The Imperial Custom Leather Jacket from Himel Bros. is truly a classic, making you forget every other leather jacket you’ve ever seen for a brief second. The pattern was given to Himel Bros. by legendary leather artisan John Chapman and is a homage to what some consider the golden age of leather jackets: the 1940s.
From its period-correct repro Waldes zipper and “drop W” shaped collar to its half belt & waist adjusters and optional central expansion gusset, every detail that vintage-lovers worship is accounted for.
So whether you’re new to leather jackets or just want to add a staple design to your collection, the Imperial will not disappoint. Although leather jackets nowadays are normally a weekend fashion statement, this jacket, and the designs that inspired it, represent a time where leather was a second skin for manual laborers, cowboys, and even members of the military because of its durability and flexibility.
So, if you do splash out on this bad boy, wear it daily. Put it through its paces. Be known as the person with the cool leather jacket. But most importantly, look natural. It can be difficult to pull off some of these crazy leather jacket silhouettes if you aren’t a time-traveled 40s Harley Davidson rider, but this Himel Bros. production looks like an easy wear, plus you can fully customize it, from the leather right down to the thread color and hardware.
Made in Toronto, Canada, the Imperial Custom is available from $2650 at Himel Bros.
