by Alya Omran
Alya is a freelance copywriter, blogger and dentist! She has a passion for writing and enjoys writing on her personal blog in her free time. She is a travel enthusiast and enjoys visiting places with gothic architecture and exotic scenery.
The question I always get these days is, “What is behind your obsession with leather jackets?”
The truth is, I can’t think of a single reason why you shouldn’t be obsessing about them, too!
Leather is a topnotch natural fabric. It comes on top of the luxury fabric lists and is very durable.
High quality leather products are precious and, if you treat them right, they can outlive you!
Leather jackets have been a trend for the past few decades. Wheher you’re a biker or just a person who loves to look elegant and polished, leather jackets are your go-to choice when you can’t figure out what to wear. Leather jackets can be styled in a hundred different ways. Bikers choose leather jackets for elegance as well as for protection. Since a biker’s life is mainly on the road, they always need protection against road dirt and cold. Leather jackets can guarantee both! A lot of people prefer to wear leather jackets to work, events, etc. because of their styling versatility.
When it comes to the leather industry, DSTLD is one of the brightest names.
DSTLD is a modern American clothing company founded in 2014 by Corey Epstein and Mark Lynn and backed by Asher New York Holdings.
DSTLD: All You Need To Know
DSTLD was started by Epstien under the name 20Jeans. They operated by selling overstock high-end jeans fabric from designers in LA overseas to places like Shanghai and Hong Kong where the factories there used these fabrics to produce lower quality jeans and sell them for just about $20. When Lynn joined Epstien in 2014, 20Jeans evolved to be DSTLD. They hired a former designer from GAP Inc. to head their designers team.
The company then started attracting more investors until they had a gross amount of $4.4 million investments. They later used their SeedInvest platforms to allow their customers to directly invest in their industry. This crowd funding later on resulted in DSTLD getting over $7.6 million in indicated interest. They have done this multiple times, deeming successful every single time.
In 2019, DSTLD declared their interest to open a showroom in London and to list on London’s stock market.
Before starting their first pop-up shop in LA, DSTLD depended on selling their products online. Up until today, DSTLD relies on their online sales. Their products are produced in manufacturing facilities all across the USA.
As stated on their website, DSTLD’s motto is to offer people a quality that matches their name (pronounced distilled). They offer them high quality products at an affordable price to enhance their overall wardrobe experience. Their main goal is to offer a top quality experience for the most affordable price to their customers.
DSTLD: The Website
Since most of DSTLD’s sales depend on their website, they’ve taken great care of making their website an easy to use one.
Their main page features their unique products and new arrivals. As soon as you enter their website, you get to choose whether you want to shop “Shop for men” or “Shop for women”. You can also login to your account or sign up for a new one from the option on the top right corner of their main page.
Choosing “Shop for men” or “Shop for women” you move on to the next page. This page has pictures of all the available products for men. On the left sides, you can find the filters that will help you narrow down your choices. You can select your size and your waist size for both tops/blouses and pant from the left corner.
Choosing “Leather Collection” from the left will take you straight to their unique leather jackets collection.
Here’s a review of our favorites.
DSTLD Leather Jackets for Men
Price: $495
This jacket is made from textured vintage lambskin nappa leather. It comes with a high collar for wind protection. It comes with a water resistant finish to help for better protection of the leather from rain. It comes in a slim fit with front zip closure. The sleeves are cuffed and it has an internal pocket. This jack looks very elegant and warm. It can be worn all winter long in every occasion. Since winter is almost here, this jacket is definitely a must-have.
It is available in Medium and Small sizes on their website.
Men’s Hybrid Zip Hoodie in Black
Price: $350
This jacket is my favorite! It’s a hoodie I can wear all winter long. It comes in a relaxed fit for all of you who love to layer. It has a front zip closure with side pockets. It is a hybrid between 100% lambskin leather and cotton, making it perfect on a dress shirt and trousers. It gives more of a casual look and can keep you warm at the same time. It’s also very affordable and comes at a reasonable price. It comes in Small, Medium, and Large sizes. I definitely recommend this.
DSTLD Women’s Leather Jacket Collection
Women’s Leather Biker Jacket in BluePrice: $375
This jacket is one I would buy the minute I see. Its deep navy blue color gives it an essence of royalty. It is a mixture of modern and vintage and is made to outlive every leather trend. It comes in a cropped cut and is best styled on high rise jeans and a t-shirt. The lambskin leather ensures a supple feel and durability. I’d definitely recommend this jacket.
