Custom Ordering

Measuring Guide Videos

Step 1 - Leather

As leather is a natural substance it can be prone to some surface marking which arises from the life cycle of the animal itself, each skin / hide will have its own unique characteristics and unlike fabric or sheets of vinyl, we cannot guarantee a uniform finish. All Lewis Leathers jackets and trousers are made from a single piece of leather to enable matching of shade and close uniformity of thickness.

Various Leather Options are Available for all Lewis Leather Jackets, Please see Below for an Explanation of the Types and Their Qualities:

Chrome Tanned Cow

Cow 1-2 years' wear

Cow Leather + Surcharge 1.1mm - 1.3mm, Full Grain, Chrome tanned with semi aniline finish. Italian.
The cowhide offers high protection and scuff resistance and tends to need less conditioning during the first 4 or 5 years of wear and is remarkably water resistant, however breaking-in time is longer.
The cowhide we use is no thinner or less protective than the hides Lewis Leathers have used throughout its history for jackets and professional racing suits (worn by Giacomo Agostini and Mike Hailwood to name but two), but due to modern tanning techniques it is more supple, will be more comfortable, more water and scuff resistant, and will ultimately last longer.
Available in Black only.

Chrome Tanned Horse

Horse 1-2 years' wear

Horse Leather 1.1mm - 1.3mm, Full Grain, Chrome tanned, semi aniline finish with a light pigment. Italian
Horse hide has a distinct patina due to its shorter fibres and so develops a finer grain and creases while breaking-in, favoured by riders who demand both protection and a classic look.
Regular conditioning is recommended with horse to encourage the desirable traits and increase water resistance.
Available in 11 colours.

Veg Tanned Sheep

Sheep 1-2 years' wear

Sheep Leather 1.1mm - 1.3mm. French.
Sheep leather is softer than our cow and horse, yet offers less abrasion resistance, making it more suitable for casual wear. Sheep leather is also ideal for those who want a vintage look with very little ‘breaking in’ time.

This leather also requires more looking after if regularly exposed to the elements and can fade and absorb water if used extensively in the sun and rain, hide food will help keep the rain out but for riding we recommend Cow or Horse leathers.

Available in 5 colours.

Though leather jackets have over the years become a fashion item and we are proud when our music heroes choose Lewis Leathers gear, our focus is first and foremost on making the best in classic British motorcycling clothing and staying true to our time-honoured designs.

All our leather garments are made in the UK, with each jacket made in London by a single machinist from start to finish, and boots still hand made in Northamptonshire.

Ultimately the choice of leather is yours so if you are still undecided then we recommend a visit to the Lewis Leathers shop to sample the different hides for yourself. Meanwhile, should you have any further questions please email us at webshop@lewisleathers.com.

Step 2 - Colour

Please click each jacket to see more details

COW LEATHER:
Available in 1 colour

Black Cow Leather

CHROME FREE COW LEATHER:
Available in 1 colour

Chrome Free Cow Leather + Surcharge 1.1mm - 1.3mm Italian.
This cow leather is a metal free, vat-dyed leather, and classed as a green coded leather, expertly made in Italy, this environmentally friendly Chrome free leather uses zero pollutant metals and chemicals within the dyeing process, creating less pollution and causing fewer allergic reactions for people with a delicate skin.

The process uses natural products like waxes and oils and Trivalent Chromium Salt, commonly found in multivitamins and supplements, is the main ingredient which keeps it chrome free.

The resulting leather has a very smooth, low gloss finish and tough feel.

Chrome Free Black Cow Leather

VEGETABLE TANNED COW LEATHER:
Available in 5 colours

Vegetable tanned Cow leather + Surcharge (Tea Core) 1.0mm - 1.1mm. Italian
Our most expensive hide, this Italian hand-crafted vegetable tanned leather is produced via a process which tans the hide to its natural ‘biscuit’ or ‘tea’ colour, it is then top stained to the desired colour. This process leaves the original surface of the leather intact, the finished hides are then lightly tumbled at the tannery to gently enhance the natural patina of the leather. This process means that each jacket made from this hide has its own unique character and is truly a one-off piece.

Vegetable Tanned Black Cow Leather

Vegetable Tanned Brown Cow Leather

Vegetable Tanned Terracotta Cow Leather

Vegetable Tanned Navy Cow Leather

Vegetable Tanned Green Cow Leather

SHEEP LEATHER:
Available in 5 colours

Black Sheep Leather

Dark Brown Sheep Leather

Light Brown Sheep Leather

Green Sheep Leather

Navy Sheep Leather

BRITISH SHEEP LEATHER:
Available in 2 colours

British Sheep leather + Surcharge 1.1mm - 1.3mm. British.
This leather is softer than our cow and horse, yet offers less abrasion resistance, making it more suitable for casual wear. Sheep leather is also ideal for those who want a vintage look with very little ‘breaking in’ time.

