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I have a 'classic' style leather jacket, think James Dean. I bought it with my first student grant cheque so it's probably almost 35 years old. It's been to the moon and back with me, been abused in many many gigs, and because I broke it in from new it fits me like a second skin.
The leather is still near-perfect. The ironmongery is showing its age in places but I can live with that. However the lining is pretty sodded. The outer (inner?) cloth is still mostly intact but whatever passed for internal insulation / padding is a distant memory. So I'd like to get it relined.
I initially thought "it owes me nothing, I'll buy a new one" but a like-for-like replacement today is north of four figures (and won't be the same anyway) so that's not happening. Google throws up plenty of repair places for torn leather panels, or discolouration, or zip replacements, or for relining suit jackets, or repairing sofas, but I can't see anything specifically what I'm looking for which fills me with any degree of confidence. I live close to Lancashire Sports Repair but although they'd be my first port of call for a tent repair (and I'm taking a pair of walking boots to them soon), I'm less convinced that this task falls within their area of expertise.
Aside from anything else it holds great sentimental value, I'd be devastated if I sent it away and they ****ed it up. So, I throw myself upon the mercy of STW. Has anyone had this done? Anywhere recommended? Anywhere to avoid? I'd rather stay local if possible but that's increasingly looking like a pipe dream, I found someone who looked perfect but they're in Canada.
Thanks in advance.
If the lining and insulation is anything like I imagine a 35 year old jacket to be like, I’d take the lining out and wear it as a leather shell. I’d be surprised if you’re exactly the same “build” you were when you bought it. If you are, then a denim jacket worn underneath will fill it out.
Taking the lining out and wearing it without is going to feel horrible. The suede-like inner surface will catch and drag on anything you wear underneath, and you’ll feel all the seams.
What you need to look for is someone who does seamstressing, and clothing repairs and adjustments, there’s one in Chippenham, and they’re very popular, I’ve had a number of small items repaired and adjusted, I’ve got a leather bike jacket I bought from a bike shop, someone had taken it in for a zip repair but never gone back for it, so I got in touch and bought it off him and paid the repair cost, probably thirty-odd years ago, then more recently some of the seams started to pull apart and seams in the lining as well. Someone I knew who had a small business doing repairs, dressmaking and adjustments was able to re-sew the seams in the panels making up the jacket, and mend the seams in the red polyester lining as well.
In that particular case, it was very important that the lining was retained, because it’s worth more than the jacket as a whole, or rather, the jacket is valuable with the original lining still intact.
…And yes, that is Tank Girl, drawn by Jamie Hewlett, also co-creator of Gorillaz.
I know these are motorcycle leathers specialists but they replaced the liners of my other's jacket and trousers. They are incredibly knowledgeable and if they can't do a good job they'll tell you.
https://www.hideout-leather.co.uk/repairs/
Hideout are great, they've been in the game for donkey's years and I'd trust them if they're up for doing it.
Another option worth speaking to is Doug Sanders, SPM Leathers -
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- he's out in the middle of nowhere in rural Galloway but I'm sure would take an order by post.
He did some alterations on a couple of leather motorcycle jackets for me (one taken out / one taken in) and his work was superb. Proper skilled craftsman and he didn't charge me anything close to enough.
If his stuff had a Hebtroco label on it it'd sell for three times the price, it's excellent.