Any leather jacket can be dressed up or down, but none quite as seamlessly as a black one with a straight collar and brass hardware. For the guys who want only the best of the best with a modern edge that stays clear of high fashion, there is no better option than the Japanese label The flat Head. This is one of the best leather jackets in the world for many reasons:
The leather:
The Flat Head Rider's Jacket is well known for using one of the best and most beautiful leathers we can find today. It is a 1.3mm vegetable-tanned horsehide Teacore from Shinki Hikaku, specially made for the brand. It is incredibly thick. Because The Flat Head gets access to Shinki leather before international brands, they can secure the thicker stuff and make the best jacket from it.
Shinki Hikaku is a family-run tannery from Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, with a longstanding history. They were established in 1951 and are the only tannery to specialize in horse leather worldwide. They produce extremely unique signature leathers.
This leather is called "Teacore". It is a horsehide leather that's brown underneath its surface. It is vegetable dyed with mimosa bark for tannins. Mimosa produces a lovely pinkish-brown under colour that stains the leather by absorbing the tannins. That pinkish-brown under shade is the colour of the leather before a finish is added. It's called "Teacore" because it's the colour of good strong tea.
The Pigment and Aniline finish shows the lovely texture of the horsehide with an incredible high-glazed black finish. When this jacket is broken in, the under colour is revealed, creating an eye-pleasing patchwork of patina and wear.
This tanning processes involve drying and ageing stages that take up to a year.
Construction:
This jacket is lined with their signature lightweight kersey rayon, made up of bamboo fibre. It is soft, smooth, and has a silky feel. It is also durable and has a high degree of absorbency and breathability for warmer days.
This is also one of the most durable leather jackets money can buy due to its construction details, such as 'Leather Piping Construction' in the back yoke that adds unbeatable strength. The back has branded steel buckles that allow you to adjust. These buckles are painted with brass, and with wear, you expect both buckles to age to a crackled vintage look. It also features a durable Universal Zipper.
Fit
It features broad shoulders, a reasonably slim chest, and a good taper into the waist. This curved body shape fits perfectly for a modern look.
The Flat Head is one of the benchmark Japanese repro Americana-style brands. Its founder, Mayashi Kobayashi, is known in the scene for being a die-hard fanatic of 1950s American style. Inspired by the music, motorbikes, cars, architecture of the era, and with a clear rockabilly influence, Kobayashi created in 1996 a truly authentic brand that today has some firm devotees. It stands out for the extreme quality of each one of its pieces. The brand is always very much aware of a curious philosophy that believes that a product is fully finished only after the customer has worn and moulded it to themselves.
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