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What is Napa Leather?

If you’ve done any shopping for leather jackets, shirts, pants or other leather products, you may come across some terms like “Napa.” Based on the name alone, it’s next-to-impossible to determine what exactly Napa leather really is. Is it from California’s Napa Valley? Maybe it refers to the leather’s color? While both of these options make sense, neither are correct. So if you’re still trying to wrap your head around Napa leather, keep reading to learn more about this unique, highly coveted style of leather. Napa Leather: the Basics Napa leather is a special high-end type of leather that’s characterized by a soft, chrome-tanned appearance. Also known as aniline leather, It features subtle pigmentation that really enhances its appearance. Some people assume that all leather is the same, but this statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Leather is available in several different qualities, with Napa ranking among the highest. It’s elegant, sophisticated, stylish, and offers all of the attractive characteristics that make leather such a popular and prized textile for use in jackets and clothing. Regardless of your personal style, you’ll appreciate the innate beauty of Napa leather. It’s important to note that Napa leather is open-pored, meaning it has a porous surface that is constantly absorbing and releasing moisture from the surrounding environment. When exposed to a humid environment, it will absorb moisture from the air. But when exposed to a dry and arid environment, the opposite happens: it releases moisture into the air. Don’t worry, this process is completely normal and should cause no reason for concern. Just remember to store your Napa leather in a...

Answering Your Questions About Leather Jackets

Whether you currently own or are thinking of owning a leather jacket, you probably have some questions about this stylish garments. Today, we’re going to tackle some of the most common questions surrounding leather jackets. How do I Keep the Sleeves Rolled Up? This is an all-too-common question that both men and women ask about leather jackets. And with the summer season officially here, it’s particularly relevant. When the temperatures begin to warm, you may want to roll up the sleeves on your leather jacket to stay cool and comfortable. Well, it’s important to note that some leather jackets won’t have this problem. If the sleeves are slim and your arms (particularly biceps) are big, you can probably roll up the sleeves without worrying about them falling down. If this isn’t an option, however, try using invisible dress tape inside the sleeves to hold it in place. This is a quick and easy (and cheap) solution that should work perfectly. Other people have reported success using safety pins to hold their sleeves up, although this isn’t recommended since it requires you to pierce the leather. How do I Fold a Leather Jacket? Most people will rarely (if ever) fold their leather jacket. Hanging it on a clothes hanger is the preferred method for storage, as it preserves the original shape and integrity of the jacket while protecting it from common forms of damage. But if you’re traveling for business or leisure, you may need to fold your leather jacket. So, what’s the best way to fold a leather jacket? If you asked ten different people this question, you would...

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Leather Jackets

While most leather jackets are made of cow’s hide, this isn’t the only material using in their construction. It’s not uncommon for antelope, deer, lamb or sheep hide to be used in leather jackets. Different hides offer different characteristics and qualities, which is why some men and women prefer alternatives to cow’s hide. Sheep hide, for instance, is softer and more supple, making it ideal for people with sensitive skin. Of course, there’s a reason why cow’s hide is the single most common material used in the construction of leather jackets: it’s strong, durable, comfortable and versatile. So if you can’t seem to choose between the different hides, stick with a leather jacket made of cow’s hide just to be on the safe side. World War II Leather Jackets Although they’ve been around for decades prior, it wasn’t until World War II when leather jackets really became popular. This was due to the fact that Air Force crew members were given leather jackets to help stay warm at high altitudes. Known as “bomber jackets,” they played a pivotal role in keeping pilots and other crew members warm during long flights at high altitudes. Even after the war was over, however, these leather bomber jackets remained popular and iconic garment in the world of fashion. Today, the bomber jacket continues to top the list as being one of the most popular styles of men’s jackets. Specialty Motorcycle Leather Jackets You might be surprised to learn that there are leather jackets designed specifically for motorcycle riders. Although they look similar to regular leather jackets, there are a few major differences that...

6 Awesome Hacks for Leather Jackets

Leathers jackets offer a unique style that’s simply not available in other forms of outwear. They posses the perfect combination of aesthetics and functionality, making them the preferred choice among many men and women. Leather jackets can be dressed up or dressed down, depending on the occasion and your preference. You can wear them when running errands around town, or you can wear them when attending a formal or semi-formal event. The same cannot be said for other jackets and coats, making leather jackets truly unique and one of a kind. But there are ways to enhance the utility of a leather jacket even further, some of which we’re going to discuss in today’s blog post. So if you’re looking to maximize the utility of your leather jacket, keep reading for some essential tricks and hacks. While you may already know some of them, there are others that will probably surprise you. Preserve the Color Leather jackets, like all garments and accessories made of genuine leather, have a tendency to fade over time. While this typically doesn’t cause any direct damage, it can minimize the jacket’s luster and “glow.” The good news is that you can protect your leather jacket from this phenomenon by limiting its exposure to sunlight. Sunlight contains powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays that speed up the process of fading. Therefore, limiting your jacket’s exposure to sunlight will naturally preserve its color. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should avoid wearing it outdoors on a sunny summer day, rather you should keep it stored in a closet where there’s little-to-no sunlight. This will go a long ways...

