r/jackets

Hello : ) Minimalist traveler looking for a cropped jacket that I can wear as a light layer with concealed pockets for phone and passport. I wear a backpack style suitcase and want to avoid wearing another bag through airports/passport control etc. I travel with a service dog so have a leash in one hand/ looking to lighten my load. TY!

I've been looking for a leather jacket in this style for a while now and finally found this, however they don't ship to Canada and I don't plan on going to the US anytime soon. I'd also like to make a few personal alterations to this design, therefore I'm looking for custom leather jacket makers in Canada (preferably on the east coast in Ontario or Quebec since I'm in Montreal) who could make a jacket in this style using genuine quality materials.

I'd like to go there in person so I can see their materials and talk with them face to face so I can be more hands-on during this whole process, my budget is about 2000$ CAD but I might be able to stretch it a bit if it's absolutely necessary.

I don't need the absolute best leather jacket ever made but I do want to be sure I'm getting genuine materials and quality craftsmanship so the jacket won't come apart on its own through light regular wear (I don't plan on wearing it in extreme conditions, just something nice to wear around the city). The most important thing for me is that the design and materials be fully customizable and that I can be hands-on throughout most of the process.

So far I've narrowed it down to a few companies that might be a good fit for this but I've never gone through this process and I'd hate to waste my money so I'd very much appreciate if anyone who knows more than I do about this or has experience getting a custom jacket from any of these companies (or any other local Canadian company) could help me out!

Some of them advertise custom/bespoke jackets but don't seem to make fully custom jackets such as the one I've linked and rather offer relatively minor customization on premade model templates (Master Supply is one such example) which isn't what I'm looking for (I really want the hood with real fur on a bomber style jacket)

In/around Toronto:

•Northbound Leather

•Perfect Leather Goods

•Terez Leather

•Kensington Leather

•Export Leather Garments

•Master Supply

•Lusso Leather

In Montreal:

•Coronet Leather

•Univers Leather

•Mercury Leather

•Jez Elite/Creations Jez

•Godefroi

I’ve been paying more attention to jackets lately and realized I’ve been judging them wrong for a long time.

I used to focus mostly on how they looked, silhouette, color, overall style. But after owning a few different ones, I started noticing that some jackets just feel better over time, even if they don’t stand out visually at first.

Things like how the fabric holds its shape, how the lining feels, how the seams sit, even how the jacket ages after a few wears, those details seem to matter way more than I expected.

I’ve also had the opposite experience where something looks great online or even at first glance, but after wearing it a bit, it just doesn’t feel as solid or “put together.”

Now I’m trying to understand what to actually look for before buying.

For those who know jackets well:

What specific details or signs tell you a jacket is genuinely high quality?
Are there things you’ve learned to check that most people overlook?

Would love to hear what others pay attention to.