Leather jackets are recognized for their superior strength and durability. When compared to other forms of outerwear, they typically last longer. It’s not uncommon for leather jackets to last for 20 or more years. In comparison, other forms of outerwear may only for three to seven years.
If you’re tired of constantly buying new forms of outerwear, a leather jacket may offer a solution. Thanks to its everlasting benefits, you can rest assured knowing that it won’t degrade due to the hands of time. Why do leather jackets last for such a long period exactly?
Snagproof
Snagging isn’t a concern with a leather jacket. Leather jackets aren’t made of traditional textile fabrics like wool or cotton. Instead, they are made of leather. While traditional textile fabrics can snag when caught on objects, leather is snagproof.
Only outerwear made of traditional textile fabrics can snag. Snagging occurs when an object “catches” the fabric. As the object pulls away from the fabric, it will cause the fabric to unravel. Leather jackets are made of leather, and because leather has a smooth surface, it’s immune to snagging.
High-Quality Fasteners
Like most forms of outerwear, leather jackets feature fasteners. Some of them have buttons, whereas others have a zipper. There are also leather jackets with both buttons and a zipper.
Buttons and zippers are fasteners. While other forms of outerwear have them as well, leather jackets typically feature higher quality fasteners. Leather jackets are designed with premium zippers and buttons. They aren’t made of cheap materials. Instead, the fasteners used in leather jackets are made of premium materials, such as high-quality metal, that results in a long-lasting construction.
Tanning
Leather jackets, of course, are made of animal hide. Some of them are made of sheepskin, whereas others are made cowskin. Animal hide is naturally strong. It’s stronger, in fact, than traditional textile fabrics. Animal hide is made even stronger, however, with tanning.
Tanning is an essential step to producing leather. It comes immediately after the preparation stage. After preparing an animal hide, leathermaking companies will tan it. What is tanning exactly? Tanning refers to the use of chemicals to remove moisture and stabilize the proteins within animal hide.
All animal hide contains moisture and proteins. When left unchecked, these compounds can cause it to degrade. Fortunately, tanning will remove nearly all traces of moisture while simultaneously stabilizing the proteins. It will essentially preserve the animal hide so that it can be used in garments like leather jackets, leather pants and other leather products.
Look Better With Age
You might be surprised to learn that leather jackets look better. Assuming a jacket is made of real leather — as opposed to artificial or faux leather — it will develop subtle hints of fading. Known as a patina, it’s a defining characteristic of older leather jackets.
With a patina, your leather jacket will feature a unique appearance that makes it stand out. It won’t look like brand new leather jackets. The patina will create an aged appearance that’s synonymous with worn-in leather jackets. The bottom line is that leather jackets look better with age.
Available in Napa Leather
Jackets are available in napa leather. Napa leather typically consists of sheepskin leather. It’s known as “napa leather” because it originated in Napa, California. Napa leather was developed by The Sawyer Tanning Company and has since become recognized as one of the world’s highest-quality types of leather.
If you compare napa leather to standard leather, you’ll probably discover that the former is softer than the latter. Napa leather has an ultra-fine grain. The grain, of course, is the pattern of small holes on the surface. Because napa leather has a finer grain than standard leather, it has smaller holes that manifest in the form of a softer texture. At the same time, napa leather is also better protected from damage. It will last for many years while offering a soft and comfortable fit.
Thick and Insulated
Leather jackets are naturally thick and insulated. There are different types of leather, and there are different grades of leather. Nonetheless, they are all thick and insulated. Leather jackets are thicker and better insulated than nearly all other forms of outwear.
Because leather is thick and insulated, leather jackets are strong. They can withstand more stress than other forms of outerwear. Leather jackets are long-lasting because they can withstand extreme stress without sustaining damage. You should still try to avoid exposing your leather jacket to stress. In most cases, though, leather jackets won’t sustain damage when exposed to stress. This is due to the fact that they are naturally thick and insulated.
Low Maintenance
Another reason leather jackets last for a long time is because they are easy to maintain. You don’t have to wash a leather jacket, nor do you have to dry it. You should still clean a leather jacket, but doing so requires nothing more than a damp washcloth and some gentle dish soap.
You can clean a leather jacket by using a damp washcloth and dish soap. A process known as spot cleaning, it’s a fast and effective way to remove superficial debris. If your leather jacket is covered in dirt, for instance, you can spot clean it. Spot cleaning should only take a couple of minutes, and when you are finished, your leather jacket will look like new again.
Always in Style
Leather jackets are always in style. Fashion trends often change. A garment that’s in style today may fade from popularity in the following years. But this isn’t a concern with leather jackets. They’ve been around for over a century, and leather jackets have changed very little since then.
With a leather jacket, there’s little or no chance of it going out of style. Leather jackets will continue to be a popular and common form of outerwear for many years to come.