Innovative New Leather Trends and Styles to Watch

There’s no denying the fact that leather is one of the most versatile materials on the planet. It’s been for centuries to create shirts, jackets, pants, accessories and other items. Even with all of the recent advancements in modern technology and textile, leather remains the preferred choice among apparel manufacturers. There’s a good reason for its popularity: leather is strong, durable, comfortable, and incredibly stylish. All of these characteristics make it ideal for use in the construction of apparel and accessories. While there’s no sign of leather losing any of popularity any time soon, there are new trends and styles emerging. So even if you’re familiar with leather jackets and other leather items, you might be surprised to hear about some of the innovative styles. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the new leather trends and styles. Leather Skirts Who says leather is only useful for creating jackets? When most people think of leather fashion, they immediately associate it with jackets. After all, leather jackets are the single most popular garment featuring this material. But just because it’s popular doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the only garment made of leather. On the contrary, there’s been a growing trend towards the use of leather skirts. Made of genuine leather material, it offers all of the same benefits as its leather jacket counterpart — strength, durability, comfortable, style, etc. — but in a skirt. If you’re a women who’s looking to create a unique style that’s unlike any other, you can’t go wrong with a leather skirt. It’s a fun, stylish look that’s guaranteed to turn...

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Leather Long Coat

In the market for a new leather long coat? There’s no denying the fact that leather long coats are brilliantly designed in a way that’s not found in other jackets and outerwear. The combination of leather with its elongated look make it an ideal choice of outwear for men and women alike. Best of all, leather long coats can be worn for either casual or formal occasions. This unmatched level of versatility has made it the preferred jacket for millions of people throughout the world. But as with any jacket, it’s important to choose the right leather long coat. There are literally hundreds of different leather long coats available for sale, each of which has its own respective characteristics. With so many different types and styles available, how do you know which one to choose? Color Let’s first discuss some of the basic things to consider when choosing a leather long coat, such as the color for instance. Some people wrongfully believe that leather jackets, including long coats, are only made in traditional colors like brown and tan. While traditional colors such as these remain popular, there are dozens more from which to choose. Think about when and how you’ll be wearing the leather long coat and choose the most appropriate color for the occasion. Most importantly, consider the color of your shoes. If you intend to wear brown shoes or boots with your leather long coat, it’s best to stick with a similar brown-colored leather long coat. On the other hand, black leather long coats work best when wearing black shoes. You don’t have to limit yourself to...

Leather Terms and Definitions that You Should Know

Leather is one of the world’s oldest and most widely used materials. It’s used to produce everything from car seats and sofas to shoes, belts, jackets and even pants. This unmatched level of versatility makes it the preferred choice of material among many clothing manufacturers and other companies. Some of its attractive qualities and characteristics include durability, high strength, softness and flexibility. As you may already know, leather is created by tanning the rawhide and skin of an animal, which is most often cattle. There are countless ways to produce leather, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Today, we’re going to reveal some important terms and definitions associated with leather. Familiarizing yourself with these terms will give you a better understanding of this versatile material and the benefits that it offers. History of Leather Before we delve into the terms and definitions of leather, let’s first take a look back at the history of his material. The truth is that no one knows who exactly was responsible for pioneering leather. This happened long before advanced civilizations had formed, with early cavemen and women likely using rawhides to produce leather first. As such, leather tanning is one of the oldest activities in the history of humans. Early hunters and gathers would collect hides for tanning, using the leather for clothing, housing and other purposes. With that said, however, some of the first attempts to produce leather will likely failures due to the material’s inability to withstand hot and cold temperatures. When skinned hides were exposed to cold temperatures, they would harden to the point where they could...

Leather Jacket Cleaning Tips

If you own or are thinking of buying a leather jacket, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the correct ways to clean it. Leather jackets are undeniably stylish, which is why they remain such a popular choice of outwear after nearly a century. Worn by men and women alike, they offer an unmatched level of aesthetics paired with superior strength, durability and comfort. But like all leather garments and accessories, attention must be given to cleaning and caring for a leather jacket. Failure to clean your leather jacket the right way could result in significant damage, which is something that no one wants to see happen to their new leather jacket. So, what’s the best way to clean a leather jacket without damaging it? Understanding Leather Before we reveal the steps to cleaning a leather jacket, let’s first take a few steps back to reveal the unique characteristics of leather. Genuine leather is derived from cow’s hide, featuring thousands upon thousands of small holes known as “pores.” These pores are invisible to the naked eye but play a key role in the function of leather. Much like hardwood, the pores on leather absorb and release moisture on a regular basis. When leather is placed in a humid environment, for instance, it reacts by absorbing moisture into its pores. Consequently, when leather is placed in a dry environment, it releases moisture from its pores. This phenomenon occurs day in and day out, whether you realize it or not. You might be wondering how genuine leather is able to absorb moisture through its pores. After all, water damages leather, right? Yes...

Features to Look for When Choosing a Leather Jacket

In the market for a new leather jacket? There’s no denying the fact that genuine leather jackets are an excellent all-around choice for men and women alike. They’ve been worn for over a century, and even today they remain one of the world’s most popular jacket styles. But fashion designers are now including subtle features and accessories in their leather jackets to make their products stand out. So before purchasing a new jacket, consider the following features. Quilting What in the world is quilting and why you should you choose a leather jacket with this feature? Quilting is a construction process that involves the combination of two or more layers of cloth, often separated by a third layer of padded material like cotton or wool. The purpose of quilting is to make the jacket both thicker and softer, which is particularly useful for those cold winter months. When the mercury drops and you need a thick jacket to stay warm, there’s no better choice than a quilted leather jacket. The additional layer of material will insulate your body from the cold weather, keeping you warm and comfortable. Of course, quilted leather jackets aren’t for everyone. If you ride a motorcycle, for instance, you may prefer a traditional leather jacket without quilting since it’s thinner and offers greater mobility. Hood A second feature to look for when choosing a leather jacket is a hood. Like quilting, hoods are best suited for cold weather environments. When mother nature throws you a curve ball with sub-freezing temperatures, a hooded leather jacket can prove invaluable in keeping you warm. It will cover your...