Meet the L1. Inspired by a classic 1930’s shape and stripped down to its raw essence, this finely tailored jacket manages to be both historic and modern. Its styling is perfect today, better a year from now and worth passing down to another family member after decades of hard wear. It perfectly showcases the gorgeous leathers we have for you and is infinitely versatile. If you can only own one leather jacket style, this is it. What we love most about the L1 is how pure it is. Everything on it has a purpose and there is absolutely nothing extra. In a style like this, each detail has to be just right because there is nothing to hide behind. However, when the lines are clean, the fit is spot on, and the leather drop-dead beautiful, this style is tough to beat.
This L1 is crafted from full grain steer hide made by the Horween Leather Company in Chicago. If you’re looking for an absolutely special, drop-dead gorgeous leather for your L1, you have found your style. This was the first Horween sample we sewed. It hung in our office and we found ourselves constantly glancing in its direction. That would lead to impromptu try-ons throughout the day. It’s simply magnetic. Horween’s Dublin line stands out both for its base shade and tremendous highs and lows. In this case the base is actually a dark tan. Displacement of the oils in the skin result in an intense tapestry of highs and lows that run the spectrum from the base dark tan to much brighter shades. This jacket reflects each movement you make and the color settles into a more mellow pattern over time as an absolutely wonderful patina takes hold. You can instantly sense the huge reward in store as this jacket ages over the years. This leather is downright burly. We think of these Horween L1’s like a great pair of heavy raw denim. It’s a process. Difficult and stiff at first, but the way they begin to mold to your body, the creases they form on the arms and the way they absorb all the little details of your daily life are just pure beauty.
To us, a great leather jacket must be nicely tailored and perfectly constructed. Our L1 is designed to hit a few inches below the waist. There is an ample amount of taper from chest to waist, making the overall silhouette clean and fitted. A perfectly sized, classic collar sets off the neckline. One of the most beautiful construction elements is the single piece back. This large, seamless panel of leather creates a perfectly clean surface, looks amazing on the body, and highlights the luscious leathers we use. A single chest pocket and two hand pockets are finished with a classic welt construction. We gave ample thought to getting the size just right size so they add to the jacket’s clean look while being highly functional. The cuffs are secured with custom Corozo buttons. You can leave them open for a more casual look or secure them to help fit the cuff to your wrists. An inside chest pocket is trimmed with leather and large enough to accommodate large smartphones. The body and arms are lined with a jet black herringbone cloth that lends a subtle texture to the interior of the jacket.
Leather jackets like ours that are made in the USA using our quality of material and construction are typically priced at $1000 or higher. The efficiency of the Gustin model, with your support, lets us do much better.