Leather Cult

[TXFlyGuy]

Interesting page for sure. At least it gets some skin on some more folk's backs. Truth be told, many folks just can't afford top-name leathers, (especially students, etc) so at least they have a way to get into a jacket that will last them a while. Wilson's which is nealry gone in the USA, did this for me.

Oddly enough, my first leather jacket purchase was a leather sport coat, western style. This would have been the early mid 70's. Don't remember much about it, and it is long gone. My next purchase was a Schott Bros. A-2. Size M, bought off the rack at a Dillard's Dept. Store. Bought it when I bought my first airplane, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. About 1978. The jacket was great, very well made, and heavy! I ended up giving it to a family member many years later, who then gave it away.
Next was a stop at a local Wilson's Leather Store. Bought a "Bomber" jacket, size L. It came with removable Thinsulate lining. The price was $99 (mid 80's). This jacket is still in my closet today, and has literally traveled around the world with me. It is the warmest of all of my leather coats. It is also a bit oversized (L) based on the standards here, but at the time of purchase it seemed to be just right. A loose fit, oversized thru the shoulders. But extremely durable. And, I am not embarrassed to wear it, not at all.

My closet is adorned with jackets from the following:
Cockpit USA (leather & nylon)
U.S. Authentic (leather)
Gibson & Barnes (leather)
Wings USA (leather)
Alpha (leather / nylon / nomex)
Valley Apparel (nomex)
Wilson's (leather)

The people at Leather Cult have been extremely responsive in replying to every question sent to them. How many manufacturers can make that claim? Not that I plan to make a purchase from them, but my curiosity lead me to ask questions about what they can (and can't) do.

No, they are not for everyone. But they certainly are for a segment of the population who perhaps is looking for that bargain basement price on clothing articles. And, clientele not obsessed with the same criteria that most of us are possessed by.

This leather coat thing has reached "near sickness" level with me...just ask my wife!

 

[SkyTurtle]

While I agree with most here that this is definitely not Aero or Vanson quality leather, if they've been in business for a few years they're not really a rip off. I have a couple lower-end jackets in my closets that I really love. I don't know squat about the Indian leather market but I know the Pakistani government subsidizes their leather industry pretty well so there is definitely a good supply of leather out there at competitive prices.

I love leather enough to consider a $200 experiment with these guys. You could do a really interesting experiment with a custom design and have a good chance of coming away with a jacket you'd really enjoy wearing. No, they're not $1,200 racing leathers, but they're not charging $1,200 either.

Frankly, I'm kind of glad this site showed up here. I may get froggy and give them a whirl myself!

 

[Edward]

Wouldn't be my bag as a rule, but one of the Lewis / Highewayman copies catches my eye:

http://www.leathercult.com/leather-jackets/leather-jacket-889-50-colors

I can see that one being appealing to Rocky Horror folsk who want to replicate Tim Curry's rocker jacket (which he wore on screen and on stage as Dr Frank'n'Furter) on a budget. If they're light nappa, I'd say they're more costume/fashion jackets than anything I'd be happy to spend big bucks on or wear as a jacket - certainly a chjeap rip-off if that's what you want. If they can get the fit right, though, for those looking for a 'costume piece' I can see the appeal.

 

[pak]

Not being critical at all. I know little about jackets. So I will defer to those who are the true experts. But my small collection does have a few nice examples, in my opinion. As for the Cockpit A-2, it was on sale (that means cheap), so spending $70 to make it fit my frame is a bargain. And I am a big fan of Cockpit. Bought 5 of their jackets. The high end $800 and up is of no interest to me.

Leather Cult has found a market. Good for them. There is room for a wide variety of manufacturers.

Kinda like my cars. We have owned a number of Mercedes, Porches and Corvettes. Now we drive Fords. It is by choice. Did I mention my Mustang?

The care and feeding of an airplane will surely cause a reduction in the leather jacket budget. I know, for like you, I own and care for an airplane. Happy landings

 

[SkyTurtle]

The care and feeding of an airplane will surely cause a reduction in the leather jacket budget. I know, for like you, I own and care for an airplane. Happy landings

Airplanes are even more so like boats: they're wonderful things for friends to have! I've never been able to justify owning my own 172, much less a classic war bird. The operator of the airport I did civilian flying from owned a couple, including a Mustang. That engine sound, though...

A side note all you North American guys may appreciate...when I worked for a bank in Philly a few years ago, my CEO told me how his dad had flown a Mustang in WW2 called Twilight Tear. Some guy in England found the plane and restored it, then called my boss and shared photos with him. The boss flew the family over for a nice little reunion and a chance to see the plane fly again. A local TV crew was waxing sentimental about the name of the plane and asked him if he knew what inspired his dad to call it Twilight Tear. Was it his wife? A lost love? A weekend romance in a small English town? No, he said, that was the name of a horse he'd "won a shit load of money on."

 

[TXFlyGuy]

The care and feeding of an airplane will surely cause a reduction in the leather jacket budget. I know, for like you, I own and care for an airplane. Happy landings

Yes! A P-51 Mustang is 2.4 million today. My Mustang is only 10% of that, but 99% of the fun!

