The mysterious bending Aero collar -- help sought

[GriffDeLaGriff]

Lets take it a little easy here. Its not a defect.
The leather is very very thick, so offcourse its not gonna be pliable like cloth.

Very often the collar points out sharp because of this, and its just to wet it with a little water.
Its not a defect, but because of the thickness and stiffness of the leather togehter with the fact that its not plasticised like malljackets, its a living material that has differences.

If you dont like it, then maybe other lighter hides is more for you, like lamb.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Lets take it a little easy here. Its not a defect.
The leather is very very thick, so offcourse its not gonna be pliable like cloth.

Very often the collar points out sharp because of this, and its just to wet it with a little water.
Its not a defect, but because of the thickness and stiffness of the leather togehter with the fact that its not plasticised like malljackets, its a living material that has differences.

If you dont like it, then maybe other lighter hides is more for you, like lamb.

Yeah..I don't get the defect remark either. I always use water to better shape and mold this heavy unique horsehide until it is shaped and finally as comfortable as an old baseball glove or house slipper. Plus..out of all the Aero HH jackets that I have owned over the years(20?)...I've never had a major defect..like a sleeve longer/shorter than the other. Of course I haven't measured the exact mm...either.

 

[ButteMT61]

HH is unlike anything else. Work it, no big deal. It's actually part of the fun. What will you do otherwise - send it back and wait another 3 months to wear it? Not me. Of course if a sleeve was a different length, that would be different. There are flaws and there are traits. I put this is the latter category.

 

[dr.velociraptor]

If it bends back to shape it's fine, but if the collar will only stay like that it's a defect IMO.

 

[Sir Jacket]

Please: Sir Jacket doesn't wear lambskin.

Sir J

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

Please: Sir Jacket doesn't wear lambskin.

Sir J

The comment was not meant for you, but to dr.velociraptor.

 

[dr.velociraptor]

Lets take it a little easy here. Its not a defect.
The leather is very very thick, so offcourse its not gonna be pliable like cloth.

Very often the collar points out sharp because of this, and its just to wet it with a little water.
Its not a defect, but because of the thickness and stiffness of the leather togehter with the fact that its not plasticised like malljackets, its a living material that has differences.

If you dont like it, then maybe other lighter hides is more for you, like lamb.

You know throwing a smiley after a snarky comment doesn't make it any less snarky and rude. I wear heavy hides as I ride a bike two horse and a vanson competition weight leather jacket which is the heaviest I've ever felt and none have ever had a collar lay so funky like that. The collar looks ridiculous like that it isn't charming or giving the jacket character. So many of you can't even say anything remotely negative about Aero that you can't call a spade a spade, I saw the same thing on the topic where the guy had obvious cracking all over his Aero jacket. The collar on a $1000 jacket should Not do that, simple as that. If he can wet and bend it back so it holds a normal shape, great, but if it's stuck in such a bizarre shape then that's something I would bring up with Aero.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

I still don´t understand you, and that is why I made that comment.
Heavy hides can be very stiff, so as I said, if one doesn´t like it then its not for them. Its still not a defect.

A crack is not the same as a stiff unbroken in hide. Aero is made from humans, humans make mistakes. Aero have made numerous sewing misstakes, administrative misstakes and alot of others Im sure, but they usually make it right, something not all other companies does.

Personally I think it would be redicilous to demand a change of a jacket becaue of something that is in the nature of the hide. I believe Aero would gladly take the jacket back, but not make a new one because the customer obviously doesn´t understand heavy hides.

There is only one thig that can be a fault with the collar, and that is if its too short and too heavy, then Its gonna be harder to shape, but since this is a custom made jacket, I dont see how its Aero fault still. A customisation is a risk, sure they should know what they do, but we dont know the story behind this, maybe he asked for a not too long collar.

*no smileyface*

 

[Sir Jacket]

The jacket was quite heavily customised from an M422A but I realise now I was just creating a version of the ANJ3. In either case, I don't see how this would have affected the collar. They probably shouldn't have sent it out like that – they're meant to do innumerable checks before they dispatch –*and I do sometimes feel the communication with Aero is less than perfect but it's not a great problem. Their jackets are generally beautiful things (except the Windward!).

Sir J

 

[Peacoat]

I quit reading this thread when it became snippy. Now I see we are back on track. Did you use the wetting and clipping treatment recommended by Jan? I have used that method on pea coats and the various types of leathers, with good success.

I just don't see this as a problem--certainly not to the level of a defect. It is made from a heavy, very heavy, piece of horsehide; it takes time to tame these creations. Soaking the collar and letting it dry with a clip on it for a few days is the business. Also, as Hoosier Daddy, and others have recommended over the years, heavily misting the jacket while wearing it, will help in the break in process.

If for some reason the collar won't tame, you can send it back and have a mouton collar installed. Aero can do a nice mouton collar. That would then take the jacket back to its roots and solve the delinquent collar problem.

 

[dr.velociraptor]

I still don´t understand you, and that is why I made that comment.
Heavy hides can be very stiff, so as I said, if one doesn´t like it then its not for them. Its still not a defect.

A crack is not the same as a stiff unbroken in hide. Aero is made from humans, humans make mistakes. Aero have made numerous sewing misstakes, administrative misstakes and alot of others Im sure, but they usually make it right, something not all other companies does.

