In this hands-on review, I’ll share my experience ordering a custom leather jacket from The Jacket Maker.
It seems like there’s a new custom suit or shirt brand popping up every week. Heck, you can even buy made-to-measure t-shirts and jeans online these days.
But custom made leather jackets? That’s hard to find, especially without spending hundreds (or thousands) of dollars.
The Jacket Maker sells made-to-order leather jackets, which means you get to design your own jacket and input your own measurements for a custom fit.
Here’s the kicker: these jackets start at only $200, which is cheaper than many ready-to-wear leather jackets.
So, what’s the catch? Is The Jacket Maker any good? Are these jackets worth your money?
Let’s find out…
Table of Contents
Quick Take
The Jacket Maker offers a great way to get a leather or suede jacket that fits your body perfectly without spending a ton of money.
Just like with any custom made garment, it’s not easy to get the fit exactly right on the first try (my jacket required one remake).
Because the price is so low, The Jacket Maker jackets aren’t made from premium quality materials, and there may be some small quality control issues.
You’re paying for better fit and custom design, not quality. If you care a lot about fit (or have a a hard to fit build) and are on a budget, I definitely recommend The Jacket Maker.
If you want a premium quality leather jacket and don’t need a custom size, you might want to consider other brands.
About The Jacket Maker
Based in UAE and founded in 2016 by Syed Obaid, The Jacket Maker is a direct-to-consumer e-commerce clothier that sells custom leather jackets for men and women.
According to their website, The Jacket Maker uses “the finest raw materials” including “full grain natural leather” and YKK zippers.
Like many online first DTC brands, they claim to offer luxury quality products for a fraction of the price you’d normally pay.
While all of their jackets are made-to-order, The Jacket Maker does offer eight standard sizes (XS to 4XL) and “bespoke” sizing.
Where Do They Get Their Leather?
I asked The Jacket Maker’s customer service to ask which tanneries their leather and suede is from, and where the jackets are manufactured.
The rep I’d been in touch with, Ali, said:
All our products are made from leather/suede that is especially hand-tanned for us at our production facility in Pakistan under the supervision of our production team.
He said they require their leather to be a by-product of the food industry, and:
Our production team regularly visits the tannery to ensure our leather is of the highest quality and tanned under good working conditions with care and attention to the environment.
So, I know the leather is tanned in Pakistan where (I think) the jackets are made. The Jacket Maker’s website mentions full grain leather, but the clothing label is less specific:
Bottom line: given the price, I have a hard time believing that this jacket is made from “the highest quality” leather.
I’m glad The Jacket Maker says that they care about working conditions and the environment, but without any third party certifications or details about products (names of tannery and factory), it’s impossible to know if this is true.
Then again, you’re not reading this review because you’re looking for the highest quality, most eco-friendly and ethically-produced jacket in the world.
You’re looking for a custom fit leather jacket that doesn’t break the bank. With that in mind, let’s see if this brand delivers…
What I Ordered
I’ve always admired the fitted suede bomber jacket from afar, as I’ve never actually owned one. I decided this was a great opportunity to snag one, and dark brown was the perfect color for my wardrobe.
So I went with the Blain Mocha Suede Bomber Jacket with a couple of design tweaks and, of course, custom sizing.
Specifically, I asked The Jacket Maker to add a double zipper and change the hardware from silver to brass. The double zipper helps loosen up the hips when wearing the jacket zipped up; it’s especially useful when sitting down or driving.
The brass hardware better matches the tone of the dark brown suede (silver is a bit too shiny and contrasty for my taste).
The Custom Made Process
I used The Jacket Maker’s self-measuring guide to submit my own measurements. A couple days later, someone from their team emailed me with a few clarifying questions.
Basically, if you submit a measurement that seems off, they’ll ask you to remeasure or measure an existing garment for comparison.
This is a really important part of the process, as it’s very easy to mess up your own measurements (even if you have a friend help out).
In my case, we made a slight tweak to my measurement profile, and the jacket was shipped just two weeks later, which is shockingly fast. It arrived about six days after it was shipped (again, really fast).
How Did the Jacket Fit?
The first jacket fit well in the shoulders, chest and sleeves, but it was too long in the body and too tight around the hips (these issues are directly related).
I sent pictures to The Jacket Maker rep I’d been corresponding with, and we decided that shortening the jacket by a couple inches would solve both problems.
Since the jacket was being remade, I requested a couple of other tweaks: double zipper, different color hardware, and slightly longer sleeves.
The remade bomber arrived just as fast as the first one, and I’m happy to report that it fits me perfectly.
The shoulders and sleeves are just right. The new length allows for a snug-but-not-too-snug fit around he hips, and the double zipper helps it wear more naturally when zipped up.
The new brass hardware looks much better than the original silver hardware, in my opinion, and the rich brown suede is a pleasing, versatile color.
I like the single button sleeves, as opposed to a ribbed cuff, which can interfere with wearing and checking a watch.
All in all, it’s a good looking jacket that fits me really well – maybe better than any other leather jacket I’ve ever tried on.
Small Quality Control Issues
I really only have one gripe about this jacket: the zipper is separating from the jacket at the bottom of each end, which may result in long-term durability issues.
You can see where the glued zipper isn’t totally secure. I imagine this will get worse over time. It’s probably any easy fix at a local tailor or cobbler, but I’d rather not have to deal with this sort of QC issue, even at this affordable price point.
My Overall Recommendation
Despite the issue with the zipper and the fact that my first jacket didn’t fit perfectly, I still recommend The Jacket Maker to certain people.
It’s one of the only ways I know of to get a custom sized leather jacket for $200-300, so if you can’t find jackets that fit off-the-rack, The Jacket Maker is a great choice.
If you want a premium/luxury quality leather or suede jacket (think Schott), The Jacket Maker isn’t for you. You’ll have to pay 2-10x more for All Saints, Schott or Theory, and have a reputable tailor make any necessary alterations.
If you’re a shorter guy and just want a leather jacket that fits properly (for once in your life), definitely give The Jacket Maker a try.
Questions About The Jacket Maker
Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about The Jacket Maker:
Is The Jacket Maker legit?
Yes, The Jacket Maker is a legitimate company with real people and real products.
Who owns The Jacket Maker?
The Jacket Maker is owned by Syed Obaid (CEO and co-founder).
Where is The Jacker Maker based?
According to their inc.com profile, The Jacket Maker is based in Hayward, CA. But based on what I know, The Jacket Maker is based in UAE with production/manufacturing in Pakistan.
Does The Jacket Maker use real leather?
Yes, The Jacket Maker uses real leather. I asked the brand for more details about their leather, but all I know is that it’s tanned in Pakistan. Their website mentions full grain leather in some places, but they don’t mention any specific details.
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