Club Obi Wan

I know this is Club Obi Wan, but for all you Wested fans out there....Just got this in a day ago....An exact replica of the jacket seen in the beginning of the James Bond film "Tomorrow Never Dies". This jacket was made by the same people that made it for the original movie and was made from the original patterns. The company is Wested. They have made jackets for many movies but most notably the Indiana Jones series. This was the only jacket of this kind made other than the four used in the movie and worn by Pierce Brosnan! It is made of the same material, a waxy leather and it feels great! Very rugged... Here I am holding the same style Dunhill lighter Bond uses as an explosive device in the movie....

The company is Wested. They have made jackets for many movies but most notably the Indiana Jones series.

Did any of YOU guys know this?

Just kidding. I admired that jacket when I saw the film! It looks great! Wear it in good health!

Dr. J

Thanks......sorry, but I posted that paragraph in a FEW forums...not all of them are so familiar with the company...

Has anyone ever told you you look exactly like Pierce Brosnan? It must be the jacket.

Totally awsome jacket. I remember liking the jacket the moment I saw it several years ago in Tomorrow. A great Bond film as well. The jacket gives Bond (and you) that "tough-customer" look. Those are the best pics I've ever seen of it. I couldn't tell much about the details on the film.

Is the leather just a lighter brown? it looks almost semi-distressed. The closest thing I'd been able to located that shared similarities was the leather M-65 Feild Coat (leather version of the coat issued to the US troops), back when I used to get U.S. Cavalry magazines.

Guess I'll have to add the TND jacket to my "must have" list! Beautiful jacket.

P.S.
What's the insulation like? If I ever considered purchasing one, I wouldn't need much, here in the south!

The leather is VERY waxy...almost leaves fingerprints (not permanent) when you touch it...but super super soft...the inside is lined with satin and boasts pockets EVERYWHERE!

Sharp looking jacket. I wonder how you would treat/care for it. I guess Pecards, but which kind?

REALLY tough question....I'll have to ask Peter....or maybe he will chime in here....my only complaint was the belt was not finished properly but I am sure Wested wll make it right...

I desperatly want to get one of these some time. It looks incredible. How custom was this jacket compared to rodering an Indy jacket?

Ken

I want one! I really liked the jacket in the movie, and now that I see a real, non movie jacket, I want it! It would have been great to have when I lived on the east coast, but I'm sure I'd get some good use out of it here during our two week winter.

Out of curiosity, how many pockets are there inside?

Cheers!

IG

The interior has one large pocket but the outside has six pockets...all of them well placed...the fit was not custom...I told them I had a relativelly athletic build...42 Regular chest and a 33 inch waist and they pretty much went from there...

Very nice looking jacket (although I thought I recall it being black,) but there would be just too many pockets for me to search through when I’m trying to find my shopping list while traversing the aisles of my local grocery store.

Another belted leather jacket I’ve always been partial to is the one Kevin Costner wore in the Untouchables during the Canadian scenes - with the added benefit of not so many pockets.

Do my eyes deceive me, or does that jacket look kinda like a suede-type leather? From the pictures I saw and watching the movie, I would have guessed it was like a lambskin or cowhide. Oh well, I guess this gives me another excuse to watch the movie again.

Indy N.

Ah the pics are deceivimg...it is not a suede, but rather a waxy cowhide that looks quite oily...that is exactly the look the costume maker was looking for as denoted in a Making Of book...she wanted the look of an oily, tough jacket based on a World War design....Wested made the perfect coat for them and used a waxy cowhide that shifts look depending on the light....in person it looks less suedy....the more I wear this the shinier it will get and that is what you see in the movie....I am going to wear it to death......

This is what it looks like sort of oily and suedy...


And this is what it looks like in a shinier light....

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I've always loved those two pix...especially the 1st one. Brosnan is by far THE best 007!

Indy N.

I need to get some expert advice on how to treat and take care of this....

What great timing! I plan to order one of these Bond jackets from Wested in the spring so I can have it for next winter. Thanks for posting the pics of yours--now I don't need to pester Wested for more.

Until we really know what the leather surface is, it's pretty difficult to offer care suggestions at this time. Regards. Michaelson

So tell me how to best communicate the surface material....

