Vanson custom jackets

[Leadfoot]

This is a long overdue shout-out to Vanson and Thurston Bros. for getting these jackets made for me. I've been dragging my feet forever to post these but hopefully this will encourage others to post their Vanson custom jackets as well.


Custom DJCB (Maverick Racer??):

I'm thrilled with how this one turned out. I requested Comp Weight leather and what I got just may be the nicest leather I've ever seen from Vanson. It is so soft and about as stiff as a wet towel. Not what I was expecting. My first custom (Mercury circa 2017, also Comp Weight) is so rigid that I'm still trying to break it in. And I'm not entirely sure I ever will. But this jacket feels like a sweater compared to it. The contrast between the 2 leathers is striking.

I wanted a taller Mandarin style collar but didn't like what I had seen on their current offerings. I stumbled across an old Comet Horsehide with a collar that I hadn't seen before on a Vanson jacket and bought it just to have for reference. It took three attempts to get the collar right but it was totally worth the wait.

Also, the shoulder gussets just may be the best feature on this jacket. They make a huge difference in terms of comfort.

 

[Leadfoot]

 

[Leadfoot]

Custom Comet from 2018. Candy Blue leather. Bone stripes.

This one turned out perfect, except for the left sleeve. I only wanted the logo, not the stripes on that sleeve. However, in my haste to submit the order, I didn't proof read where the stripes were listed on both sleeves. Oh well. Given the number of requests I was making, there could have been far was mistakes to be made. It didn't help that the logo was much larger than I was anticipating. I was expecting something about half the size. But.... meh, first world problems.

 

[El Marro]

Awesome jackets man! Just great to see what you and Vanson have done together!

 

[Leadfoot]

Custom Mercury from 2019. Navy Blue leather. Gold hardware.

The leather is incredible. Thick and soft. No rigidity. At all. It feels more like a super heavy shirt.

The interior body lining is a perfect example of why you don't let the customer pick out the materials. haha! I chose what I thought was a high-grade quilting cotton. But the fabric is turning a nasty green around the collar.

The color is difficult to capture. It doesn't help that my photo skills suck.

 

[Leadfoot]

Also, I added underarm gussets on this one. Totally worth it.

 

[Leadfoot]

2021 Enfield Z150:

Z150 leather. Oxford style collar and chest pocket. Snap cuffs. Leather lined hand pockets. No wind flap. Black hardware.

The front is an inch longer than standard but all the other measurements are spot on for that size.

I supplied the interior body lining fabric. A PolyViscose Lindsay tartan.

 

[Leadfoot]

Thunderbird:

Comp Weight leather. Chopper style collar. Peacoat style hand pockets. Everything else omitted.

This one showed up just after Christmas but was sent back to be remade. (My choice.) They pretty much nailed what I asked for but the leather was so insanely stiff, it left bruises just trying to bend my arms. And the leather around the collar was so unforgiving that I worried that It would've shattered my jaw if the jacket ever got jammed up into my chin. After spending the last few years trying to break in my Comp Weight Mercury, I just didn't have the enthusiasm to take on another one. And Vanson was gracious enough to agree to remake it.

The interior body lining turned out fantastic! I hope they will be able to replicate it on the remake.

 

[Leadfoot]

Custom Mercury from 2017:



This one ain't much of a looker. But I include it because it was the first one I ordered and has since turned into my Rosetta Stone in dealing with Vanson. Something so simple turned into a giant hassle. It had to be remade. Then the remake had to be repaired. Tempers flared. Words were exchanged. It got ugly. The problem was mostly on me. I was working with bad information and making bad assumptions. Not only was it the first jacket I ever ordered but it was also the first jacket I ever bought. I thought I had done a sufficient amount of research and knew what I was doing. Clearly, I did not.

I have ordered 7 jackets from them over the last few years. The 1st one was a train wreck. The 7th one was a Breeze. My advise to anyone contemplating ordering a custom jacket from Vanson is to find one they already made to use as for reference. Their Kung Fu is strong but they aren't mind readers. Show them exactly what you want. Use lots of pictures. And keep an open mind.

 

[Carlos840]

Those look really nice.
Personally i am done with new Vanson for the moment, the recent customer service is a joke.
They have a new guy called Nick who doesn't know what he is talking about, and they seem incapable of answering emails. My last attempt at contactign them was in early January, all i got as an answer was:
"We will be monitoring our e-mails as much as possible, but due to high call volume as well as website order volume, we may not be able to respond immediately. Please note that it can take 2-3 days before online orders are fully processed."
More than a month later, still no answer...

