Quality leather jackets are expensive because you’re paying for high-grade leather, superb craftsmanship, and hours of labour (especially if the jacket is made to order).
Leather jacket prices vary significantly depending on where you’re shopping and what exactly you’re looking for. The general rule, though, is that you get what you pay for—if you want a decent jacket, you must be prepared to spend a decent amount of money.
Here at Aero, we are often asked why our made-to-order leather jackets cost more than a typical high street leather jacket. Here are the main reasons:
1) LEATHER QUALITY
Leather jackets tend to be more expensive if they are made from high-quality leather.
You might assume that any ‘real leather’ jacket is made out of top-quality material, but there are actually several different grades of real leather. Cheaper jackets will usually use split leather, which is a lower-quality leather made from the inner layer of the animal’s skin.
Full-grain leather, on the other hand, is made from the top layer of animal hide. This is the most durable layer with the potential to develop a beautiful patina over time (which is something that you’d miss out on with lower quality leather). All Aero jackets are made with full-grain leather for this reason.
LEARN MORE: What Is Full Grain Leather?
2) STITCHING
Quality of stitching is another key difference between our high-end jackets and the cheap leather jackets one sees on the high street. Cheap jackets are often rushed through the production process, so the stitching tends to come apart easily and/or look rather messy. Also, cheaper leather jackets often aren’t reinforced at the seams or are held together with glue preventing effective repairing.
Stitching is a dead giveaway if you’re trying to determine that quality of a leather jacket. High-calibre leather jackets are almost always made by hand, and the stitching should be meticulous. If a leather jacket is going cheap, always check to see if the stitching looks good before you decide whether to purchase it.
Of course, at Aero, all of our jackets are handmade. We’re very particular about the precision of our stitching because we want to provide you with a truly premium jacket.
3) CUSTOM MADE
Custom-made garments tend to cost more than mass-produced items, simply because it takes more time and effort to tailor them. If you are thinking of buying a genuine leather jacket, it’s well worth getting one made just for you—that way, you can be sure that it will fit you correctly and suit your personal style.
When jackets are made in bulk, their shape might not sit correctly on the wearer. Also, it’s hard to guarantee that your jacket will have the right dimensions for your specific body shape unless it is made for you. This can be very noticeable with a leather jacket.
Our advice? Before purchasing a custom jacket, do your research. If you’re looking to buy an expensive leather jacket, we’d recommend checking the supplier’s reviews to see how previous customers felt about their custom products. Testimonials from leather jacket enthusiasts are among the most reliable indicators of whether or not the jackets are expensive for a good reason.
4) LININGS
Bringing it back to materials, it’s not just the leather itself that contributes to the price of a leather jacket—the material on the inside should also look and feel great.
As an example, we have a range of comfy linings for our leather jackets. We offer everything from versatile moleskin to cosy alpaca wool to Lochcarron Tartan and Harris Tweed. The lining matters just as much as the leather itself.
If you’re going to pay top dollar for a leather jacket, you want to be sure that the manufacturer took every part of the jacket very seriously. After all, the quality of the leather won’t really matter if the zip doesn’t work! We offer multiple choices of sturdy zippers, including Waldes and YKK's Universal zips, for this very reason.
5) DURABILITY
High quality leather jackets can last a lifetime if they are properly cared for. When you pay more for stronger materials and proper stitching, what you are actually paying for is longevity. Many leather jackets are expensive because you should never have to buy a new one again!
Not only are they long lasting to begin with, but our jackets are constructed in a sustainable way so that they are repairable.
Not only do high-quality leather jackets last a long time, they tend to stay in style regardless of the trends of the day. We at Aero have been manufacturing fine leather jackets since 1981, and all of our designs are inspired by a long history of great leather jacket trends. We use vintage styles that are just as fashionable today as they have always been.
6) ETHICAL AND EXPERT CRAFTSMANSHIP
When you invest in a quality leather jacket manufactured by Aero Leather Clothing or another reputable manufacturer, you're not just buying a stylish piece—you’re supporting ethical craftsmanship and investment in superior quality. UK-made jackets are produced under strict labour laws, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for skilled artisans. Unlike mass-produced, cheaper alternatives often made in third world sweatshops with highly questionable ethical and quality practices, these jackets are crafted with attention to detail by experts who love their craft and produce garments that embody sustainability, as their quality reduces the need for frequent replacements. Ethical, enduring, and expertly made—that’s the true value of quality.
Now that you know why quality leather jackets carry a higher price tag (and how to identify a high-quality jacket), check out our great range of made-to-order leather jacket styles. We take care over every detail to make sure you get the jacket of your dreams.
Made to Order Jackets
LEARN MORE: How Can You Tell Whether a Leather Jacket Is Good Quality?
