There must be some cruel cosmic law that puts everything we covet just outside of our reach. It doesn’t matter what your budget is. If you’re used to spending $200 on something, the thing you’ll want most will cost $300. If you’re used to spending $1,000, the most desirable item will cost $1,500. I was reminded of this when I stopped by Self Edge recently to try on some new jeans. While aimlessly browsing around, I also found a couple of great leather jackets, the star of which is this black cafe racer by The Himel Brothers.
Cafe racers are simple, single rider jackets with stand up collars, two to four slash pockets, and zippered sleeves. Although they were originally designed for just motorcycle use, they eventually came to symbolize American ideals of freedom and rebellion. Naturally, with social appeal came fashionable imitations, which is perhaps why Bruce Boyer once said that black leather jackets are just shadows of their former selves, “diluted to the point of mere role-playing.” That’s undoubtedly true, although I admit that doesn’t stop me from still liking them.
The Himel Brother’s cafe racer is made from a unique front quarters horsehide sourced from the Shinki tannery - the same Japanese tannery that supplies the great John Chapman. It’s a thin leather - much thinner than the horse or cowhides you’d typically find on the market - and consequently also much lighterweight. The semi-analine, vegetable tanned skin has been finished with a thin layer of wax coating, which presumably will give the leather a really nice “vintage” look once the jacket has been broken in. Other details include leather strips hung from the zipper pulls and a tiger camo lining in the interior. I’d normally find camo lining to be a bit cheesy, but I rather like it here. When worn, it gives the jacket a nice bit of rugged detailing.
Unfortunately, it costs $1,950, and when I saw the price tag, I did one of these. Even more sadly, Self Edge never holds big sales. They have two a year, usually at a discount rate that matches the year’s number. So in 2012, they had a sale for 12% off; in 2013, it was 13% off; and this year, it’ll probably be 14% off. At that rate, I can probably afford this jacket in 2050, assuming it and I are still around. On the upside, The Himel Brothers has this same model, in limited sizes, at a slightly lower price on their website (they typically do custom orders). However, those will be made from different materials (presumably heavier and more traditional, which may be a good or bad thing, depending on your taste) and won’t have the same details.
Anyway, that’s why I think there must be some cruel cosmic law.