Women’s Puffer Leather Jacket in BlackPrice: $495
This jacket is designed from vintage lambskin nappa leather. It is elegant, soft, and has a sleek cut. It is guaranteed to keep you warm in winter. It has a wide collar which makes it look very different from other puffer jackets. Its adjustable bungie cord hem allows you to adjust the fit without compromising the warmth. It would go really well with a pullover and jeans.
How to Order Through DSTLD Website?
Currently, and as a precautionary measure, DSTLD are shipping on an intermittent basis. They’re regularly returning to their original shipping schedules. Their shipping is handled from start to finish by healthy individuals while maintaining the necessary social distancing measures. The warehouse and all the shipping packages are disinfected thoroughly.
DSTLD offers free shipping within the United States. Your order takes 2-4 days to arrive after it’s shipped.
Before ordering, always check the “Style and fit notes” for each item. If any item is expected to fit tighter or looser than indicated, it would be mentioned here.
DSTLD accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Amazon Payment, Afterpay and PayPal for all orders.
The most unique option when shopping online from DSTLD is that they have an option to pay through “Afterpay”. This allows you to pay for your purchases in equal installments every 2 weeks without any interest. All you need to do is choose “Afterpay” on checkout and this will take you directly to their website to sign up and provide your payment details. Your first payment has to be on the time of purchase and the remaining ones will beb deducted from your chosen payment method automatically every 2 weeks.
What if I want to cancel my order or return my product?
If you order doesn’t work for you, DSTLD have a flexible return policy. They offer free domestic returns and full refunds within 30 days of delivery. They inspect your returned product, make sure it matches the return conditions, then refund you within 7 days. This does not apply for item on sale. You can’t return any item that had a discount on it or was on sale.
Picking The Right Leather Jacket For You
Choosing your leather jacket is a very critical process. There are many things you need to consider when buying a leather jacket such as the fit, the color, the design, the accessory color, and the skin it’s made from. Choosing the right fit is the first and most important step, keeping in mind that your jacket could stretch by time. A tip you can always refer too is to make sure that your jacket doesn’t sag at the shoulder blades because this means it’s too big for you. You should be able to move your arms freely all around without feeling like your movement is restricted.
Knowing the different types of leather and the characteristics of each is also very important. The most common types of leather used in leather jackets are lambskin leather and cowhide.
Lambskin leather is the softest type of leather for leather jackets. Since lambskin leather originally comes from lambs, the fact that they come from an animal that hasn’t yet matured is the reason behind its softness. It is the softest leather with the most buttery texture. This fine-grained smooth texture makes it stand out among all other types of leather. This softness means a higher liability for wear and scratches, which is why taking good care of your lambskin leather jacket is essential for its longevity. Lambskin has been used in the manufacturing of leather jackets ever since the industry bloomed in the early 1900s.
Leather jackets come in all colors. The color you pick is mainly a personal preference depending on the colors you like to wear in general. Black, brown, and navy blue are the most commonly purchased colors as they can go with anything and any occasion.
Your budget is also a very important factor. You should keep in mind that your leather jacket is an investment and the high prices are usually for a good reason, as long as the price is reasonable.
How to Take Good Care of My New Leather Jacket?
Now that you invested in a new leather jacket, you’d want to know how to take good care of it.
First of all, no matter how much any manufacturer claims otherwise, leather and moisture are not friends. You must keep your leather jacket dry at all times. Moisture can ruin leather.
You need to store your leather jacket in a moisture-free environment that’s well ventilated. If your jacket becomes wet, you must leave it to dry out on a hanger in a well-aerated place.
Never use a dryer to dry out your leather jacket. This will cause it to stiffen by time and lose its elasticity.
Send your leather jackets for professional cleaning every few months. Most of the chemicals used in leather home cleaning kits are harmful to leather.
Never fold your leather jacket when storing them because that will cause it to crease and wrinkle.
Conclusion
When you invest in a leather jacket, you’d want to make sure you’re buying the best one for you. DSTLD is one of the most affordable good quality leather on the market. Their website experience is a great and customer-friendly one. Their leather jacket collection for men is limited but attractive. Their women’s leather jacket collection is more versatile with a lot of good designs.
You need to be careful when picking a leather jacket. You must pick the right fit, a color that matches your wardrobe, and a design that works well for the occasions you need it for.
The type of leather accounts for much of its properties. Some are softer than others. Some are warmer. Reading about the different types of leather before you buy a new one is a good idea.