 

[TXFlyGuy]

Twilight Tear:

 

[SkyTurtle]

That's her! Never saw this before. My Boss was a guy named Bob Davis (don't remember his dad's name). I remember him telling me that his dad said the recoil in those .50s was so strong that in a tight turn you could instantly stall it just by hitting the guns. Thanks for sharing. Those are great planes.

 

[TXFlyGuy]

That's her! Never saw this before. My Boss was a guy named Bob Davis (don't remember his dad's name). I remember him telling me that his dad said the recoil in those .50s was so strong that in a tight turn you could instantly stall it just by hitting the guns. Thanks for sharing. Those are great planes.

The crazy thing is they had to get a special license from the ATF to restore/rebuild the .50 caliber Brownings. And, they have to be removed when the airplane flies. They are only legal when the airplane is on the ground.

Yes, the tremendous recoil is obvious in this video!

As usual, the government has taken all of the fun out of it!

 

[pak]

Airplanes are even more so like boats: they're wonderful things for friends to have! I've never been able to justify owning my own 172, much less a classic war bird. The operator of the airport I did civilian flying from owned a couple, including a Mustang. That engine sound, though...

A side note all you North American guys may appreciate...when I worked for a bank in Philly a few years ago, my CEO told me how his dad had flown a Mustang in WW2 called Twilight Tear. Some guy in England found the plane and restored it, then called my boss and shared photos with him. The boss flew the family over for a nice little reunion and a chance to see the plane fly again. A local TV crew was waxing sentimental about the name of the plane and asked him if he knew what inspired his dad to call it Twilight Tear. Was it his wife? A lost love? A weekend romance in a small English town? No, he said, that was the name of a horse he'd "won a shit load of money on."

SkyTurtle, Flying and owning is justified when the wheels break ground. IMO the best warbied video is the one where the Spitfire buzzes the News reporter.

 

[tropicalbob]

Any way I could get those installed on my Mustang GT? It'd give Miami driving a whole new edge..

 

[ButteMT61]

Any way I could get those installed on my Mustang GT? It'd give Miami driving a whole new edge..

Mustang GT (any year) ain't ***t. I just stood under the engines on the Endeavour Space Shuttle. That's the ***t man!

 

[RapidReaper]

Don't even want to think of how mangy the cows used to make that crap look like.

 

[tropicalbob]

Mustang GT (any year) ain't ***t. I just stood under the engines on the Endeavour Space Shuttle. That's the ***t man!

I'll bet, but somebody'd probably try to steal it here. Anyway, now you've hurt her feelings and she's talking seriously about the Brownings and heading for the Left Coast.

 

[ButteMT61]

Don't even want to think of how mangy the cows used to make that crap look like.

Probably as well kept as chickens and livestock here...which is to say, inhumanely.

 

[Edgar Laurel]

I don't even believe for a second that they have the capacity to make all these jackets - the weird, inconsistent collection of pics makes me think that there's a few that are their own and stack that are 'ones that we reckon we can make at a pinch'. Actually, I think this is possibly the worst of the cheap, knock-off sites we've seen here.

I've seen things that almost made my eyes blow to a bloody pulp after some friend or acquaintance ordered from those kind of websites and "manufacturers".
The sheer horror....leather quality below horrible, grossly dyed, square fit, flared sleeves, plasticky looking leather, badly stitched, ridiculously flimsy linings and so on.

 

[TXFlyGuy]

I've seen things that almost made my eyes blow to a bloody pulp after some friend or acquaintance ordered from those kind of websites and "manufacturers".
The sheer horror....leather quality below horrible, grossly dyed, square fit, flared sleeves, plasticky looking leather, badly stitched, ridiculously flimsy linings and so on.

Have you personal experience with the people at Leather Cult? Maybe someone you know who has dealt with them?

I am not saying they are world class, but until someone here can give a first hand account of their products, I will kindly withhold my judgement.

 

[navetsea]

Indian cowhide, that's 21st century for you
when beef curry comes, you'll know the end is near

when choosing color online, be aware the color you see on your monitor might be totally different than the true color of the hide, it is already difficult to photograph leather's color and then most people don't calibrate the monitors/ cellphone's monitor can't be calibrated

 

[Edgar Laurel]

Have you personal experience with the people at Leather Cult? Maybe someone you know who has dealt with them?

I am not saying they are world class, but until someone here can give a first hand account of their products, I will kindly withhold my judgement.

No. Not with leathercult itself.
But with some similar manufacturers, some of them with different names but being the same company under some kind of guise.

 

[TXFlyGuy]

Indian cowhide, that's 21st century for you
when beef curry comes, you'll know the end is near

when choosing color online, be aware the color you see on your monitor might be totally different than the true color of the hide, it is already difficult to photograph leather's color and then most people don't calibrate the monitors/ cellphone's monitor can't be calibrated

One of my best and favorite jackets is made from cowhide from this region. A highly respected manufacturer, by the way. And...beef curry? That is one of my favorite "comfort food" dishes when I'm in Tokyo! Washed down with plenty of cold Sapporo draft beer.