6 Tips on buying a leather jacket or leather coat

With the season’s changing, many of us are starting to look for some kind of outerwear to help to stay warm and fashionable.  Whether you are looking for a leather jacket or wool coat, the choices in the market are plentiful.  You can find petty much any color, length, and/or style to suit your taste; but what about the quality?  How can you tell if the jacket or coat you want to buy is a quality garment? Nothing is more maddening than spending a lot of money to buy a beautiful lamb leather jacket and notice 6 months later that it starts to fall apart.

Of course there are some clues that can help you, such as the reputation of the store or person selling you the coat. But unless you are experienced in the garment industry, it is extremely difficult to know if you are purchasing a quality garment.

Here are some valuable tips that will help you tell the difference between low quality leather jacket, and a high quality leather jacket:

1)      The most important tip is the actual leather.  It is important to know what kind of animal the garment used. Coats made out of cow or sheep are most common, but not necessarily the best, that title goes to lamb. Lamb leather is lighter and is more comfortable to wear. In addition it has fewer crests/scratches on the skin, giving the leather a more uniform look.

2)      Look at the lining! 90% of people buying a coat will never notice or inspect the lining. But the lining tells a lot of about the quality of the craftsmanship. A good lining indicates that “TLC” was used in creating the coat.  Liners made out of “kasha” are excellent since they are durable and warm. Stay away from cotton if possible. In addition, if you are buying to stay warm, ask if there’s any thinsulate in the liner. Thinsulate is one of the best fillers to add to the liner.

3)      Where was it made? Ok we are generalizing here, but 7 times out of 10, leather jackets made domestically in North America are better than Asian imports.  Granted they usually cost a little more due to the higher wages, but if you have any problems with your coat, it is much easier for the local manufacturer to help you out.

4)      The finishing touches! Look at the buttons and/or zippers. Are they cheap looking or are they fancy with some design on them.  These are additional clues that will let you know if the manufacturer took care in making his/her coat.

5)      The stitching?  The type of thread used in the stitching makes the world of difference.  A low quality thread will eventually disintegrate and your jacket will start to rip. Most manufacturers use polyester threads.

6)      Look at the manufacturer brand, and NOT the product brand.  Most famous brand names have their products made by some else in Asia.  Therefore, it’s the manufacturer’s responsible for the quality of the garment, not the brand company.

The next time you will buy a leather jacket or coat, remember to look up Frank’s Furs and Fashions, your coat and jacket expert!