~70s Craft Leather (Part 1)~

 

Good evening. This is Uemura from WEST.

Today, I'd like to focus on "Craft Leather".

 

First of all, this blog will be long, so I'll divide it into "Part 1" and "Part 2."

 

Now, let's start with Part 1.

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

This "Winchester" has also arrived at JELADO WEST.

 

JELADO Winchester [RG94411G]

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, let's talk about the product.

 

With its distinctive collar and four front pockets arranged in a V-shape,

the "Winchester," a masterpiece from EASTWEST, the pinnacle of 70s craft leather,

has been reproduced in goatskin for AW2024.

 

This vegetable-tanned leather is slowly and thoroughly infused with oil.

It is then brought to Japan, dyed while being shrunk in a drum,

resulting in an extra-thick leather of about 2mm.

 

The shrunk goatskin creates a wild grainy texture,

giving it a plump appearance.

*These are minor details, but I apologize for the inconvenience and will introduce them in the next part.

 

This time, I'd like to delve deeper into the "Winchester," which allows you to enjoy the aging process with repeated wear.

However, before that, I believe there may be some customers who are wondering, "What is EASTWEST?"

So, I will start by explaining that.

 

① What is EASTWEST?

East West Musical Instruments Company

 

This is its official name.

 

It is a brand established in San Francisco in 1967,

founded by Norman Stubbs.

 

The brand "EASTWEST" was originally a company that manufactured musical instruments.

Therefore, it was common for people in the music industry to be "customers."

Responding to their requests, they started making stage costumes out of leather,

which led them to operate as a leather brand, but they ceased operations in 1979.

Today, it is known to those in the know as the "top brand of 70s craft leather."

 

In my opinion, 70s craft leather jackets have strong cultural elements like "rock" and "hippie,"

and I especially strongly associate 70s Leather Jackets with "craft leather."

 

Representative brands of "craft leather" from this era include...

・"Char"

 

 

・"Gandalf"

 

 

・"North Beach"

 

 

and others, but "EASTWEST" reigns supreme as the "top of 70s craft leather" among these brands.

What's remarkable about this brand is that even though it was only active for "12 years,"

everyone agrees that "EASTWEST" is the top 70s leather jacket brand.

 

This is because, as I mentioned earlier, when I listed some representative brands of "70s craft leather,"

 

 

Robert Warner, who was also the chief designer of North Beach, apparently said:

 

"At that time, East West was number one. Compared to East West,

the others couldn't even come close."

(※I tried to find out where and when this statement was made, but I couldn't find it. If anyone knows, please tell me.)

 

If the chief designer of a brand active in the same era says so,

I believe it must have been true.

 

② Unique Design

One of its charms is its unique design, and I believe the impact EASTWEST had

due to its worldview is immeasurable.

 

What was that impact?

 

Tom Ford (GUCCI, Yves Saint Laurent)

 

Hedi Slimane (Dior, Yves Saint Laurent)

 

It is said that it influenced designers like these, and their collections reflected this influence.

So, why did such unique designs emerge?

I will save this for the next "Part 2," so please look forward to it.

 

~Currently accepting reservations~

 

 

 

 

 

[Pre-order item, late January 2025] JELADO Age of Longing 407EXX Vintage Finish [JP01407EXX]

 

 

 

 

 

 

This piece pursues vintage authenticity, with a cinch back that is often cut on actual vintage pieces, reproduced in this model.

 

The back features a split-back (T-Back) specification, which is a popular detail today.

 

While LEVI'S 506XX prices are soaring year by year, the split-back versions, adopted for sizes 46 and above, command even higher prices, reaching several million yen at vintage stores.

*The first digit is not 1.

 

The 407EXX Vintage Finish that we are releasing this time comes in four sizes: L, XL, XXL, and 50. This model was realized due to customer requests.

 

Being a direct store exclusive and limited to only "100 pieces," we have received many orders from customers.

 

The Vintage Finish series always sells out quickly. Everyone, please consider it.

 

Thank you.

 

～JELADO Staff Coordination～

 

 

 

 

 

As a new initiative, you can now view staff coordinates online.

 

We hope you find each staff member's styling helpful as a reference. Thank you.

 

Please view them here.

 

～Official LINE Account～

 

 

 

 

JELADO shares information with customers through Instagram and blogs, but we have also launched an official LINE account and are disseminating information to many customers there. If you haven't "added us as a friend" yet, please do so.

 

 

 

～Also featured on Higashino Denim～

 

The Blue Tag series was featured on Higashino-san and Shoji-san's YouTube channel, "Higashino Denim." Please check out this video as well.

Watch the Higashino Denim video here.

 

～Regarding Hemming of Brought-In Items～

 

Both JELADO stores used to offer hemming services for "denim from other brands" if brought into the store. However, due to an increase in hemming requests for items purchased in-store or online, we are currently unable to accommodate "hemming of other brands' products brought in by customers." We apologize for any inconvenience.

 

・Hemming for "JELADO products purchased from our authorized dealers" will incur a fee.

*We will continue to provide hemming services for JELADO products brought in that were purchased directly from JELADO.

 

～This week's new videos here～

 

 

 

This week's new video features the very popular flock print sweatshirt.

 

This valuable sweatshirt will be produced for the last time, and we will be introducing a zodiac series as a New Year's sale item.

 

Please check it out in the video.

The new video is here.

 

 

 

Everyone, thank you for waiting.

"JELADO Staff Best Buys!"

This time, for the second half of the year, each staff member's personality shines through, just like in the first half.

 

Please use it as a reference.

 

Watch the Staff Best Buy video here.