The Complete Guide to Custom Leather Jackets

Everything you need to know before you design your own leather jacket – from choosing the style and leather to measuring yourself and caring for your jacket.

A leather jacket is one of the few pieces of clothing that gets better with age. It softens, moulds to the shape of your body and tells the story of where you have been. But off-the-rack jackets are cut for an average body and a mass-market taste, so the sleeves are often too long, the shoulders too wide or the details not quite what you had in mind. A custom leather jacket solves all of that. In this guide we explain how custom leather jackets are made, how to choose the right style, leather and finish, how to measure yourself for a made-to-measure fit and how to care for your jacket so it lasts for decades.

What Is a Custom Leather Jacket?

A custom leather jacket is a jacket made for one specific person rather than for a shop shelf. Instead of picking the closest standard size and living with whatever design the factory chose, you decide the cut, the leather, the colour, the finish, the lining, the zips and snaps, and any logos or lettering. The jacket is then patterned and cut to your size or to your exact body measurements and stitched by hand.

At Avanzar Leather, every custom order starts with a conversation. You tell us what you want using the order form on this page – a few clicks, a photo of a jacket you like or a rough sketch is enough to begin. Our design consultant turns your idea into a digital illustration, checks the details and the fit with you, and only after you approve the design does our production team start cutting the leather. You always know exactly what you are getting before work begins.

Custom, Made-to-Measure and Ready-Made: What Is the Difference?

These three terms are often mixed up, so here is a simple way to think about them:

• Ready-made: a fixed design produced in standard sizes. You buy it as it is and hope it fits.
• Made-to-measure: an existing design cut to your own body measurements, so the fit is personal even if the style is a classic.
• Fully custom (bespoke): both the design and the fit are yours. You can change collars, pockets, panels and colours and add your own artwork.

On this page you can do either. Choose a standard size if regular sizing works for you, or choose "Made to measure" and enter your measurements for a jacket that fits as if it was made for you – because it was.

Choosing the Right Jacket Style

The style sets the whole character of your jacket, so it is the best place to start.

Biker and motorcycle jackets

The asymmetric zip, wide lapels and belted waist of the classic biker jacket make it the most iconic leather jacket ever made. Riders can add armour pockets, padded shoulders or perforated panels for airflow. Browse our biker jackets and motorcycle jackets for inspiration.

Bomber jackets

A relaxed body with ribbed cuffs and waistband, inspired by early flight jackets. A clean, versatile choice that suits almost everyone. See our leather bomber jackets.

Aviator and B3 shearling jackets

Heavy sheepskin with the wool left on the inside, a large collar and buckle straps – built for real cold. Explore our shearling jackets and B3 bomber jackets.

Cafe racer and racing jackets

The cafe racer is a minimalist, slim jacket with a short band collar and no lapels, perfect for a sharp everyday look. Racing jackets add bold colour blocking, stripes, race numbers and sponsor logos, making them ideal for motorsport fans and racing teams.

Varsity, trucker, blazer and vest

A varsity jacket brings classic college style with contrast sleeves and patches. A western-style trucker, a tailored leather blazer or a leather vest are lighter pieces that are perfect for layering.

Long coats

Trench coats, dusters and car coats give full coverage and a dramatic silhouette. See our leather trench coats. Not sure which style suits you? Choose "My Own Design" in the form and describe what you have in mind.

Choosing the Right Leather

Leather affects how your jacket looks, feels, wears and ages. Here is how the leathers we offer compare:

• Lambskin – the softest and lightest leather, with a buttery feel and a slight natural sheen. Best for slim fashion jackets and blazers, and comfortable from the first day you wear it.
• Sheepskin – soft and smooth like lambskin but a little more robust, making it an excellent everyday leather.
• Cowhide – thick, tough and resistant to abrasion. It takes longer to break in but is the first choice for motorcycle and racing jackets that need protection.
• Goatskin – durable with a distinctive pebbled grain, traditionally used for military A-2 flight jackets. It strikes a great balance between toughness and comfort.
• Buffalo – heavy and rugged with a pronounced natural texture, ideal for vintage and workwear looks.
• Suede – the napped underside of the hide, with a soft, velvety touch. Perfect for trucker and western jackets; best kept away from heavy rain.
• Faux shearling – leather or suede with a warm synthetic fleece lining, giving you the shearling look at a lower price.
• Original shearling – genuine sheepskin with the natural wool still attached. The warmest and most premium option, used for B3 bombers and aviator jackets.

The price table above shows the starting price for each leather as a jacket or as a long coat, so you can compare options at a glance.

