cool Geronimo fringed jacket with issues WWYD?

The Vintage Merchant

The Vintage Merchant

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this has been in my personal collection since acquiring it in the mid-1980s, and from FAR AWAY she looks GREAT on. She was cut to give a very flattering back view, esp.

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however, she was in this terrifying condition when i found her, the shoulders are sort of peeling, there is some darkening in spots; the front also has similar erosion going on.

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I absolutely love her (which is why i have kept her for my own collection...) but I'm wondering if there's any value to her in this condition?

maybe a western wear museum would be able to show her so she could be appreciated (from far away) by many, rather than just me?

is she too horrible??? :wacko: is my love mis-placed? :wub:

what would you do with her??

(oh, btw, Tiffany, I'll post her label on the label thread, too.)
 
I almost cried after seeing the first photo and then the close ups:cry:

I have no advise- too beautiful to pack away, so injured I don't know how to save.

I hope someone has some restoration ideas~
 
I think it still has value in its sad condition. ... In fact.. if I loved a jacket enough I would still wear it even with the flaws
 
I would easily wear a coat in this condition - in fact I would love to have this as a motorcycle jacket.

Please let me know if you list it!
 
I would think a leather shop could do some restoration to it. I don't know how much they would charge but it might be worth it.

I also found this:
"The cracking, of course, can't be healed. But conditioning will help blend down the scar and prevent new ones.

I personally don't bother with special leather cleaners. I just use neatsfoot oil (plus dubbin for outdoor goods), wiping it on and off until clear. For really dried stuff I reapply next day as the first coat may take some time to soak in."
 
thanks everyone, you're so kind!

ookoo, i'm afraid the fringe would knot if worn while riding a motorcycle (at high speeds); but she'd be great for tooling around in town...

even in this condition, i DID wear her once when i first got her: it was a concert (Ramones) in a nightclub (so it was dark and difficult to see well) and i got so many offers on her that night it was crazy!!

wore her once, and hung her high ever since then.
 
I would be afraid of neetsfoot....I think it would darken it. I use LEXOL Conditioner on any leather problems in the shop, but would be very cautious..maybe test on a tiny area inside?


Do you have a trusted show repairman?...sometimes they have the best advice.

:adore:VERY cool indeed!
 
:wub: awwww! thanks!

and :duh2:

i didn't even THINK of my shoe guy...he is great (with shoes anyway); cross my fingers and take it in tomorrow.

and, yes, MA, i've got some great lotions, but its WHITE leather, which worries me. however, it is SO trashed (esp around the buttons) that maybe ANYthing would be better...

i'll see what my shoe guy says.

oh, and

Those Ramones fans always did have great taste!
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heh heh! me-thinks you may be a Ramones fan as well!!??!! ;)
 
What a GORGEOUS jacket!

I think the fact that you've loved this despite its issues, and that more than one admirer here has said they'd wear and love it in a heartbeat, lets you know that it's quite desirable... So probably the things to address are 1) can you safely clean it, and 2) re the flaking, what can you do to protect any more of that from happening?

And Maryalice's suggestion is great--I bet your shoe guy will have the answer to both those questions!
 
I hate to see you suffering with this jacket.. really.. it makes my heart ache. I suppose you could just send ME the jacket.. and then you wouldn't have any worries:eureka:
 
Originally posted by BijouVintage
I hate to see you suffering with this jacket.. really.. it makes my heart ache. I suppose you could just send ME the jacket.. and then you wouldn't have any worries:eureka:
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it WOULD be adorable on you, Beth!!
 
Mary, that jacket is so special. If she still fits you, I'd keep her and wear her! Because it is so light I wouldn't use the neatsfoot oil, either; though it does work wonders on leather, it can darken lighter shades.

There is a company (website: leathertherapy.com) that has a product used for softening/restoring/condition leather and skins. I've heard great things about it, and I wrote to them about a Bonnie Cashin fur coat I have that has a split shoulder seam, and the leather skin is dry, so I haven't tried to repair it or have it repaired. They said they could not guarantee the product would restore the skin enough to make it repairable, but said they sell to professionals who have had great luck with it. Perhaps this compound would soften the leather enough to make it supple so that further cracking/flaking could be averted, and that the already compromised areas could be "blended" into the balance. Maybe your shoe guy could use it, if he does that sort of restoration.

Here is her e-mail to me. I haven't ordered it yet, but I think I'm going to because I have so many leather goods, even if I can't restore the skin on the fur coat.

"Hello Anne:

We have had some success restoring severely dried-out fur skins. However, you should be aware of the fact that sometimes the leather is so weak that the interior "fibrils" cannot handle any stress at all -- and nothing much can be done to salvage that part of the garment.

However, a major furrier in Detroit, buys Leather Therapy Wash - Restorer and Finish directly from us to do their in-house cleaning and restoration. These would be the products I would recommend to you.

The Leather Therapy Restorer will be the main product to try to restore flexibility to the leather. I would try it first to see if the leather is still capable of absorbing the product.

If this garment is so fragile now, you can be sure that the rest of the garment is in dire need of conditioning too.

Hope this info helps out.

Anna"
 
I wanna be sedated after seeing the damage but I also would wear it anyway. It's still too beautiful to just sit in your closet!

Sooz
 
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