Leather jackets in London

[Fishbutcher]

Greeting All !
I have been lurking on the sidelines for a while,I'm now after some advice.
I'll be visiting London at the end of June,and just after some advice of were to go and check out some leather jackets?
Any help would be much appreciated
Cheers

 

[Graemsay]

I'm not in London, but from memory:

• Lewis Leathers - 3-5 Whitfield Street
• Rivet and Hide - 5 Windmill Street
• American Classics - 20 Endell Street
• Real McCoys - 15 Henrietta Street
• Nigel Cabourn - 28 Henrietta Street
• Son of a Stag - 9 Dray Walk

Rivet and Hide tend to carry a few jackets by The Flat Head and Iron Heart. They're literally around the corner from Lewis Leathers, so you can hit both together.

American Classics is in Covent Garden. They carry Bill Kelso and Eastman.

The Real McCoys store is at the other end of Covent Garden, and tends to have a fair few leather jackets in stock. They're across the road from the Cabourn store, which sometimes has a few shearling styles in.

Son of a Stag is out in Shoreditch, to the east of the city centre. They might carry Eastman.

I don't know if there's an Aero stockist in London.

 

[Fanch]

Not too much to add to that list. My favorites when I visited London were Lewis Leathers and American Classics. The people were very nice both places. I recall taking the London Underground (Tube) and getting off at the Goodge Street exit and then a five-minute walk to the Lewis Leathers store. Be prepared to walk fast and with purpose while you are out and about in London or you will be run over by pedestrians there!

 

[Brettafett]

Hi Fish...
I live in London. Son of Stagg does not have any stock at the mo (leather jackets)... American Classics do have some Kelso jackets, not much in the way of Eastman though. McCoys... be prepared for jaw-dropping price tags
That said, it may be worth dropping an email to the above, check stock etc... go from there.
If you are after vintage stuff, try Rokit (www.rokit.co.uk). They have a shop close to American Classic in Covent Garden.
Wow Retro, Pop Boutique and The Vintage Showroom are also close by.
Camden Town also has some vintage stores, they usually have a few decent vintage leather jackets...
If you have the time, you could make a day of it and pop across to Eastman in Ivybridge. Bit of a mission from London, but do-able.
Good luck.

 

[willyto]

Don't forget Clutch Cafe near Oxford Street tube station.

 

[tweedydon]

Does American Classic still have a store at the bend on the King's Road? As a teenager in the suburbs who occasionally made it to the city on weekends that was my introduction to Americana.. Although I could never afford their prices are relied on the thrift stores round the corner and up by Sloane Square tube!

 

[Brettafett]

Yes, its there. Some good clobber... I was in there a few weeks ago, they had a few BK jackets, but not sure about ELCs... perhaps a couple of the civil versions. Always worth a pop by...

 

[GHT]

Greeting All !
I have been lurking on the sidelines for a while,I'm now after some advice.
I'll be visiting London at the end of June,and just after some advice of were to go and check out some leather jackets?
Any help would be much appreciated
Cheers

Welcome to our capital city, it's a few years since I lived in London, but I lived there for most of my life. Can I just give you a word of advice. Make sure that you always keep your wallet in your front trouser pocket, if your credit cards have any chip & pin contacts on them, keep them covered in tinfoil or in a separate aluminium wallet. If you want cash from an ATM machine, use one that's situated inside a bank building. London is a fabulous city and it's easy to forget about your personal security. Sadly there are those who could painfully remind you.
One last tip, leave nothing in your back trouser pockets.

Having said all that, you will be enthralled by london and one of the best places to go for leather and other garments, is East London. Look for the districts of Aldgate, Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Whitechapel. At the turn of the 20th century these areas were predominantly Jewish, as such, they were into clothes making, something that became known as: The Rag Trade.

If you Google "East London Leather Jackets," a number of names will crop up. Most are well worth a visit, but if you have a little time get yourself along to Middlesex Street, London E1, on a Sunday morning. That is where the famous Petticoat Lane market is. There isn't an actual Petticoat Lane, or if there ever was, it's been lost in the mists of time. Petticoat Lane is now held in and around Middlesex Street. This area being predominantly Jewish, or was, has Sunday as it's trading day because Saturday is the Jewish sabbath.

You are looking for a stall that specialises in leather jackets. It used to be run by a couple of Jewish brothers, but whether they I are still there, I know not. However there are specialist leather wear stalls, and at budget prices, well worth a look.

Welcome again, enjoy yourself and remember to be security conscious and nothing will befall you.

 

[Gav]

Tin foil? Aluminum wallet? Only use an ATM in the bank? Wow - your life in London is very different to mine and I’ve live all over east and south London...

+1 for Clutch cafe - it is pretty awesome.

I heard that bolt motorcycles in Stoke Newington might be stocking some aero or vintage aero . Worth checking their website or contacting them.