 

[MrProper]

Those look really nice.
Personally i am done with new Vanson for the moment, the recent customer service is a joke.
They have a new guy called Nick who doesn't know what he is talking about, and they seem incapable of answering emails. My last attempt at contactign them was in early January, all i got as an answer was:
"We will be monitoring our e-mails as much as possible, but due to high call volume as well as website order volume, we may not be able to respond immediately. Please note that it can take 2-3 days before online orders are fully processed."
More than a month later, still no answer...

That must have been the same Nick who never answered me again.
Too bad, would have liked to have had an Oxford.

 

[Carlos840]

That must have been the same Nick who never answered me again.
Too bad, would have liked to have had an Oxford.

That guy is hopeless, he told me my CXL Vansons couldn't be Vansons as Vanson only used black dyed through leather. Since my CXL jacket had brown underside of the hide it wasn't a Vanson!
I pointed out the CXL Left Field jackets, he stopped answering me, no answer since 9th of december.
I have some riding jeans on order, impossible to get an update on these, was trying to get a custom collar made, impossible to get in contact with anyone, i have called, been told someone would look for my email and answer me, nothing...

I've said it before, but i'm afraid Constantine leaving had a real impact on their abilities to do Customer Service.
Things have been getting worst and worst since he left last year.

 

[JMax]

Seems like going through TB may be the way to go now.

Killer customs.

 

[AeroFan_07]

This is quite an amazing collection of Vansons you have there! Really nice and all appear to be in excellent condition. I would say you have excellent photography skills based off the photos you have provided.

I keep personally going back on forth with a Vanson here & there. Thier jackets are often very comfortable and easy to wear, and I like the "edge" that each one has without being over the top.

 

[Schambach]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing. The striped comet is amazing, love it. Also love the mercury from 2017, what changes did you make? The lining, and the length maybe?

 

[Hh121]

Your post inspired me, that is the only thing I can say for now!

 

[Canuck Panda]

@Carlos840 Nick NEVER answers emails.

 

[f2002q]

This collection is SICK !! I can't believe you got Vanson to make all those. My favorite is the blue Mercury. I like the pockets in the facings too. They make much more sense than a slit on the lining, especially when they are leather lined.

 

[Hobbes1]

The blue are my favorites but I also love that red/black tribal lining! Well done!!

 

[Leadfoot]

Thank you all for the kind words. But I really wanted to brag on Vanson. There isn't anything I could say that hasn't already been said about their ability to make a kickass jacket. Their skill is strong. But it's nice to have a visual reminder every now and then.

However, I don't want to come across as blinded by brand loyalty. Yes, I am a big fan of their product and I wish them great success. But I have a few stories of my own that mirror some of the frustrations that others have reported. I will be happy to be a cheerleader for them but I won't defend crappy customer service. This has been the biggest head-scratcher for me. They clearly take great pride in their product and their history. And they have been, surprisingly, very accommodating with all my crazy requests. But they don't make it easy. Somewhere along the way, though, I started putting all this in perspective. And somehow it has made it easier for me to deal with them.

I have never visited the mothership. I don't know anyone in the company nor have I ever spoken to anyone there. Or Thurston Bros. for that matter. All correspondence has been email only. I have no evidence to back any of this up, but these are my observations (suspicions??) about Vanson:

-Despite their true size, they are very much a small company. Or run it as such. I'm sure they must appreciate the accolades but at the end of the day, it's their company and they will run it however they want to. Yes, the website sucks ass but it clearly seems to be working for them.

-The last few years could not have been easy for them. Trying to find skilled labor to replace an aging workforce during a pandemic must not be easy while also being based in one of the most expensive states in the union to run a business. Who knows, Nick may be the best they could do with under the circumstances.

-Their materials cost must have increased. Everything else has. It stands to reason that theirs did too. And yet, when was the last time they had a price increase?

-And what of the supply side? No more X150. I'm sure they would love to find a supplier for it if for no other reason than to shut me up. haha!

I still feel like they offer the biggest bang for the buck. No other company offers the customer that kind of variety and involvement in making a jacket. How much do you think Aero would have charged for that Blue Comet? I'm not ragging on Aero. I love Aero. It's just perspective.

I am putting way more words to this than I intended. It really comes down to one word, patience. It may take a while but you will get what you wanted. Eventually.