http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t167 ... beater.jpg Presenting... The HellBeater!
I just thought I'd mention that today I recieved an Indy jacket I once thought I would never need, nor want. Yet when I tried on the jacket on Standard Street, my friend remarked that it looked better on me than the Indy jacket, so I thought: "Eh... what the hey... might as well..."
A black beauty, the HellBeater was so named after Tony Nowak's infamous advice to "Beat the [heck] out of your jacket!". Also, I thought to myself that if I'm getting a jacket, having the name 'Mutt' written on it seemed a bit unfair. Certainly, this wouldn't be what Indy would do.
If the jacket is to be custom, a one of a kind masterpiece made especially for me, then why not have the jacket reflect that? Throwing out the 'Mutt' name, I instead asked Tony if he would sew on my own.
I must admit that when I saw the movie, I imagined the jacket to be soft, the lining to be silky, and the general overview of the jacket to be anything but an adventure jacket. Yet this jacket certainly outshines almost all the Indy jackets I've handled as being a true adventure jacket.
The pebbly cowhide is thick and rubbery (in a good way), the red thatched lining (which is sewn IN house by Nowak Originals apparently) is much tougher than a cotton lining, and twice as insulating (yet breathable), but still the jacket looks every bit as luxurious as one would NOT expect, given the toughness.
I've included a few pictures below for your viewing pleasure!
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t167 ... uckles.jpg Going for the Swashbuckler 'look'
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t167 ... snowak.jpg What Mr. Nowak refers to as the 'Elvis' look!
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t167 ... /skull.jpg Not the crystal skull, but a screen-accurate, authentic skull nevertheless!
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t167 ... der/13.jpg Leather jacket... Greaser... Come on, you knew this was coming...
A Visit to Standard St!
When I was in California two weeks ago, Tony welcomed me to visit the place where it all happens... the wonder emporium of many a dream jacket, the Nowak Original Studio!
Tony, ever the gracious host, insisted to make ourselves at home, and like Willy Wonka, threw open the doors and walked my friend and I through the various stages from which a leather jacket is made. He demanded that no stone be left unturned, and assured us he had nothing to hide. Nowak simply wanted to show us how a jacket was made, from the carpet-like rolls of leather, to the necessary evils of distressing!
The factory was actually smaller than I had expected, I must admit, consisting of what I assumed to be the lobby, which opened up into the main cutting floor (about the size of two mid-sized lecture halls), which led to what I assume to be the 'office' in the back.
I arrived late, at about half past six, on a Thursday evening. Previously, I had promised to get there by six, but traffic in Los Angeles, need I say more?
When we finally had a chance to sit down in the lobby, Tony disappeared into the jungle of jackets, reappearing with two 'Mutt' jackets. I gingerly examined one, picked it up gently, tried it on... and it fit! Like a glove! Except... the allegedly 5'10 Shia's jacket was too short on me, a fellow 5'10, by two inches... Take it for what you will...
I carefully took the jacket off with every care that I would afford any of my own jackets, and handed it back to Tony, who graciously recieved it, balled it up in a tight wad, and BAM, threw it onto the floor like a dead basketball.
Mr. Nowak let out a loud laugh when he noticed my horrified expression, and assured me that these jackets were well made for a reason: to have the **** beaten out of them!
We then discussed at length the pedigree of the jacket, with Nowak ever the gentleman, taking time out of his schedule to sit down for a few hours with one obsessed fan, sharing signed documents from Bernie Pollack, press releases, and even at one point producing an official Indiana Jones magazine. He was insistant that the design of the Keppler LC jacket was a flawed one, which would explain the numerous minor, but significant details that make the KotCS jacket an entirely new creature.
When I mentioned the topic of distressing, he pulled up my sleeve and began rubbing down on it to illustrate how he distressed the jackets (with a mannequin). He noticed me wincing, and quickly apologized, laughing that he tended to get carried away. However, he explained that no two distressed jackets will ever be the same simply because distressing is such a dynamic process. Something stitch Nazi's should take to heart!
Noticing that my friend looked a little bored, we proceeded on to the cutting floor, where much to her delight, he paraded out... Naomi Campbell's jacket! (not on him, of course)
Letting her try it on for size, with me donning on Shia's jacket for size again, he shared a bit of his own philosophy on living in the moment, and that we simply had to have this much to remember this moment by; a moment to be lost in time, and the like.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t167 ... milies.jpg
Though I did ask for a photo afterwards with him, he mentioned that he would like to remain incognito for the time being, which is understandable given the climate (both on CoW, and in L.A. at the time!)
Tony Nowak was more than accomodating with our questions, and brought forth various leather clothing from movies that he had worked on, past, present, and future. Of course we recognized right away Arnold's trademark Terminator jacket, while my friend noticed the female Terminator's jacket, whom Tony Nowak was not able to remember (a sign of too many movies?). Then, there was clothing from G.I. Joe, Terminator 4, and of course, the Surrogates. Not to forget an Arnold charity-event jacket with patches of all his movies.
We were truly in movie jacket heaven.
Luckily, my friend had brought with her a Wested Indy, which Tony began to examine. I may be wrong, but from his comments, it seemed to be the first time he had a Wested on hand to examine. He noted several differences between the design of a Wested and his own, but was quick to brush aside any comparisons with Wested, repeating that he respected the other guy's work, but the two jacket designs were completely separate.
Returning to the 'lobby', we then began the task of sizing for my new jacket. Taking a seat, Mr. Nowak was more than patient as he watched bemused as my friend and I began nitpicking every last detail. He then brought forth a few different Indy jackets to help decide with the measurements.
As I began to remove the jacket, he commented on how to better shape the collar (which was to pull at the edges), something I had never known before. I guess it would be alot safer than vaious water methods mentioned, with time being the only tradeoff.
When the clock finally struck eight thirty, Nowak kindly insisted that he give us a ride to the airport for our flight (at nine). On the way to the airport, a little of the man behind the jackets was finally revealed. He admitted that he had stopped watching movies after the seventies, as he felt life was an adventure enough. Something most of us could probably take to heart. He said that once a person has a family, sometimes you have to stop doing what you want, and start doing what you have to do.
He mentioned that he was considering retiring from the jacket making business in the near future, as he always wanted to pursue his one dream of architecture. Never one to be tied down, I suppose that explains how the former weightlifter made the transition from bodybuilder to Hollywood jacket production, and from there, to be part of the Indiana Jones legend.
His life is an adventure without question, and I for one would recommend everyone to have one of Tony Nowak's jackets for the greatest adventure of them all.
