avi leather, but I they their almost identical (maybe same manufacturer) with 5* having slightly better leather.

 

[Harris HTM]

Sorry. I’m not bothered by the smell at all, actually I get compliments on the leather smell. Why wouldn’t you consider customization a advantage? You can choose thickness, color, fleece length, zipper color, stitch color, and measurements. Ultimately this is what makes them so special and truthfully I never bought Avi leather, but I they their almost identical (maybe same manufacturer) with 5* having slightly better leather.

Changing hide, thread and knit colour and back or sleeve length is ofcourse a welcome customization; it is specifying ten different measurements that leads to monstrosities.
I guess you were lucky with the smell (or I was extremely unlucky). My goathide smelled like a living goat but luckily the smell went fairly fast away. I also had a horsehide A-2 that stunk to heaven, it was probably tanned with biomass or toxic waste. After months of trying different methods I gave it a light wash in the washing machine. It shrunk 2 sizes, however the smell remained.

 

[Eddiesuave]

Changing hide, thread and knit colour and back or sleeve length is ofcourse a welcome customization; it is specifying ten different measurements that leads to monstrosities.
I guess you were lucky with the smell (or I was extremely unlucky). My goathide smelled like a living goat but luckily the smell went fairly fast away. I also had a horsehide A-2 that stunk to heaven, it was probably tanned with biomass or toxic waste. After months of trying different methods I gave it a light wash in the washing machine. It shrunk 2 sizes, however the smell remained.

I agree on the sizing department, I did include that in the CONS, but also tried to include a familiar solution for that issue. I updated the wording on the “PROS” to avoid further confusion there. And that scent sounds terrible I hope you sold it or tossed it in that case. I get slight chemical smell in the beginning, but its mainly just smells like leather on our end. Could be luck, older stock, quality control or just that your more sensitive. Either way I would stay away from 5* after that experience.

 

[Harris HTM]

I agree on the sizing department, I did include that in the CONS, but also tried to include a familiar solution for that issue. I updated the wording on the “PROS” to avoid further confusion there. And that scent sounds terrible I hope you sold it or tossed it in that case. I get slight chemical smell in the beginning, but its mainly just smells like leather on our end. Could be luck, older stock, quality control or just that your more sensitive. Either way I would stay away from 5* after that experience.

I have tossed it indeed.
Nah, if you have the right expectations then I wouldn't discourage anyone from buying - as long as you know the issues.
I recently got my final jacket from them, a steerhide d-pocket. The main reason I got it is because the last time I was in a thrash concert my Schott 618 got drowned in beer (and sweat from smelly barbarians). In total, incl. shipping, tax and the DHL fees I paid 240e - and for the money I'm more than happy. It obviously cannot compare to the Buco repro's made by the Elves in Japan but that's why it costs 10-15 times less!

 

[bn1966]

My favourite Denim series 3 jacket was copied in leather & is now a regular wearer & gets lots of compliments. The other two 5* jackets didn’t work out….

 

[PilotJens]

So I just got QC pics from my cossack with the different sleeve attachment.Curved sleeves.And more room in the lining.
The pics show some of the usual tape manipulation but I will see

They went overkill with my add a bit more space in the lining lol.

I only fear that the button hole of the right pocket is off center.

I requested better pictures of it for clarification

 

[PilotJens]

Did they change something about the steerhide? It looks way softer than my old russet steerhide

 

[spectre6000]

What tape manipulation are you seeing?

 

[PilotJens]

I have a feeling that the back length might be longer be they didn't pull the backside tight

 

[PilotJens]

Old jacket

 

[spectre6000]

Ah. I see.

 

[cbez]

button hole obv off center

 

[PilotJens]

I wrote them that knowing their QC process that I am suspicious of that pocket because it is also unbuttoned.The left one looks pulled to one side .

I wouldn't mind it if it looks okay buttoned up but something looks rushed to me about the whole thing.I will see if they reply.

Shawn if you read this I still root for some honest Pakistani companies but I am too starting to loose some faith

 

[Aloysius]

I wrote them that knowing their QC process that I am suspicious of that pocket because it is also unbuttoned.The left one looks pulled to one side .

I wouldn't mind it if it looks okay buttoned up but something looks rushed to me about the whole thing.I will see if they reply.

Shawn if you read this I still root for some honest Pakistani companies but I am too starting to loose some faith

Honestly I would put the fear of God in them a bit.

Not only is fraud categorically prohibited in Islam, the practice of deceptively selling a garment is explicitly called out.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Habban and from Abu'z-Zinad from al-Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, forbade mulamasa and munabadha.


Malik said, "Mulamasa is when a man can feel a garment but is not allowed to unfold it or examine what is in it, or he buys by night and does not know what is in it. Munabadha is that a man throws his garment to another, and the other throws his garment without either of them making any inspection. Each of them says, 'this is for this. 'This is what is forbidden of mulamasa and munabadha."

I would send them this and point out that faking a measurement is a modern form of that exact prohibited transaction. Yes you're not physically there being allowed to touch the fabric but not examine the full garment; but a faked measurement is the modern version of a trader doing that.

 

[Will Zach]

Honestly I would put the fear of God in them a bit.

Not only is fraud categorically prohibited in Islam, the practice of deceptively selling a garment is explicitly called out.



I would send them this and point out that faking a measurement is a modern form of that exact prohibited transaction. Yes you're not physically there being allowed to touch the fabric but not examine the full garment; but a faked measurement is the modern version of a trader doing that.

I think i like Quran...

 

[PilotJens]

You know I had two companies lie and defraud me and I see them travel constantly to some Islamic place or ritual what so ever posting Allah is great.

And making probably some of the most haram clothes that I could think off .And showing/sending me more pictures of their pants with "detachable" extras then I wanted (to be honest to each their own but I could have lived happily without seeing those pants)

 

[ton312]

Anything I am missing?

Yes. And not to overly simplify but….its a $50 jacket and you are paying at least and often more than 5 times that. So no matter how you frame it. Bad deal. Horrible deal. You can only lose. The jig is up. Fun has been had. Game over. Move on.