Ok, I had a friend use a term to me today that made this make more sense, and that was 'waxy nubuck', which means something to me. I know they used to make shoes with this stuff, and it's a good one too. Based on that 'waxy' statement, though, there's nothing that comes to mind that Pecards makes that would take care of this surface(with the exception of standard dressing, that is) . The only thing I can POSSIBILY think of for consideration would be the Scotchgard Leather treatment in the brown can (when you can find the stuff), but would HIGHLY suggest you bug Peter either via email, PM, or better yet phone call and get his recommendation. I'd sure hate to suggest something that could damage that surface, especially when it's 'naturally' finished to repeal water and weather as it is right now. Let me know what you find out, if you don't mind. I'd be curious myself . Regards. Michaelson

Perhaps Peter can send you a scrap of the leather for you to test out different products on?

Regards,

Farn

Gtreat idea...Peter? You out there?

Great jacket, though I don't really care that much for Bond. The movies are entertaining, but I don't care for the character. He's no gentleman!

On a different note: I own a beautiful vintage leather jacket from the 1940s. Unfortunately it has resided in a damp basement for many years, and has mildew all over it. Any suggestions? I was thinking about simply washing it on a gentle cycle, then waxing it. I did this once to a leather bag that got soiled with olive oil, and it turned out just fine...

gobo wrote:On a different note: I own a beautiful vintage leather jacket from the 1940s. Unfortunately it has resided in a damp basement for many years, and has mildew all over it. Any suggestions? I was thinking about simply washing it on a gentle cycle, then waxing it. I did this once to a leather bag that got soiled with olive oil, and it turned out just fine...

How do you wax leather (short of dripping candlewax over it, or taking Turtle to it)? Would this work on tight knit, rough cotton as well, perhaps? I have an old Dickies tan work jacket that I would like to darken and give that wax finish to. I've never tried anything like it, nor do I know anything about cloths and treating them.

Cheers,

IG

Grendel,
I have a Barbour jacket that is waxed cotton. Every year or two it needs to be re-waxed, either by sending it back to the company or by using the little tin of wax dressing that the company sells. This waxed cotton is as waterproof and breatheable as GoreTex and much more interesting in history and texture. I have been very hard on that jacket. It has doubled as a dog bed, traction for a stuck car (Not Mine. Jeeps don't get stuck when properly driven), sponge it off and shake it out and it's brand new. It's an amazing material.

I should add:
The jacket came that way and is infused with the wax. I once tried to apply the dressing to a cotton canvas hat to match it and it became a gooey sticky mess. I ended up discarding it.

For waxing cotton, I would suggest a product called 'wax paste', aka 'mink oil'. As for leather, maybe 'waxing' is the wrong term. English is not my native tongue, so you'll have to bear with me a little. I use a product called leather-fat, commonly sold in shoe shops and such.

Peter doesn't seem to be responding....probably busy with some jacket making! Waxy Nubuck is the material....

I tried waxing an ordinary, heavy cotton jacket once, too, and it didn't turn out too good. But if the jacket's made out of thin, finely vowen cotton (like a Barbour jacket), there's no reason why it shouldn't be okay.

I am glad that I am not alone:

I tried waxing an ordinary, heavy cotton jacket once, too, and it didn't turn out too good.

It's best left to professionals!

The jacket is made from waxy nubuck cowhide.
Unlike suede which is the reverse or underside of the leather suface nubuck is the leather or outside of the skin which has been buffed to take off the shiny leather surface. Then a waxed finish is applied to seal the skin surface.
This is done as part of the tanning process and cannot be applied afterwards.
Cheers
Peter

Yes I am still alive and kicking.

Well, then, based on this explaination, I'd think standard Pecards dressing would be the dressing of choice. Thanks, Peter. I've always wondered what that was. Regards. Michaelson

thanks gents!

BonBond jacket number two will be started soon....I am going to have this one done in a tradiitonal cowhide, in authentic brown....will post pics when it gets here....

According to Pecard's website, the leather silicone dressings in liquid or spray are for suedes, brushed, dry tanned and nu-buck leathers. This jacket sounds like it fits in this category to me.

BJ,

That's interesting to know since I have a ‘Deer Creek’ nubuck cowhide that’s got what appears to be a waxy coating. It’s a nice rich dark vintage brown, with a somewhat soft sandwashed look, not quite as long as the Bond jacket appears with tons of detailing and pockets, inside and out with a cotton western motif blanket lining, articulated elbows, etc., but no belt. I received it as a special gift and haven’t worn it that much until lately because of the weather. At first I didn’t think it could take much abuse without bruising or marking, but after a few outings it has stood up very well in rain as well. The Pecards should only help in keeping this jacket new, and it’s especially nice to know that they are located in Wisconsin.

Thanks