The skins are British-raised New Zealand sheep, tanned with vegetable extracts only, the process is entirely chrome free. Once tanned, the hides are then drum dyed, pigmented and protected by solvent-less sprayed chemicals, which offer physical protection and water repellence to the finished skins.

British Black Sheep Leather

British Yellow Sheep Leather

HORSE LEATHER:
Available in 11 colours

D LEWIS Range - WE ONLY ACCEPT BLACK AND BROWN COLOUR

Black Horse Leather

Brown Horse Leather

Red Horse Leather

Yellow Horse Leather

Navy Horse Leather

Blue Horse Leather

Vintage Turquoise Horse Leather

Turquoise Horse Leather

White Horse Leather

Green Horse Leather

Orange Horse Leather

Step 3 - Bespoke Sizing Guide

For customer unable to visit our showroom we can still make a jacket to your exact size with the help of some measurements. Kindly note: The following measurements should be taken while wearing a t-shirt only:

Height

Your height is useful and helps us determine your correct body and sleeve lengths.

Bicep

Bicep: With your arm completely bent (your hand touching your ear), take a measurement around the bicep.

Chest

Chest: Wearing a T-shirt or similar, at a distance of 1 inch (2.5cm) below the armpit, take a measurement of the chest, making sure not to hold the tape measure too tight or too loose. Your lungs should be inflated when measuring. Ladies, please measure at the fullest point of your bust.

Waist

Waist: Wearing a T-shirt as mentioned above, measure the waist across the navel while standing in a relaxed manner.

Hem

Tuck in your T-Shirt and with jeans pulled up, wear your belt on a comfortable notch. Place the tape measure on the outside of your belt and record the measurement in the centre of belt buckle.

Body Length

Place the tape measure at the collar seam of a jean jacket or similar type of jacket and run it down your back to the lowest edge of your belt. We will then advise a body length for your jacket taking into account your height and the jacket style.

Sleeve length

You will need someone else to take this measurement for you. Standing straight and with your arms completely relaxed by your side; measure from the top of your arm (edge of shoulder) down to the middle of the outside of your hand (in between your wrist bone and first knuckle). The tape measure should be straight and taut; it should not follow the curve of your arm. If your arms are different lengths please provide us with a single measurement that will fit both arms comfortably as unfortunately we are unable to tailor sleeves individually. You may need to take this measurement a few times in order to get an accurate reading.

Hips

Ladies only: Please measure around your hips.

Attention

If you prefer to wear the jacket with a thick jumper/sweatshirt underneath rather than just a shirt or t-shirt, we recommend that you go one size larger and we can adjust the dimensions according to the measurements you provide. Please also consider your riding position as you may need longer sleeves, we will be happy to discuss this with you.

Tolerance

All of our jackets are hand cut and sewn in the UK. Due to the differing properties of the leathers we use and the hand made nature of our items, please understand there is an unavoidable possibility of a plus or minus 1cm difference on all measurements.

Inside Pocket

Please select below whether you would like an extra inside pocket on the left or the right side of your jacket or alternatively select ‘no pocket’.

Slim Fit Jackets

Our jackets are quite a tailored fit but we do also make styles in a slim cut/tight fit style, these are mainly produced for wearers in the Far East, please indicate below if you are interested in this cut but bear in mind, it is only suitable for very slim people. Styles available in slim/tight fit: 384, 391, 402, 441, 445, 551, and 60. Generally in-store purchase only.

Stripe Colour

Some of our jackets are available with stripes, these can be from your choice of our existing stock colours and can match your club, motorcycle brand, or team colours, please discuss this with our staff by email at the time of ordering.

Accuracy...

If you are not a stock size we can use your measurements to make a jacket just for you, therefore, if the measurements are incorrect, the jacket will not fit as well as it could. We cannot offer refunds for made-to-measure jackets, however, we are very experienced in this field so do not hesitate to contact us by email with any questions you have and we will be able to make you a correctly fitting jacket.

webshop@lewisleathers.com

Step 4 - Jacket Linings

Red Quilting

British made, 15oz 100% cotton drill fabric, 1-1/4 inch diamond quilted, with a 20 gram breathable polyester wadding for extra warmth.

Black Nylon

Used in many Lewis Leathers Racing suits and Jackets during the mid to late 70’s, this knitted nylon is now made exclusively for us. A very hard wearing fabric, the holes allow air to pass through and keep the wearer cool, less bulky than quilting so a jumper can be worn in winter for warmth.

