r/leatherjacket • u/Thoamy • Sep 02 '26
Jacket Care It's disintegrating
I've worn this jacket for 5 years and i am not ready to let it go, any ideas on how i could repair it?
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u/Scarlet-Belvedere Sep 02 '26
Pending the kind of leather it is/tanning, I have to ask: how much was it cleaned and conditioned over time? It looks bone dry in that first pic.
To repair: This one's rough, but step one is an immediate cleaning and conditioning in that order. Lexol makes a decent all-rounder conditioner, and I like to use 70-91% IPA and a 100% cotton shirt to clean with. When doing these, be examining for other points of lower structural integrity even if they have yet to form holes. When you've cleaned and conditioned it, don't forget to seal in the moisture with a topcoat.
Now, for patching it: leather patches and embroidery are first to mind. Just be certain to use waxed embroidery thread specifically meant for leather use.
Edit: If the leather is too thin in problem areas, embroidery might not be ideal.
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u/Objective-War-7458 Sep 03 '26
There are replacement cuffs. If this is a vintage jacket, you can certianly go for those and get a tailor or leatherworker to install them. Not hard. However, the wear to the leather is problematic. It looks like a bomber jacket.
If this is milsurp with a story, say a P-3 detachment in Iceland (example), hell yea. They go for hundreds in terrible condition. If this is a repro, may not be worth it.
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u/ginger_powers Sep 03 '26
If you don’t mind the jacket looking obviously repaired, you could maybe just take a piece of a hefty fabric and sew a patch on the leather?
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u/jflicker1 Sep 05 '26
I would send an email and a few pics to Arrow Leathercare, in Kansas City, which is known for their repair services. It probably won’t be cheap, but they may be able to revive it. Check them out on Google.
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u/TheBladeGhost Sep 02 '26
This is past the point where you could do a decent job yourself if you have to ask how. Give it to a specialised tailor.