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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Good Wear Leather

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    • GraemeG
      Graeme
      啓蒙家
      Joined:

      No one seems to have mentioned Good Wear Leather round here, so I thought that they deserved their own thread. They're the leather equivalent of Roy, with John Chapman doing all the cutting and sewing of the jackets.

      John's best known for his A2 replicas, and when I was at the Aero factory a few weeks back Will said that if I got the chance to get one. He's got both a Good Wear and an original Doniger, and reckons they're identical.

      It's not all flying jackets. There are a couple of half belt variants, and a rather nice Cafe Racer.

      Me, I'm really tempted by the M422 replica…

      Downsides? There's about a 12 month waiting time, and they're even more expensive than an Aero.

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • natehateN
        natehate
        啓蒙家
        Joined:

        vickie there is a saint

        don't you know there ain't no devil? only god when he's drunk!

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • QinhanQ
          Qinhan
          啓蒙家
          Joined:

          @Graeme:

          Downsides? There's about a 12 month waiting time, and they're even more expensive than an Aero.

          Granted the waiting time is pretty long, but considering that many rate their military repro jackets as the best available anywhere the price still seems pretty fair to me.  Despite the recent price rises, the average Good Wear jacket is still cheaper than most high-end Japanese repros made by companies like the Few or Real McCoy's.

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • mclaincauseyM
            mclaincausey
            見習いボス
            Joined:

            The Few is Real McCoy's of New Zealand, but fair point. I got my RMC Japan for several hundred less than Goodwear and no wait but that was just the magic of eBay. Goodwear should be called Greatwear.
            EDIT:  I should add that Goodwear has a proxy service for ordering RMC Japan.

            Think it, be it.

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • GraemeG
              Graeme
              啓蒙家
              Joined:

              Actually the Goodwear wait is closer to 18 months these days. 😞

              Still waiting for my turn to come up. I'm currently split between the Cafe Racer and M422. Probably in that order of preference.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • tigerpacT
                tigerpac
                Joined:

                My wallet would break up with me if I pulled on the trigger on one of those beauties

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • natehateN
                  natehate
                  啓蒙家
                  Joined:

                  All I bought was a chunk of horse hide 😉

                  don't you know there ain't no devil? only god when he's drunk!

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • ArabitA
                    Arabit
                    Joined:

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • GraemeG
                      Graeme
                      啓蒙家
                      Joined:

                      @Graeme:

                      Still waiting for my turn to come up.

                      Status update: unchanged.

                      That A2 looks great Arabit.

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • seanoconoS
                        seanocono
                        Joined:

                        ^I would love one of their A2s, but I don't think I could handle that kind of wait.

                        Congrats, Arabit.

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • GraemeG
                          Graeme
                          啓蒙家
                          Joined:

                          Patience Grasshopper.

                          Or you could try the sales page…

                          There's a really nice, original M-444 there. Not made by Good Wear, but some light restoration by Mr Chapman.

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • seanoconoS
                            seanocono
                            Joined:

                            Graeme, you're absolutely right. As a true heirloom piece, the wait is justified. I just need to suck it up.

                            I think I will skip on the sales page because I want to provide my own measurements. I'll report back when I finally pull the trigger. Thanks for the nudge.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • ArabitA
                              Arabit
                              Joined:

                              Yeah it is worth the wait! What are you gonna have JC make Graeme?

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • GraemeG
                                Graeme
                                啓蒙家
                                Joined:

                                I'm currently thinking Cafe Racer, but an M422 is also tempting. I'm not convinced an A2 will work on my shape so well.

                                I'll see what JC is doing when I get to the head of the queue…

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • ArabitA
                                  Arabit
                                  Joined:

                                  John Chapman interview
                                  http://denimbro.com/john-chapman-of-good-wear-leather_topic1101.html

                                  Interesting that he uses Vaseline

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • mclaincauseyM
                                    mclaincausey
                                    見習いボス
                                    Joined:

                                    He don't use jelly?

                                    Think it, be it.

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • AnesthetistA
                                      Anesthetist
                                      見習いボス
                                      Joined:

                                      @mclaincausey:

                                      He don't use jelly?

                                      He don't use cheese?

                                      IG: bluehandsslim

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • GraemeG
                                        Graeme
                                        啓蒙家
                                        Joined:

                                        There's a brand-new Good Wear A2 in their sales section. It's a size 44/46 long, and would suit one of the tall, lanky types who seem to populate this forum. It's $1500, if you feel flush.

                                        http://www.goodwearleather.com/pages/sale_rw_0012.html

                                        There's also a used A1 / A2 hybrid in size 40, which is a reasonable $280.

                                        http://www.goodwearleather.com/pages/sale_civvie_0001.html

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • GraemeG
                                          Graeme
                                          啓蒙家
                                          Joined:

                                          If anyone is considering a Good Wear jacket then this gives you a comparison of most of the major styles.

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • JDelageJ
                                            JDelage
                                            啓蒙家
                                            Joined:

                                            I just took delivery of my 2nd Good Wear jacket. I'm lucky enough to live 30mn away...

                                            GW_Arcadia_JD_001.jpg
                                            GW_Arcadia_JD_002.jpg
                                            GW_Arcadia_JD_004.jpg

                                            last edited by GraemeG mclaincauseyM 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 5
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