Off the rack means a jacket was made in advance in standard sizes and sits in a warehouse until someone orders it. Made to order means the jacket is cut and sewn after you place the order, to the size you choose or to your own measurements. The trade off is straightforward: off the rack ships immediately, made to order fits better.
We make everything to order, so we have an obvious interest here. What follows tries to be honest about both, including the cases where made to order is not the right choice for you.
Off the Rack
What it does well. It ships straight away. You order today and it can arrive within days. You can often try it on in a shop before buying. And returns tend to be simple, because the retailer can put the jacket back on the shelf.
What it does less well. Fit is limited to standard sizes, and standard sizes are built around an average body. If you have broad shoulders with a narrow waist, long arms, a long torso or you sit between two sizes, you are choosing the closest compromise rather than the right fit.
There is also a hidden cost. Producing jackets in advance means guessing demand. Unsold sizes get discounted at a loss, warehouses cost money to run, and both of those are priced into every jacket that does sell.
Made to Order
What it does well. The jacket is built for you. Every size from XS to 5XL is available without depending on what happens to be in stock, and a custom size costs the same as a standard one because nothing is being pulled from a shelf either way.
It also removes the inventory cost. No unsold stock, no warehouse, no discounting at a loss. That money goes into hide weight, stitching and hardware instead.
What it does less well. You wait. There is a production window between ordering and shipping, because the jacket does not exist until you order it. If you need something for the weekend, this is the wrong choice.
You also cannot try it on first, which means the measurements have to be right. That is why we spend so much time on how to measure yourself at home.
Which Should You Choose?
Off the rack makes sense if you need the jacket within days, you have a standard build that matches size charts well, or you want to try several styles on physically before committing.
Made to order makes sense if you fall between sizes, your shoulders and chest point to different sizes, you are outside the common size range, you want a specific colour or hide combination, or you are buying a jacket you intend to keep for years and fit matters more than speed.
Where Fit Actually Matters
With a cotton shirt, a slightly imperfect fit is forgiving because the fabric moves. Leather does not. It has almost no stretch, it holds its shape, and over the first month it moulds to your body and stays that way.
That means a leather jacket which is slightly wrong stays slightly wrong for its entire life, and a leather jacket lasts decades. The shoulders in particular cannot be altered afterwards without rebuilding the jacket.
This is the real argument for made to order. It is not about luxury, it is about the fact that leather remembers.
How Our Process Works
- Choose your style and hide. Every product page lists the leather type.
- Pick a size, or choose custom. XS through 5XL, plus a custom option at no extra cost.
- Send measurements if going custom. Chest, shoulder, sleeve, waist and body length. If you own a jacket that fits the way you want, measuring that flat is often more accurate than measuring yourself.
- We cut and sew. This is the production window.
- It ships free, worldwide.
Planning Around the Wait
The main practical consequence is seasonal. If you want a shearling jacket for December, order it in September or October rather than in late November. Winter pieces are the ones people most often leave too late.
Our guide to leather jackets for autumn covers what to buy when.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does made to order mean?
The jacket is cut and sewn after you place your order, rather than being made in advance and stored. That is why every size is available and why there is a production window before shipping.
Is made to order the same as bespoke?
Not quite. Bespoke usually means a pattern drafted from scratch for one person. Made to order means an existing pattern built to your chosen size or your measurements. It sits between off the rack and full bespoke.
Does a custom size cost more?
No. Because nothing is pulled off a shelf either way, building to your measurements costs the same as a standard size.
How long does a made to order jacket take?
There is a production window between order and dispatch, since the jacket does not exist until you order it. For seasonal pieces, order six to eight weeks ahead of when you need it.
What if I get my measurements wrong?
Get in touch and we will work it out with you. The best way to avoid it is to measure a jacket that already fits you well, flat, rather than measuring your body.
Why is made to order not more expensive?
Because it removes inventory cost. No unsold stock discounted at a loss, no warehouse, no wholesale layer. That saving offsets the individual production.
Can I choose a different colour or leather?
In many cases, yes. Get in touch before ordering and we will tell you what is possible on a given style.
Deciding
If you need it this week, buy off the rack. If you want it to fit properly for the next fifteen years, made to order is worth the wait. Browse Men Leather Jackets and Women Leather Jackets at Leather Outlet, check the Size Guide, and read more About Us if you want to know how we work. Free worldwide shipping on every order.
0 Kommentare