is it possible to mix lighter and heavier hides in one jacket?

[navetsea]

Hello all,

I plan to have a moto/ cafe racer-ish jacket made with heavy hide on the back, shoulder, and arm, while lighter/ smoother hide on the front so it can drape better and easier to sit/ squat in it, would it have any unwanted side effects when combining thin and thick leather panels in one jacket?

this is the conceptual design for anyone curious to see, very tight fitting and rather 'futuristic' perhaps ( I kind of aware it is probably not suitable design to present here, I put a link instead of picture)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b144/Navetsea/my-jacket-moto2-design_zpsqvd8rl1c.jpg
What I plan to have in goat/ shaved cow/ sheep is only for the front torso panel, the raglan shoulder panel is where the thick cow starts all the way to back panels, sleeve and side panels all in thick cow.

thanks,
navets

 

[Jägernaut]

Would be nice to have pockets done in lighter leather so they don't show through the outer surface of jacket

 

[Monitor]

It should be possible, why not? I've noticed that manufacturers use specific parts of the hide for certain areas, like softer and more wrinkled panels for the underarms, etc. so I can't see why mixing two types of leather should be a problem. Aero does it on few of their models, too.

That's futuristic alright but without all the details, it looks to me like a pretty functional Cafe Racer-style jacket. Cool to see a longer kidney panel on a CR.

 

[Sloan1874]

I should imagine the different panels will age at a different rate and in a different way.
Without re-opening a can of worms, there was considerable controversy a few years back when Aero's current management discovered that some of its now ex-employees were making up jackets mixing horse and steer, or storse, as it is now known in these parts.
One of the things that alerted Aero that this had happened was that people started to send back jackets with panels that were developing a grain at a different rate and in a different way.
Really, it just looks weird and I wouldn't recommend it, just in the same way I wouldn't recommend raglan sleeves on a leather jacket, but that's just a personal thing.

 

[pawineguy]

I should imagine the different panels will age at a different rate and in a different way.
Without re-opening a can of worms, there was considerable controversy a few years back when Aero's current management discovered that some of its now ex-employees were making up jackets mixing horse and steer, or storse, as it is now known in these parts.
One of the things that alerted Aero that this had happened was that people started to send back jackets with panels that were developing a grain at a different rate and in a different way.
Really, it just looks weird and I wouldn't recommend it, just in the same way I wouldn't recommend raglan sleeves on a leather jacket, but that's just a personal thing.

That was my concern, that in a few months or a year, you will have a jacket with very different graining in different areas. Also, even from the same tannery, it's VERY difficult to match the color across different hides, unless you were using something very dark.

 

[Sloan1874]

That was my concern, that in a few months or a year, you will have a jacket with very different graining in different areas. Also, even from the same tannery, it's VERY difficult to match the color across different hides, unless you were using something very dark.

It could look very odd, patchwork-like.

 

[Fanch]

My experience is that there is a strong tendency for problems when we attempt to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Worf]

ANYTHIN' is possible IF you throw enough money at it.

Worf

 

[navetsea]

Thnks for the replies, yes I kinda worry since my plan was mixing different hide for the entire front panels which are structural, I'm afraid the heavier back part will pull it out of shape in no time, probably it is much saver to stick with the same hide, but to shave it a little bit thinner for the front then at least it would age the same, and react similarly to water or leather care product.

the raglan front shoulder is also to compensate the idea of thinner front, to reduce the load of the chest panel compared if they are really 50% of the body, I imagine it would give too much strain to the thinner leather. I still have time to ponder about it since it would be a self birthday gift in november

yes I like longer kidney panel, somehow I think it looks dressier off the bike too. and I like slanted hem because it is more forgiving to my longer untucked t-shirt underneath sticking out, rather than horizontal hem, and seeing the rest of the longer t-shirt would be too harsh visually.

 

[Sloan1874]

I'd just choose a lighter leather and if you're going to use it for riding, have it made large enough to accommodate armour.

 

[rocketeer]

I'd just choose a lighter leather and if you're going to use it for riding, have it made large enough to accommodate armour.

I like to wear day to day jackets out on the bike sometimes, but I also like my regular armoured up Dainese jackets etc. Recently I purchased an armoured vest to wear under my nylon and cloth jackets. This is not a motorcross type with American football like hard armour but a string vest with the Knox armour attached and works great.
This is ok with the cloth and nylon jackets but when put on under a Highwayman felt uncomfortable and I felt I would need a larger jacket were I to wear this combo regularly. But how to guage wearing the armour and ordering a jacket could be a hit or miss affair. Were I to order a larger jacket I would not be sure if the sleeves would be too long, or the chest too baggy etc. Hard call unless it is made to measure I would think.

 

[Monitor]

I should imagine the different panels will age at a different rate and in a different way.
One of the things that alerted Aero that this had happened was that people started to send back jackets with panels that were developing a grain at a different rate and in a different way.

Excellent point, Sloan, one that I haven't thought of.

Just that I saw two tones at Aero and figured it shouldn't be any different but yeah, these are the same hides, only different colour.

 

[Sloan1874]

I seem to remember Griff was the person who first posted concerns about this on the Lounge.

 

[navetsea]

I can imagine it could look like the monster created by dr. Frankenstein:eeek: if different hides used on multiple panels here and there

 

[Edward]

I always thought a reasonable compromise might be to have key points, like elbows, underside forearms, and such, reinformced with an extra layer of leather, sandwiching a kevlar panel into the jacket.... Though I suppose that might be overkill as the leather would have to wear aay before the kevlar's protective properties were an issue (different when putting it under denim).

 

[navetsea]

I still can see the benefit of kevlar there as impact spreader, if you fell on your lower arm against the edge of the sidewalk, even in the thickest leather you'll probably still break your arm, kevlar panel would probably reduce that into bruise and temporary numbness. for sliding protector I think they use different panel which are exposed on typical contact points made out of titanium perhaps.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Kevlar isn't used for impact resistance in moto gear its used to stop abrasion damage same as leather, I can't recall ever seeing any leather lined with Kevlar, its usually denim lined with kevlar to stop road rash.

For impact protection you need CE rated armour, titanium wouldn't be any good either, it would most likely simply dent and transfer the impact straight through, you need something with padding to spread the impact.

 

[Sloan1874]

I can imagine it could look like the monster created by dr. Frankenstein:eeek: if different hides used on multiple panels here and there

Given the number of hides it can require to get a cohesive look for a single jacket with the one type of leather, the poor cutters would be reduced to tears by a multiple species jacket! I can think of at least one maker who would give it a crack though: "Yes, you've had storse, but that pales in comparison to what we call: The Barnyard!"

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Aaaah...a chicken hide cafe with armor. lol

 

[rocketeer]

I always thought a reasonable compromise might be to have key points, like elbows, underside forearms, and such, reinformced with an extra layer of leather, sandwiching a kevlar panel into the jacket.... Though I suppose that might be overkill as the leather would have to wear aay before the kevlar's protective properties were an issue (different when putting it under denim).

A good Kevlar will last up to 10 seconds in a fast slide, that is a long time if you clock watch it. A good leather would probably last similar(not necessarily the thickest). A good denim, probably less than half a second if you fall faster than a walking pace.
As Edward answers above, it is when you contact something hard such as a kerb or lamp post with your knees, elbows and shoulders that things such as hard foam come into their own as these usually hit the ground first.