Personally I think it would be redicilous to demand a change of a jacket becaue of something that is in the nature of the hide. I believe Aero would gladly take the jacket back, but not make a new one because the customer obviously doesn´t understand heavy hides.

There is only one thig that can be a fault with the collar, and that is if its too short and too heavy, then Its gonna be harder to shape, but since this is a custom made jacket, I dont see how its Aero fault still. A customisation is a risk, sure they should know what they do, but we dont know the story behind this, maybe he asked for a not too long collar.

*no smileyface*

It isn't the nature of the hide to have the collar lay completely different on each side, that is the nature of the stitching done on the jacket that will determine such a drastic difference. I've owned plenty of jackets, many very very heavy and I never had an issue with a collar like that, judging from the jackets I see here no one else has either. I've seen tons of LW Suburbans, Vanson Enfields, Aero jackets etc... and none had collars like that so your "it's the nature of the hide" comment is strange to me.

Like I said if it can be wet and bent to form then it's a non-issue. (but that isn't the case at this point) However to say "it looks good, it gives it character" is ridiculous and just pandering to Aero which this site should be above. Like I said I saw the same pandering to Aero on the topic where the gentleman had obvious cracking all up and down the arm of his jacket. People replied "that's just horsehide" or "I like it, gives it character, makes the jacket your own". It's a one year old $1000 jacket the leather shouldn't be cracking.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Point is...if I've read this thread correcty..the stiff collar shape was solved and corrected..by wetting it and shaping it as advised. So...for several posts now,it has been a non-issue..except to you. What to you mean by 'cracking'? Deep splitting through the leather?..or heavy graining developing on certain parts of the hide? Aero's FQHH has a tendancy to 'grain' and marble with wear..and sometimes with uneven patterns. If the finish is actually 'cracking' through the finish..it could be due to the tanning process reacting in an abnormal way. In that case the jacket certainly should be sent back to Aero IF purchased new from them. Aero's FQHH is tanned by Horween in a unique way that offers a more translucent waxy finish that shows through with burnished charactoristics of a lighter undercoat..rather than a heavier coated finish of some others. That is one of the desirable aspects to many of this leather. If some uncharactoristic defect escaped Aero's quality control..or showed up later on a new jacket..they would replace it if notified. If you want a leather jacket that remains looking 'new' and unworn for years...look elsewhere. There are $1000 HH jackets that do that too. 'Real' defects?...just send it back to Aero. Real cracking would certainly be a serious defect.
HD

 

[ButteMT61]

OK, I'll bite. What benefit would one derive from "pandering to Aero"? I believe that folks who have experience are merely saying a little effort and it could be fine. Of course if that doesn't work (or even if it wasn't something the OP wanted to try) Aero should be tagged to explain it. I've seen amazing things done with water and hands and Pecards on HH - even goat. I don't think the suggestions here are pandering and merely an offer of help to avoid a long wait to get it "fixed".
People fawn over Aero, GW, ELC, Vanson, LW and McCoys here. I doubt anyone gets points for it with the makers. Trust me, had I something this expensive and it was jacked up, I'd raise hell.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

I agree that if its sewn wrong, then its a defect and it could be changed.
(doesnt mean its that bad that one wants to change it tho, but Aero should change it if thats what the owner wants - yes I agree to this)

Its hard to see in the picture, but it looked like just stiff hide to me, and yes different parts can be different stiff without it being a defect. So Im just telling my point of view from the information I have. If it comes out from the owner that it infact is sewn wrong, then I will admittt its a defect. I have no problem with that.

Aero is the only company that offers me the quality I want for the price and wait and in the styles Im after. I dont know any other company that gives me this on the planet. This makes me love Aero. Yes sometimes they make faults, but as I said they correct it if you talk to them. I dont see a problem here. I had a problem with a jacket and they made me a new one. I can only see good things here, sure there are mistakes, but everyone makes them. All in all this is the jacket maker for me.

Thats all I have to say about it.

 

[Peacoat]

OK, everyone has had his say, the comments have ended in a positive tone, so let's let this be the end of it. If there are any more negative, snippy comments, it will be clear to the bartenders that the thread has ended its useful life and it will be locked.

 

[frussell]

Aero is made from humansQUOTE]
"It's people! Soylent Green is people!"

 

[Seb Lucas]

I want to respond since it was me that suggested the collar was not really a problem and part of how many jackets come to us before they break in. I've had this sort of thing with collars before - many of us have. But I resent the implication that I am protecting Aero. I have never owned an Aero nor am I a fan of their heavy horse hide. But that's just personal taste. Nevertheless, I have had to use water treatment to shape up uneven collars at least 3 times over 20 years of jacket buying. It's a very common experience.

 

[Sir Jacket]

For what it's worth, gang, the water treatment seems largely to have worked.

Let's keep things in perspective. Fine leather jackets are important -- I think we all agree -- but there ae more important things in this world.

Sir J

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

"It's people! Soylent Green is people!"

I know, Sol, you've told me a hundred times before. People were better, the world was better...

 

[ButteMT61]

For what it's worth, gang, the water treatment seems largely to have worked.Let's keep things in perspective. Fine leather jackets are important -- I think we all agree -- but there ae more important things in this world.Sir J

...Membership seriously in jeopardy lolIndeed. I'm making a fire now while the coffee brews. Granddaughter is coloring and the Sunday fun begins - slowly as it should. Have a great day all!