Leather jackets are a stylish yet practical garment, capable of completing any outfit. Rising in popularity during the first world war for their practical application as aviator jackets, over the decades, leather jackets have increased in popularity. Becoming a popular choice for motorcyclists due to their durability, leather jackets have eventually evolved to become a chic fashion statement.
Since leather jackets are such a popular item of clothing, it’s no surprise that there are a wide variety of different brands selling leather jackets on a broad spectrum of prices – but how much should a quality leather jacket cost?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The cost of a leather jacket can be determined by a number of factors and prices can range from £400-£1,500. Let's take a look at some of the key factors to consider:
How much should I spend on a leather jacket?
Key things to consider when buying a leather jacket include:
Leather type
There are a range of different leathers available; some common types of leather include top-grain leather, split leather, and corrected leather. Generally, the higher quality the leather, the more expensive the jacket.
The highest quality leather is the leather we use at Aero Leathers: full grain leather. Because the full natural grain of the leather is used, only a very select number of hides have enough quality to be used for full grain leather. This scarcity means and the quality of the hides means that ‘full grain’ is the most expensive type of leather, but it’s a price tag that’s more than justified in the quality and longevity of its final product.
On the flip side, some leather jackets aren’t actually leather at all – faux leather jackets have become a popular alternative since they aren’t as expensive as genuine leather. However, it’s worth knowing that faux leather jackets won’t have the same quality feel as genuine leather, and they definitely won’t last as long.
(Read More: What is Full-Grain Leather?)
Labour
The man-hours and working conditions of the workers making a garment can greatly affect the price of a leather jacket. For example, a handmade leather jacket made by a single skilled artisan who is paid a fair wage for their work and protected by employment and human rights laws is of course going to cost more than a mass-produced garment made by underpaid and poorly treated workers, which sadly forms a large proportion of the modern clothing industry.
Customisation
An off-the-rack leather jacket is one of the most cost-effective options when it comes to leather jackets. Because these types of leather jackets are typically mass produced or created in bulk, they tend to be much cheaper.
If you’re looking to invest in a quality leather jacket that will last you a life time, it might be worth considering spending a little more for a custom leather jacket. Custom leather jackets can indeed cost more as there are more costs to absorb in manufacturing them, but since they’re made to fit your measurements and you can request design alterations to make the jacket better suit your tastes, a custom leather jacket is an investment that could last you the rest of your life.
Lining
There are a wide variety of different lining options available for leather jackets, and some are more expensive than others. Choosing the right lining for your leather jacket is about more than cost though – different linings are better suited to different seasons and weather conditions. The best lining isn’t always the cheapest!
If you’re looking for a leather jacket for milder seasons, cotton or light wool linings are well suited. If you’re in need of a jacket suited to more inclement weather, linings such as sheepskin, heavy lochcarron tartan, or tweed are viable options.
Linings such as moleskin are pretty versatile and can be suited to both cold and mild weather conditions. Here at Aero Leathers, we offer a wide range of lining options for leather jackets.
All in all, the cost of a leather jacket can depend on all of the above factors.
However, if you’re on the hunt for an expertly crafted top-quality leather jacket that will last you a lifetime, you’re better off investing in a premium, handcrafted, full-grain leather jacket like those available from Aero Leathers.
Remember, here at Aero Leathers, we use only the finest quality leather, linings, and our jackets are handcrafted on site by our team of experts to ensure unwavering perfection in every garment. We also offer a repair service on our jackets to ensure that even if a lining wears out or a zip stops working, the jacket will go on to live many more years.
In this world of fast fashion, it’s better for the environment and ultimately your wallet to invest a bit more in a quality garment that will last a lifetime. This is the philosophy we adopt at Aero.
Shop Leather Jackets
Read More: How Long Do Leather Jackets Last?