Red Tartan

A heavyweight, all-wool Royal Stewart tartan* from one of Scotland’s finest weavers, warm, hard wearing and luxurious.

* Please note the Royal Stewart tartan carries a £80.00 surcharge.

Dogstooth Wool

Heavy 17oz 100% wool*. An exact replica from a vintage 1950’s D Lewis Countryman jacket, made exclusively for us by Harris Tweed.

* Please note the Dogstooth Wool carries a £120.00 surcharge.

Red Cotton

British made 15oz cotton drill fabric but non-quilted for those who are lucky enough to live in a warm climate.

Khaki Cotton

100% cotton, hard wearing. Only available for Universal Racer Mk1 jacket No.UVR Mk1 and Universal Races Mk2 1930s 40s jacket

Brown Tartan

100% cotton tartan, hard wearing. Only available for Universal Racer Mk2 Jacket No.UVR Mk2 and Western Jacket No.988

Red Wool

16oz 100% wool. Custom dyed in the UK. Only available for Countryman jacket and Lumber jacket

Step 5 - Jacket Sleeve Linings

Black Nylon

Often found in our mid to late 1970’s jackets

Gold satin

Highest quality Rayon Satin twill fabric, usually found in Lewis Leathers jackets in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Dark Brown Satin

Highest quality Rayon Satin twill fabric as used in our D Lewis range of jackets.

Black satin

Highest quality Rayon Satin twill fabric offered as a softer alternative to the Black nylon fabric.

SATIN LININGS

The sleeve lining used in the majority of our jackets is the only lining fabric approved by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to be utilised by approved military tailors in the production of uniforms, mess kits and ceremonial wear for the Defence Forces. HM The Queens' household cavalry also use this lining in their jackets. The British Army, Navy and RAF (Royal Air Force) use all five approved military colours, Cream, Red, Khaki, Black and RAF Navy. Meanwhile, Brown and Gold, were specially developed several years ago for a leading gun and rifle maker for their hunting and shooting wear.
Lewis Leathers, by using this 100% Viscose rayon fabric for their high-quality jackets continue to use a strong and durable lining that is highly regarded by the traditional tailors in Savile Row, London.
These linings are only available as sleeve linings for our leather jackets with the exception of the Edgbaston Jacket and Western jacket when selected in light weight suede, in this case, both body and sleeves can be lined in this fabric. It is not suitable for heavier leathers.
There is no surcharge for the satin sleeve lining option.

Step 6 - Zips

ZIP FASTENERS

Over the past 100 years Lewis Leathers has used a variety of zip fasteners but the ones that truly became an iconic component in our garments were produced by the Lightning and Clix companies.
The zips we use today are made exclusively for Lewis Leathers and are identical in every detail to their predecessors, each zip component has been fully researched from vintage items and recreated to the highest standard in order to fully compliment our products.
Sliders, pullers, teeth and retainer boxes are tooled from the same materials as the originals, (Copper teeth and slider cover, puller, slider and retainer box from zinc alloy). Our zip tape is a cotton-feel polyester which has an advantage over the cotton tape of vintage zips which tended to rot and tear with time and thus compromised the life of the zip. Although vintage in appearance our zippers are made to the highest modern standard.
TAPE COLOURS:
Traditionally our zipper tapes were black, however, the cotton zipper tape on the main zips and cuffs tended to fade to a shade of beige when repeatedly exposed to sun and rain while motorcycling, producing a rather nice effect. Today we offer a choice of traditional Black or Beige for main and cuff zippers, enabling you to customise your jacket.

LIGHTNING FASTENERS

Britain's first zipper was initially known as the Ready Fastener when first introduced in 1918 by Kynoch Works of Birmingham. The Lightning name was first used for the fastener in March 1920 and became the mark of quality for Britain's premier zipper brand until the company's demise in December of 1980.

CLIX FASTENERS

Clix Fasteners were established in the UK in 1963 with just seven staff members. Almost immediately, Lewis Leathers used the brands heavier zippers for the main front zip of their jackets. In 1970, Lightning Fasteners acquired the Clix brand name and Lewis continued using the zips throughout the 1970's as their main puller whilst pockets and cuffs bore Lightning zips.

Step 7 - Patches

LEWIS LEATHERS LOGO PATCHES

Lewis Leathers first began adding our iconic chest logo patch to jackets in 1966. The first type was a rectangular shaped patch which was used until 1972/3 after which it was superceded by the oval shaped patch which continued through to the early 2000's. Since then we have re-introduced the rectangular patch as an option, you can select your preferred type.