Thedi, Aero, Field or?

[Mawashi]

Hi guys,

I've trying to see which guys to go for as I'm looking for a slightly modified version of a Plainsman but I'm undecided on who to get it done by?

Aero is the most affordable while Thedi is more expensive but they don't have a similar design like that and Fieldleather is somewhat new even though their prices similar to Thedi.

I did buy one of Greg's half-belt jacket which was made by Aero but it didn't fit too well and I am looking for advice on which co is great at some customer service and some mods.

I'm new to this so I'm trying to keep the price reasonable.

Any other companies to recommend please?

Mawashi

 

[Marc mndt]

Hi guys,

I've trying to see which guys to go for as I'm looking for a slightly modified version of a Plainsman but I'm undecided on who to get it done by?

Aero is the most affordable while Thedi is more expensive but they don't have a similar design like that and Fieldleather is somewhat new even though their prices similar to Thedi.

I did buy one of Greg's half-belt jacket which was made by Aero but it didn't fit too well and I am looking for advice on which co is great at some customer service and some mods.

I'm new to this so I'm trying to keep the price reasonable.

Any other companies to recommend please?

Mawashi

The Plainsman is pretty much a long halfbelt design right?

I don't know which modifications you're thinking of but Both Thedi and FL will probable do them. A jacket from one of those makers will cost you twice as much as an Aero though.

What modifications do you have in mind?

 

[Mawashi]

Hi Marc mndt,

Fairly minor changes like a swap of a collar and a back yoke with a bit of an action back and some sizing mods as I'm slim and a lot of jackets balloon on me.

​

 

[Guppy]

If you want a modified Aero Plainsman, Aero is the only option. Thedi does their own designs. They are very good in their own light, and don't need to steal designs from Aero, and I doubt they would.

Since Field is a former Aero worker, they might be able to do a Plainsman, but they might be more likely to refuse to knock off Aero designs in order to avoid legal hassles.

There is always some overlap in style, with certain patterns transcending to universality, such as the Perfecto motorcycle jacket, the Type III trucker, and the shawl collar cossack jacket, but don't expect a maker to be willing to copy just any pattern offered by a competitor.

 

[ton312]

I believe Aero is the only maker in your list that has anything like a LHB. To my knowledge Thedi and Field leathers do not offer long halfbelts. My advice would be to stick with Aero and see if they will mod the jacket you have in mind, rather than Frankenstein a Thedi or Field.....

 

[Marc mndt]

Thedi does their own designs. They are very good in their own light, and don't need to steal designs from Aero, and I doubt they would.

I believe Aero is the only maker in your list that has anything like a LHB. To my knowledge Thedi and Field leathers do not offer long halfbelts.

The plainsman is just a long halfbelt right? It's a basic design, not something that's proprietary to some particular maker.

Just skip the center back gusset and the sleeve adjusters on this one, add some body length and you'll have a long halfbelt, right?

 

[handymike]

I’m with @ton312 here. If he wants an Aero design, go get an Aero. Pretty simple.

 

[ton312]

The plainsman is just a long halfbelt right? It's a basic design, not something that's proprietary to some particular maker.

Just skip the center back gusset and the sleeve adjusters on this one, add some body length and you'll have a long halfbelt, right?

View attachment 485746 View attachment 485745

I wouldn't want to gamble with the proportions and take that risk with that kind of $. Aero makes a great halfbelt (honestly I prefer the Aero back to any other I've seen). Thedi and Field make pretty backs too but I like the simplicity of Aero's design for a standard HB or long HB.

 

[Marc mndt]

I’m with @ton312 here. If he wants an Aero design, go get an Aero. Pretty simple.

Of course if you want an AERO Plainsman then you should get an Aero Plainsman.

But it's such a generic design, it's like wanting a perfecto style MC jacket imo. Any maker can and will make one.

I don't see what sets the Aero Plainsman apart from just any generic LHB, other than the Aero label and maybe CXL option.

 

[jeo]

I would look into Johnson Leathers as well. They can make you anything you want and it will probably fit better than an Aero and will be less expensive than a Field and Thedi.

 

[Mawashi]

Wow that's a ton of replies in a short time lol.. Thanks a bunch everyone.

