Aero Leather visit

[Smithy]

The mugs are really coolView attachment 71148

Ken held a quiz a few years back involving a tea towel which had a load of classic British cars on it, and you had to name them. I was lucky enough to win and Ken sent me one of these as the prize. Great mugs, I often use my one when I'm off hiking and camping in the woods on fishing trips.

 

[Sideslip]

Teaser, more photos to follow later. Family enjoyed first 30 and last 30 minutes (factory visit). Drums of insurrection beat in middle 30 minutes.

 

[Micawber]

Nice! Suit you Sir!

 

[Sideslip]

Really enjoyed our visit to Aero Leather’s factory today. We were greeted by Christina and Chloe and led to the showroom.
Everything is stock except for the far right in the first photo which are vintage/returns.

 

[Sideslip]

I promptly lost my mind and started running around, trying to act calm and collected in front of my family. There was an A-1 in badalassi but a size too small…

 

[Sideslip]

Once I started to get a grip, I tried to focus on what else was in the room.
The Coastal Command hood comes out bright yellow with an iPhone but had a dull yellow colour in reality.

 

[Paul Glover]

Great photos! , very nice Irvin. I feel a return visit coming on.
I hope that Ken is ok ?, I personally enjoyed his technical input and miss his advice and participation.
If you are out there looking in Ken MERRY CHRISTMAS !

 

[Sideslip]

At this point Chloe returned with my jacket. Fleece was thicker than I expected, nice honey colour, very comfortable. As @J.R.303 mentioned in the excellent review by John and Burt, it has this dry yet supple appearance. It had a shiny, crackled appearance in the showroom, but under very bright artificial light. Will try and post pictures in natural light tomorrow. Note: fleece in photo comes out more blonde than reality which is honey. Very happy either way.

I briefly met Tony who made it, but they are very busy. Tony only does shearling year round.

 

[Sideslip]

I asked about Ken, he is up in Inverness and due to the distance and Covid, is not coming down as much, but very much online and well.

@London Cabbie asked for a picture of Ken’s mug, so in his physical absence, I got one of err, Ken’s mugs

 

[Sideslip]

I then (to my family’s despair, but to their credit, they didnae murder me), started asking about the different leather’s. Chloe answered a number of questions but then came back with Murray holding two large bolts(?) of badalassi leather in tobacco and russet. A very interesting and fun conversation ensued, he really knows his stuff and is passionate about what he does. He was excited about a jacket he was about to work on which is great to hear that every jacket is a pleasure.

 

[Silver Surfer]

kid in a candy store kinda visit

 

[Sideslip]

Murray then very kindly took us on a walk through the factory. They are clearly very busy in the run up to Christmas, but everyone smiled a warm greeting or word, it was a nice positive vibe.

the shapes room

Leather, badalassi, alpaca from Peru and others

 

[Sideslip]

Can’t remember the name of this leather but Murray scrunched it leaving this amazing pattern, warm it and the oils blend it, argh, cannot describe - should be like 30’s jackets.

 

[Sideslip]

Finished jackets heading to Paris, Berlin, Seattle, Tokyo, Morocco…

 

[Sideslip]

I met Derek! He prepares the patterns and specialises in A2s. Sadly, no photo. The “machinists” were working away. For info, an Irvin takes 8-10 hours start to finish by a single person, so add on raw material costs and it justifies the cost (and Brexit has increased import costs)

 

[D97x7]

Great pics Sideslip

 

[ButteMT61]

When we were there, they had come Reindeer hides and they weren't sure what they'd do with. Basement had some interesting pieces that hopefully got to be built and worn!
Brings back good memories.

 

[Micawber]

Aye, grand photos!

 

[Dany McDonald]

Thank you for posting in-situ images of where the jackets are assembled, it's fun to actually see it.

I see that the ELC A-2 bible is appreciated even by Aero machinists!

Dany

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Great pics Sideslip looks like you had a really in depth visit. Lucky you. And Tony makes a cracking Irvin but I am biased, he made one of mine