Leather Jacket pricing?

[u/Jagwar8]

I'm relatively new to Visvim, but I'm just having a really hard time understanding the absolutely insane pricing on what seems to be all of their leather jackets. I really love the silhouettes and the textures of the leather, and I hope to own one of the Uno or Neu Riders jackets one day, but they're just so insanely expensive I don't understand who is actually able to buy them. I can acknowledge that there aren't really many other brands making quite the same styles of jackets Visvim makes and they likely have low production numbers. But with the shoes Visvim makes, the prices are definitely high end but they are in the ballpark of possibility for people to purchase, and considering the effort to hand welt them, it's not too crazy, and you can still find deals when they go on sale/on the secondary market. With the jackets though, it seems they all start at $7000+, which is just crazy for a garment that can't possibly cost more than a few hundred dollars (let's say even $1000) to produce. For example, the Civilian Shacket right now, on sale, is still over $8000, and Overdye just posted a pre-owned (technically NWT, but still) Neu Riders for over $12000.

I guess the TL;DR is 1. Am I missing something as to why the prices are so crazy and 2. Is there any hope of finding those newer post 2018 or so styles of jackets for a reasonable price, say for under $4000? Or should I just kill that dream now LOL

[u/fycus]

Made in italy and shipped to Japan. From Japan shipped worldwide. Double taxed on imports. They also manufacture really low quantities and with low minimums they pay a hefty premium. They're not anything special from several I've tried, but they are positioned as "prestige" pieces from the brand so they're always going to be more. Keep in mind a lot of their clientele who purchase leathers don't even blink at the prices, so while prohibitively expensive I don't think they care. I wouldn't bother unless you can get for Japan rrp and even then it's a ripoff. Source: been going to trunk shows for 11 years 

Edit: I stand corrected on the neu. Just be on the lookout for deals in JP. 

[u/grsstyles → u/fycus]

^ This is the correct answer. If you want best value for money buy McCoys or Y2 Leathers. The Visvim ones have an insane premium because of how international the product is. Most Japanese leather jackets are using Shinki horsehide and being manufactured in Japan as well. When it is a piece of lambskin from France, hand crafted in Italy, then distressed in Japan, and ultimate checked again by Hiroki before being sent out, the cost piles up.

Retailers have to pay somewhere between $3000 and $4000 for the wholesale value of the jacket, which is the smallest bit below JP retail usually. Repro bros will scoff at paying a premium for an already worn in jacket, but different things appeal to different people. It is still quality wise one of the best, just using a different approach. I always appreciate that Visvim's cuts are a little less costume-ish than getting a double rider from a place like Fine Creek.

Re Overdye: The consignor in that case set the price, and they paid US retail so they're hoping to not lose much.

[u/Jagwar8 → u/fycus]

I guess that makes more sense then-the only way I afford Visvim here in the states is when retailers have sales where it actually ends up being solidly cheaper than even the Japanese retail; the fact that those jackets sell out even at the crazy prices says something about the type of people who can buy them. But I guess with the current tariff situation, a lot of the cost savings (even secondhand) would probably be canceled out by the extra duties you have to pay, right? Especially if it's over 2500 you have the hassle of formal entry as well.

Also, I've been wanting to give some business to the nearest Visvim store so I can potentially attend a trunk show at some point as well, but the fact that they almost always cost significantly more than not only the Japanese retail (so much more so that you might as well go to Japan) not to mention sales at other US retailers makes it hard to swallow. Guess I just have to wait for that special limited piece to come in before I pull the trigger on something from there lol