 

[BlueWallpaper]

Tin foil? Aluminum wallet? Only use an ATM in the bank? Wow - your life in London is very different to mine and I’ve live all over east and south London...

+1 for Clutch cafe - it is pretty awesome.

I heard that bolt motorcycles in Stoke Newington might be stocking some aero or vintage aero . Worth checking their website or contacting them.

agreed, i grew up in london and go back at least twice a year now. survived fine without tin foil and heightened security!

 

[Bullitt]

I heard that bolt motorcycles in Stoke Newington might be stocking some aero or vintage aero.

They usually have a few Aero jackets in store.

Bolt London
1a Bouverie Road
Stoke Newington

 

[Carlos840]

agreed, i grew up in london and go back at least twice a year now. survived fine without tin foil and heightened security!

Same, I have lived in London for 15 years, have always carried my wallet in my back pocket, and have never had a problem.

 

[ProteinNerd]

I'm not in London, but from memory:

• Lewis Leathers - 3-5 Whitfield Street
• Rivet and Hide - 5 Windmill Street
• American Classics - 20 Endell Street
• Real McCoys - 15 Henrietta Street
• Nigel Cabourn - 28 Henrietta Street
• Son of a Stag - 9 Dray Walk

Rivet and Hide tend to carry a few jackets by The Flat Head and Iron Heart. They're literally around the corner from Lewis Leathers, so you can hit both together.

American Classics is in Covent Garden. They carry Bill Kelso and Eastman.

The Real McCoys store is at the other end of Covent Garden, and tends to have a fair few leather jackets in stock. They're across the road from the Cabourn store, which sometimes has a few shearling styles in.

Son of a Stag is out in Shoreditch, to the east of the city centre. They might carry Eastman.

I don't know if there's an Aero stockist in London.

Thank God I wasn’t into leather jackets when I lived in London, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to eat with all that temptation!!!

As for personal security, I never had any issues although this was a while ago between 1995 and 2001 so things might have changed...but I didn’t think it was any different to any other major city around the world I’ve been fortunate enough to visit, sadly there are bad people everywhere that will take advantage if they can get away with it, you just need to pay attention to your surroundings.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Having not been over there myself, I tend to think that GHT's advice is a good bit of information for tourist. Have to recall, this individual is a tourist and they (we) walk much differently than a resident. I tend to stay a little more guarded when in a new city anyway.

I would be perhaps even more cautious about how much money get's spend there are jackets, etc and ensuring you have the ability to carry them all back home! Enjoy your trip!

 

[tweedydon]

That is where the famous Petticoat Lane market is. There isn't an actual Petticoat Lane, or if there ever was, it's been lost in the mists of time. Petticoat Lane is now held in and around Middlesex Street.

"Petticoat Lane" was changed to "Middlesex Street" in 1846. The street's main trade used to be, well, something the Victorians didn't want to hear about! (Hint: Not the petticoats themselves, but what's under them....)

 

[Edward]

"Petticoat Lane" was changed to "Middlesex Street" in 1846. The street's main trade used to be, well, something the Victorians didn't want to hear about! (Hint: Not the petticoats themselves, but what's under them....)

The new name has never stuck smong locals. Though if you head there after hours (especially nearby Wentworth Street too) you might be treated to the spectacle of a modern day working girl cussing out a Ripper tour for scaring off punters.

Spitalfields area is worth s visit for the Sunday markets, also on Thursday for vintage. Some nice looking designs in new leathers from a lot of small businesses zip though be warned they're mostly lambskin for the fashion crowd.

The Electric Ballroom in Camden on a Saturday used to be outstanding as a place to go through racks and racks of old British bike jackets, not sure how it is now. Camden is still interesting for a wander and cheap food, but it's far from the grest market it was fifteen years ago.

Cabourn's stuff is.... Interesting. Mostly you can see which great vintage design he has ruined by putting his "own stamp" on it. Last I was in he had a bunch of shearling jackets that weren't to my tastes but I was amused by the "Nigel Cabourn made in England" labels, knowing them to have been made by AL/SB in, er... Scotland. Cabourn's is worth a visit first if you want to buy in RMC and need to convince a significant other that RMC's prices aren't so crazy...

Used to be a guy in Cemden market deslt in old bike lesthers, real treasurd trive of original rocker jackets and such. I am blanking on his name, but he still does Portobello Market. A few food leather stalls there, especially his which I think is there now on Saturdays, Around the Westway.

If you're interested in bikes or newer leathers with a bit of a retro vibe, the Bike Shed on Old Street is worth a visit (also quite good food).

 

[Edward]

Oh.. and the Ace Cafe is just round the corner from Stoneybridge tube (z3, Bakerloo). They carry both Lewis and Mascot.

 

[Edward]

Hi-Star Classics!!! THat's to one I couldn't remember - http://hi-star.co.uk Also has his own jackets made to order now, I believe. Worth a browse if you find his stall at any events.