Leather Finishes Explained

The finish changes the surface and character of the leather:

• Smooth / Matte (free) – the classic finish: clean, understated and suitable for every style.
• Glossy (+$20) – a polished, high-shine look that stands out, popular for fashion and statement jackets.
• Waxed (+$20) – a rich coat of wax that deepens the colour, adds a subtle shine and gives extra protection against light rain.
• Distressed / Vintage (+$30) – hand-treated to look worn-in and aged, with natural variations in tone. Perfect for bombers and biker jackets with a heritage feel.

Colour, Lining and Hardware

Black and brown remain the most popular leather colours because they go with everything, but a custom jacket can be any colour you like – burgundy, navy, tan, red, white or a multi-colour design with stripes and panels. Tell us exactly where each colour should go in the "Custom colour details" box.

The lining is what you feel every time you put your jacket on. Polyester is smooth and durable, quilted lining adds warmth, satin feels luxurious and faux fur turns any jacket into a winter piece. You can also choose no lining for a lighter, rawer look.

Hardware – zips, snaps and buckles – finishes the design. Silver is timeless, gold feels premium, gunmetal or black looks modern and understated, and antique brass suits vintage styles.

Personalising With Logos, Names and Sponsors

Adding a logo is the easiest way to make a jacket truly yours. For $30 we can add your logo, name or number using embroidery, printing, a leather patch or embossing. Popular placements are the left chest, the full back, the sleeves and the collar. Racing jackets often carry several sponsor logos – list them in the sponsors box and upload the files.

For the best result, upload your logo as a high-resolution PNG, PDF, AI or SVG file. If you only have a photo, upload it anyway and our design team will recreate it for production.

How to Measure Yourself for a Made-to-Measure Fit

Accurate measurements are the key to a perfect fit. Use a soft measuring tape, wear a light T-shirt and ask someone to help you:

• Chest – around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms, keeping the tape level.
• Waist – around your natural waistline, usually just above the belly button.
• Hip – around the widest part of your hips.
• Shoulder – across your back from the edge of one shoulder to the other.
• Sleeve length – from the edge of the shoulder, over a slightly bent elbow, down to your wrist bone.
• Jacket length – from the base of the neck at the back down to where you want the jacket to end.

Measure snugly but not tightly; we add the right amount of ease for the style you choose. Also tell us your height and weight and how you like your jackets to fit – slim, regular or relaxed. Our size guide has more detail, and if anything looks unusual our consultant will check your numbers with you before production.

Custom Leather Jackets for Women

Women's leather jackets need different proportions, not just smaller sizes. We cut women's custom jackets with a shaped waist, adjusted shoulders and sleeve lengths, and the option of cropped or longer lengths. From cropped biker jackets and fitted blazers to long trench coats and shearling aviators, every style on this page can be made for women. Browse our women's leather jackets for ideas, or design a matching pair from our couple leather jackets.

Team, Club and Corporate Orders

Custom leather jackets are a powerful way to build identity for motorcycle clubs, racing teams, sports teams, bands and companies. We can produce matching jackets in your club colours, with back patches, member names and numbers, each made in the wearer's own size. Clubs, teams and companies ordering 10 or more jackets get 15% off the total order – the discount is applied automatically in your cart, or you can use the free quote form to send us your quantities and artwork first.

Caring for Your Custom Leather Jacket

A good leather jacket can last for decades with a little simple care:

• Hang it on a wide, padded hanger so the shoulders keep their shape.
• Keep it away from direct heat and long periods of strong sunlight, which can dry out and fade leather.
• If it gets wet, let it dry naturally at room temperature – never on a radiator or with a hair dryer.
• Condition the leather once or twice a year with a good leather conditioner to keep it supple.
• Store it in a breathable garment bag rather than plastic.
• For suede and shearling, use a suede brush and protector spray, and take serious stains to a leather specialist.

Find more tips in our leather guide.

Why Order Your Custom Leather Jacket From Avanzar Leather?

• Genuine leather, cut and stitched by hand by experienced craftsmen.
• A free design consultation and digital mockup before production starts.
• Made-to-measure fit for men and women, in standard sizes XS to 5XL or your own measurements.
• Clear, upfront prices from $229.99, with live pricing in the order form.
• Logos, names, numbers and sponsor patches for individuals, clubs and teams, with 15% off group orders of 10 or more jackets.
• Most orders finished in 3 to 4 weeks after approval, followed by express delivery.

Want to see how we work behind the scenes? Read about our bespoke process.