Good ways to soften up Italian HH

[mulceber]

...beyond wear the piss out of it?

I've had my BK Star for about 2 years now, I've worn it ton, sat on it repeatedly, and it still feels pretty stiff compared to my two Horween Good Wears. It may well be just an unusually tough batch of Liberty HH, but does anybody have any tricks for getting leather to soften up?

 

[Chandler]

Roll it in a ball, tie it with some twine, take it to the local park and pick up a game of soccer.

FWIW -- my ELC 1401 really started showing some grain and wear after I packed it in my luggage for a European trip and back. Dunno if they kicked my duffel around, or what.

 

[Rutger]

Like tough heels of new leather shoes: kneading?
Would probably take a couple days in man hours....

 

[D97x7]

Wear it to bed.

 

[mulceber]

Wear it to bed.

Nick, maybe I should try your technique and put it through the washing machine.

 

[D97x7]

Won't do it any harm.

 

[mulceber]

I might actually - remind me what you did? Did you use detergent (and what type), and I'm assuming the setting was on cold, followed by drying it in the open air?

 

[D97x7]

No detergent apart from what was already in the lining that I was trying to clean, yes I used the cold setting if memory serves, it was a few years ago now. Then just hung on the line outside to dry, I'm not sure that it softened much though as it was pretty soft already though wear and my aim was really to freshen the lining which worked a treat.

 

[ZuZu]

Nick, maybe I should try your technique and put it through the washing machine.

Put it in a pillow case and tumble it in the dryer on No Heat for a day or two...

If you wash it knits are gone...

 

[mulceber]

Also a good idea!

 

[MaydayWei]

Wear it while getting a full body massage.
You're up, Nat! LOL I'm JK

 

[Kermit3D]

Is this the "Liberty Horsehide Seal"?

 

[Brettafett]

My BK Liberty HH jackets are not stiff at all, very easy with lots of grain and character, wearing in beautifully.
My favourite A-2 hides ever.

 

[entertainment]

Buy a Shinki HH jacket and then the Italian HH will feel soft and pliable.

 

[mulceber]

Is this the "Liberty Horsehide Seal"?

My BK Liberty HH jackets are not stiff at all, very easy with lots of grain and character, wearing in beautifully.
My favourite A-2 hides ever.

Yeah, I’ve had other BK jackets in Liberty that did soften up pretty well, and I’m told the batch they got in shortly after they made mine is some of the softest ever. For whatever reason, this jacket is a whole other animal (literally and figuratively).

 

[Brettafett]

What Ive done is the past also, is wet the jacket on the outside with cool water from a spray bottle.
Then wear it, let it air dry. Ive found in the past, that sometimes help soften up and ease the wear-in.

Jan, which jacket was the badalassi?

 

[mulceber]

That’s my Dubow 1755. Weirdly, that one softened up very nicely, although it’s noticeably heavier than any of my other A-2 jackets.

 

[Brettafett]

We all just have too many jackets to wear, so they all still look new after years lol
I was looking at my closet the other day and wishing, trying... to find one or two to move on, to make room for the GWs, but I can't. I love em too much.

 

[mulceber]

Yep, the best I’ve been able to do is find one that’s become my default daily wearer (GW RW). That one I genuinely think I could wear for the rest of my life. But all the jackets are so nice, it’s hard to part with any of them.

 

[Brettafett]

It's a terrible addiction these jackets . I just picked up two original G-1s also... From famine to feast. At least one of these is worn in, the other appears minty.