Pre-distressed vs. Natural

[AdaminNYC]

It’s the age old question. Or at least the question I asked myself a year ago. Should I get my jacket pre-distressed or fresh off the cow? Last spring I got the pre-distressed, then this spring I got a regular old cowhide. There are good reasons for either. But in the end there can be only one. Well, not really, but I wanted to end that paragraph on something strong.

I’ll start by saying that both jackets are of exceptional quality. Both are custom, and both fit like they are custom. The pocket flaps on the cow are a little bigger, but I’m not a SA person so I’m okay with that. They forgot my second inside pocket on the cow, but there are tailors all over the place in NYC, so I’ll remedy that once it gets hot out.

So really, the only difference is the leather. And it is a big difference.

The pre-distressed is much lighter in color and came out of the bag much softer. I know the website says that the pre-distressed (this was before novapelle) is cow, but the tag in the jacket says lambskin. I wore that jacket the night I got it and it looked like a million bucks.

The cow jacket is MUCH stiffer. I was almost able to get it to stand up on its own. It’s also much darker. I feel like it will need a bit of breaking in before it really looks at home on me.

That said, I’ve had several cowhide leather jackets in my day that started out stiff. I know it won’t be long before that thing is cotton soft while remaining coffin-nail tough. I know it’s not Gore-Tex, but I’d be okay wearing the cow in the rain. I’ve run from rainstorms in the pre-distressed.

But one thing I think is important is the authenticity of the cow. I never felt comfortable in the pre-distressed leather. I think I read once on this forum that it’s like acid-washed jeans. It’s kind of true. The middle of the chest is just as distressed as the elbows. For me this goes against what a leather jacket is supposed to be. It’s probably irrational, but I couldn’t help but look down at that leather and know that it was machine-distressed. Like buying a pair of jeans with a big ragged hole in the knee.

So I would happily wear the pre-distressed jacket going out on the town. But if I’m going on a trip or into the wilds beyond Manhattan , I’d rather go with the authentic cow.


http://atomiclunch.com/images/twojackets.JPG

[BendingOak]

I like the natural myself.

[starks_6]

It depends on what you want. I like both. I prefer the natrual and to distress it myself or let it age on its own, but for something out of the box so to speak that looks like its had many an adventure you cant go past pre distressed.

[rick5150]

Conditioning a predistressed cowhide with Pecard leather dressing or boot and shoe oil will drastically darken it. And you can always distress the elbows and other areas a little more to make a distinction. You will never replace the protective coating that the leather had prior to the distressing, but that is what makes the predistressed jacket so soft and comfortable. Tough call. What movie are you aiming for? Raiders?

[PLATON]

All I can say is I used to have a pred cow but it wasn't soft and comfortable. And it's surface was rough and not toucher friendly.
I would vote against pred.

[PLATON]

The best detail in the photo is the photographer's left foot.

[Long John Tinfoil]

Well, now I know where my other sock went!!

Why run from the rain? My old lambskin has been soaked many times with no ill effects.

[AdaminNYC]

The best detail in the photo is the photographer's left foot.

You like my Gold Toe socks, eh?

I should mention that the pre-distressed has a couple applications of mink oil on it. The natural is fresh out of the big, black Wested bag.

All I can say is I used to have a pred cow but it wasn't soft and comfortable. And it's surface was rough and not toucher friendly.

Perhaps pre-distressing technology has come along since you got yours; my pre-distressed is surprisingly smooth and supple.

As for which movie I'm going for, like I said, I'm not a SA guy. Before I started reading this forum I didn't even know that the jackets were different from movie to movie. That said, I did get it custom made in the TOD style because I like the extra length. I'm gathering I must be pretty lucky; it sounds like Peter isn't taking custom orders for the time being? Mine must have been one of the last ones in.

[Indiana Strones]

My predistressed in very soft too. Bought a couple of months ago.

[Kokopelli]

I've got an old flight jacket that is pre-distressed. Soft as a baby's behind right out off the rack. The leather looks/looked exactly like the predistressed Wings KotCS jacket leather. Well, some 10 years later, it no longer looks like a distressed brown leather jacket, it looks like a tan leather jacket. Almost all the 'dark spots' -the darker contrast -is gone. I still like the Wings jacket, and would have even bought one if they would have made me a large, but I'm betting that in a few years they are going to look very different than they do now.

[AdaminNYC]

Two thoughts this gloomy Saturday morning.

One of the things I’ve discovered about pre-distressed leather; it’s not just pre-distressed, it’s predisposed to distress. I’ve noticed that the corners around the pockets have worn in a very stylish manner. The roughed up nature of the leather makes it show wear pretty quickly and evidently. The downside is that it shows scratches. The upside is that it mellows pretty quickly.

And last night I did find myself grabbing the pre-distressed rather than the natural on my way out to the pub. It was raining hard enough that I threw on my long raincoat over my leather anyway.

I may have to keep the pre-distressed, at least until the natural does some catching up on looking broken in. Is that selfish in these lean days before the new movie?

[AdaminNYC]

I just got back from a 7 day trip of Chicago and San Fran. Alas, there was a heat wave in SF, so I wasn't able to break in my new jacket too much, but I did get some progress by rolling the thing up and sitting on it while I did my evening paperwork.

After a week of being knocked around and worn, the cow is already starting to soften. Don't get me wrong, it's still pretty stiff, but it's getting those nice creases in the elbows that makes leather so awesome.

It's still shiny all get out, though. I have a feeling this jacket will be new looking for quite a while.

Oh, and it still has that nice, new leather smell.

[BlueSkyz]

I put my jackets in the dryer,no heat,in a pillow case and let it roll for an hour or so...............sure helps loosen up the leather. Make sure you do the pillow case and zip the jacket up so the zipper doesn't gouge the leather.......................