What You Need To Know About Buying A Leather Jacket

The leather jacket is a Western fashion icon – that much is unarguable. Popularized by figures such as Harrison Ford, Keanu Reeves and, of course, The Fonz, the leather jacket continues to form a staple part of Western fashion as it has done for the best part of half a century. Leather jackets are also used by military police and were popular with the Russian Bolsheviks during the Soviet era, giving the jackets an air of mystery and intrigue that remains to this day.

The first thing to decide upon is what type of leather you want your jacket made from. If you’re after a soft, velvety feel and a vintage style leather, you may want to opt for nubuck. If budget is a concern, you may want to look at hide leather – the commonly available high street leather which is of a significantly lower grade than other types and is manufactured with quality being sacrificed for profit. At the opposite end of the scale is the extremely sought-after nappa leather. Nappa leather is the highest quality of leather money can buy and is lightweight and flexible.

Often, the best bargains on leather jackets can be had online. A high-grade nappa leather jacket can be bought for upwards of $500 – not all that expensive when you consider the quality of the leather and craftsmanship involved. However, if your budget is limited then hide leather may be suitable. Hide leather is heavier and often more uncomfortable than higher grades of leather, but is available far cheaper than higher grades of leather and in more outlets.

Leather jackets come in many different colors as well as styles. On higher grade leather, aniline dyes tend to be used. Aniline dyes act more like a varnish and adheres to higher grade leather better. Leather which is likely to contain defects may utilize surface dyeing in order to hide these marks and blemishes. The traditional black leather jacket is by far the most popular color, with brown giving a great vintage look and red becoming more popular amongst women.

It’s not difficult to keep a leather jacket looking brand new. With a little care and attention, a leather jacket can give many, many years of good service. Use a leather protector regularly in order to protect your leather from rain and spillages. Moisturizing the jacket with a leather conditioner will prolong the life of your jacket and keep it supple and moist, providing it with flexibility to move and stretch without cracking or ripping. Enjoy your leather jacket and look after it.

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