We believe it is imperative that our customers know what exactly goes into play when it comes to making a leather jacket. The process is very similar to many other apparel items you may buy or use on a daily basis.
We’ll start two different steps from here and have them unite at Step 3.
Step 1
Initially, we create a concept for each jacket. This is typically done by a design team who then puts that idea into sketch based upon the current trends. Fashion as well as weather are integral parts in designing leather jackets. For example, due to rain in England a waterproof leather would be utilized whereas in less cold areas a thinner gauge would be used.
After these factors are considered the leather type is determined. Typically there are three options to choose from; cow, goat and sheep/lamb. and pig leather are also used but not nearly as much as cow, goat and sheep leather. leather would typically be used for Pilot Jackets or jackets and coats made for cold weather. Sheep, lamb, goat leather would be more common with moderate weather and you’ll find a lot of blazers and leather jackets made from Sheep leather.
After the leather is chosen it is then sent to a tannery which specializes in buying and tanning leather. This is perhaps the lengthiest of all processes. It is also the most important one. This can typically take up to 3-4 days with dyeing the leather to tumbling it and making sure the color is lustrous and consistent.
Step 2
Simultaneously, while the tannery prepares the leather, the craftsmanship team is hard at work. They first step is pattern making. This is one of the most delicate processes as it requires accuracy to the nearest MM or lower. There is no room for error here since it would be a disaster to mess up any measurements. This work can be done by machines but surprisingly it is also done manually by a great number of factories around the world. Typically, the leather jacket is sketched on paper first and then the same is sketched on a harder surface. The paper version is stored for record keeping while the hard copy is sent out to the Cutting Department.
is placed on the hard copy of the pattern and cut in a number of panels which will later be stitched together. This process is more complex than it seems. The cutter has to be very careful with accuracy. Just like pattern making, any mistake in cutting will lead to a problem for the stitcher. is a natural product and no amount of tanning can hide all marks on the skin. So the cutter always makes sure to keep the more prominent marks on the inside i.e. the hidden side.
Once complete, the cut panels are bundled up and sent to the stitcher usually within the same day.
While tanning, cutting and pattern making was in progress, our efficient merchandisers were getting together all the accessories together. These include threads, buttons, zippers etc. These are included in the package that goes to the stitcher.
Step 3
The stitcher receives package and gets to work on the machine. This is a very tedious process and requires a great attention to detail like all preceding tasks. But this is also where everything comes together. The stitcher finds the best way to put everything together by the help of the original design template and the cut leather. This process can take up to a day or so depending on the amount of work a leather jacket needs. Once this is complete, all measurements are checked with reference to the original size set and if everything is correct, the jacket is sent over to the Packaging Department.
Packaging does one final quality assurance check and this is the most detailed one. All details from measurements to leather and accessory are checked extensively. Once this is complete, the jacket is packed and shipped with the utmost love and care.
xo, leatherHERE
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