There are several issues about me chosing a leather jacket cos there's almost zero leather shops selling stuff from Aero or Schott etc, why? I'm in the tropics and you have to be a real odd ball to even try and wear leather in 35 degrees C with 80% humidity. Even the guys on bikes don't wear leather, so I have almost zero chance of trying out some of these jackets to see what looks good on me.

Secondly I'm not a big guy, at just 180cm and 72-73 kg think Joseph Levitt and Ewan McGregor then Theodoros Pampoukas. Some styles don't suit smaller guys like me so I opted for something fairly simple like a Plainsman or at most a modified Freewheelers Four Corners.

Btw, this is how an Aero Half-belt look on me:

Due to years of playing tennis I have high arcing neck muscles and longer than average arms, this is me wearing 25" sleeves.

Cheers,

Mawashi

 

[MrProper]

Another thought... how long do you want to wait for the new jacket? Relatively quickly with Aero. I don't know about Thedi, but think several months? Field Leather is at >1 year.
Of course, you can say the jacket is more important, no matter how long it takes. I, for example, am rather impatient and do not want to wait for months.

 

[ton312]

Wow that's a ton of replies in a short time lol.. Thanks a bunch everyone.

There are several issues about me chosing a leather jacket cos there's almost zero leather shops selling stuff from Aero or Schott etc, why? I'm in the tropics and you have to be a real odd ball to even try and wear leather in 35 degrees C with 80% humidity. Even the guys on bikes don't wear leather, so I have almost zero chance of trying out some of these jackets to see what looks good on me.

Secondly I'm not a big guy, at just 180cm and 72-73 kg think Joseph Levitt and Ewan McGregor then Theodoros Pampoukas. Some styles don't suit smaller guys like me so I opted for something fairly simple like a Plainsman or at most a modified Freewheelers Four Corners.

Btw, this is how an Aero Half-belt look on me:

Due to years of playing tennis I have high arcing neck muscles and longer than average arms, this is me wearing 25" sleeves.

Cheers,

Mawashi

That looks like a PHWM with low waist adjustment. The Halfbelt will suit you better imo, with the adjustment bets moved up the torso.

 

[58panheadfan]

As a Plainsman owner, I recommend to go with Aero

 

[Aloysius]

When you say Plainsman, which jacket do you mean? The Lewis Leathers Plainsman? Aero makes a repro of that design too, under the name Virginian.

Out of curiosity, do you wear your jackets on top of a mawashi and nothing else?

 

[Canuck Panda]

How about a Premier 30's half belt with plain back and added back length. It will fit slimmer than Plainsman. And in Badalassi leather with the premier hardware (Waldes and Hookless), it will be the most bang for the buck.

You could also try out their premier Saville Row lining. Basically you will get a jacket with really top notch materials for less than the other brands. And the fit of the high end Japanese jackets.

Depending on which machinst and the thickness of the leather, Aero can stitch it with the smaller sized needle so it looks more like the way the top Japanese brands are stitching their jackets. I've got a Speedway in natrual HH that I had asked to be made this way with the smaller needle. I will post pics of it when it arrives.

 

[Aloysius]

@Canuck Panda my understanding is that the suit cloth lining is only offered in Japan (and that line costs more than the Japanese brands).

 

[Canuck Panda]

@Canuck Panda my understanding is that the suit cloth lining is only offered in Japan (and that line costs more than the Japanese brands).

Well. Yes and No. I originally asked for it for one of my Aero jacket in the queue but decided against it because I would actually prefer their other lining over the suiting wool, for the Speedway jacket. However, had I know about it before I ordered my Seven I would have definitely asked for that suiting wool lining instead of of the cotton tartan. I believe the slimmer fit jackets can benefit (feel more premium) from the drapey suiting wool, like the Seven, but the Speedway is a different cut. So I don't actually know if it's available to ROW market, I don't see why it is not.
All premier leather jackets cost about ¥190,000 give or take ¥10k in Japan. Aero included. Xzips are a bit more. And so are Shearlings. That's just how things are priced there. No nail sticking out type thing there. Current RMC is a wierd one, pricing wise but I bet most of their business now comes from the foreign market.

 

[Aloysius]

Personally while I can see why the Japanese would want suiting lining (because it looks super western and specifically British) as suit materials go I’d actually prefer a bemberg lining in a leather jacket.

 

[BotanPhotography]

Greg is my personal favorite out of those three. He would be more than happy to make you something not on his listings if you’re willing to wait. His customer service is impeccable and cut and finish is terrific