MTM Leather Jackets for under $500, too good to be true?
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It may also be true, but not too good. 
There is a broad range of both leather quality, and its cost to the maker. Cheap leather cobbled together in Asia can indeed be sold for that price and still allow a fat margin.
There is a broad range of both leather quality, and its cost to the maker. Cheap leather cobbled together in Asia can indeed be sold for that price and still allow a fat margin.
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IF the term is being used truthfully, it is the top of the hide, and hasn't been corrected, with a portion of the corium attached.
IF that is true, it is the best portion of the cowhide. However, it tells you nothing about the quality of the cowhide itself. I.e., the quality of the raw hide, how it was tanned and dyed, or how it was cut. Cheap and not particularly good leather can still be factually sold as top grain. If it is top grain.
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Thanks, that helps a lot.
Hide looks OK, not wonderful, not junk. Lining looks cheap. Construction, mostly OK. Back of right shoulder on the rear yoke has been scuffed. Also has marks to the upper right of that that look like an imperfection in the hide. And it also has wrinkling/puckering of yoke at the shoulder seam that suggests it was cut from a piece of hide less well suited to that purpose.
I haven't shopped the market, but my opinion is I suspect you could do both better and worse at that price. But certainly not "too good to be true." If I wanted something like this I'd shop around a lot more and look for closeouts. Nothing special about these jackets or their prices.
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While I have no experience with online mtm, these forums are filled with horror stories in regards to mtm suits and shirts. These alone make me hesitant to ever try mtm regardless of the product.
More importantly is the question if you even need mtm? Is your body type significantly removed from the norm to require specialty measurements? If not then I would suggest that for most people $500 is too much to take a chance especially when the product itself cannot be examined in person. This is a significant enough budget to allow you to buy anything but the highest level leathers. And the chances that this is leather of the quality used by cucinelli, rlpl, seraphim, etc is basically non existent.
Also think about a used leather jacket. If you don't mind a used garment then an older bomber or similar can have amazing patina and history. Also spend some time on TOF in the streetware and denim section. Lots of leather experts there who can advise you better for what you are looking for. Good luck.
More importantly is the question if you even need mtm? Is your body type significantly removed from the norm to require specialty measurements? If not then I would suggest that for most people $500 is too much to take a chance especially when the product itself cannot be examined in person. This is a significant enough budget to allow you to buy anything but the highest level leathers. And the chances that this is leather of the quality used by cucinelli, rlpl, seraphim, etc is basically non existent.
Also think about a used leather jacket. If you don't mind a used garment then an older bomber or similar can have amazing patina and history. Also spend some time on TOF in the streetware and denim section. Lots of leather experts there who can advise you better for what you are looking for. Good luck.
Yeah in that case I agree, MTM may not be necessary. Any suggestions on decent brown/light brown cafe racer jackets that are under $500?
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I'm not really big on leather jackets but it looks like you're in the Bay Area. I'm sure there's a Nordstrom near you. I saw this:
https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/cole-haan-lambskin-leather-moto-jacket/4644778
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Hey guys, hope you don't mind me poking my head in. That's my brand! I've never posted on this site before so excuse me if I'm not supposed to comment here. The admin mentioned I can make a personal account as long as I don't link to my site. I don't imagine many people will see this but I was hoping to clarify some points and answer any questions you guys had.
I think some of the commenters here made some great points - if you don't think MTM will fit you better than something off the rack, and you don't care about customizations - and you can get that cole haan jacket (for instance) at that low of a price, go nuts. I'm sure you'll be more than happy.
Some things to note - we don't sell $500 jackets, or anything near that. Our current pricing is $325, and we offer plenty of coupon options the moment you enter the site. Ranging from the most common which is roughly $25 off to $50-60 off. So really, our average price right now is probably $300 per customer.
Those photos you posted of one of our jackets was from when we were manufacturing in Asia during our first year and a half (roughly). We've since moved on to a higher quality manufacturer based in Leon, Mexico (other companies based here are Tecovas, Saddleback Leather, and Thursday Boot Company just to mention a few) and we're really proud of the improvements in leather quality and options. We've also increased the price as a result. That jacket photo that was posted was probably purchased for $220 and the lower quality reflects that. Honestly however, our margins are so low right now compared to other brands that we're keen on raising the price further so that people stop assuming our quality is bargain rate
Anyways I'll stop rambling, and if anyone has any questions just let me know!
Cheers.
Scott and Robbie.
I think some of the commenters here made some great points - if you don't think MTM will fit you better than something off the rack, and you don't care about customizations - and you can get that cole haan jacket (for instance) at that low of a price, go nuts. I'm sure you'll be more than happy.
Some things to note - we don't sell $500 jackets, or anything near that. Our current pricing is $325, and we offer plenty of coupon options the moment you enter the site. Ranging from the most common which is roughly $25 off to $50-60 off. So really, our average price right now is probably $300 per customer.
Those photos you posted of one of our jackets was from when we were manufacturing in Asia during our first year and a half (roughly). We've since moved on to a higher quality manufacturer based in Leon, Mexico (other companies based here are Tecovas, Saddleback Leather, and Thursday Boot Company just to mention a few) and we're really proud of the improvements in leather quality and options. We've also increased the price as a result. That jacket photo that was posted was probably purchased for $220 and the lower quality reflects that. Honestly however, our margins are so low right now compared to other brands that we're keen on raising the price further so that people stop assuming our quality is bargain rate
Anyways I'll stop rambling, and if anyone has any questions just let me know!
Cheers.
Scott and Robbie.
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