The Best Timing to Buy a Y’2 Leather Jacket? A Look at the Production Process

“I made it to the shop but they were already out of my size!”
“The pre-orders are sold out? I didn't even see it in person!”
“I just have to get my hands on the new model!”
It seems crazy to even think about leather jackets in this blazing summer heat, when you can’t even step outside without getting drenched in sweat. At Y’2 leather, we hear these pleas from our customers all the time. We work in leather, after all. So for those thinking about getting a new leather jacket, let us help you by going behind the scenes of our manufacturing process. Crank up your A.C. a few notches and enjoy!

We want to stress: leather jackets are not made overnight. Leather is a completely natural material. We need sufficiently thick, blemish-free, and large hides to meet our standards. Our tanners have to pay close attention to the weather and the condition of the hides. The tanned hides then must be cut one by one since each one is unique, then handed off to a team of two to three specialists who sew each garment with precision. Our refusal to compromise quality can sometimes lead to delays. We know delays are unacceptable for a manufacturer, as a delivery date is a promise. We bear this responsibility, and strive to deliver all orders by year-end at the latest, feeling the heat as we engage with leather day in and day out.

Signature models most stocked in the lingering heat of September!

Let’s jump right in. Every year, from mid- January to mid-February, Y’2 leather takes part in exhibitions in four cities, starting from our home turf of Osaka, then going to Tokyo, Fukuoka, and starting this year, Germany. We showcase our signature models as well as each year’s new models, taking orders from buyers of retail shops to inform our made-to-order production volume.

Our deadline for orders is the end of March, and then we decide the final production numbers. But we order the leather materials much earlier, partly due to the dyeing process. A dyed piece of leather can come out much differently than originally intended, and in some cases needs to be reworked. For our brands where achieving the desired finish is challenging, such as Kakishibu (Persimmon-Tanned) Horse and Indigo Horse, we must take the risk of ordering the leather before finalizing order numbers.

In addition, for our standard models, we place material orders before the new year begins. This means we begin production of our autumn/winter (AW) lineup of standard models in parallel with our spring/summer (SS) lineup.

This keeps our manufacturing team working at full capacity year-round, even during typically slow seasons. Some items are complete as early as late February, and we work our way through our production schedule up to our AW lineup. We begin delivering completed products to dealers after the Obon holidays in August, meaning our products are often most well-stocked in September—well before the peak leather jacket season.

Delivery of new models kicks off in full force in early fall!

Y’2’s new product designs start with a vintage item, which we use to make a pattern for a sample model. But it’s pretty rare to be satisfied with the first sample. We pore over every detail, from the overall vibe and how it looks when worn to its fit and sizing. We might find the pocket size isn’t quite right or a stitch that should be a little lower. We’ll make a second sample, and if that’s not good enough, we’ll often make a third. The next step is grading (setting the measurements for each size based on the sample), and then we finally begin production. This process goes smoothly for some models, but for others our trial and error can continue through September, and our delivery of new models can even go past September.

The shortcut to finding the perfect companion.

I hope this info comes in handy! Come September, in the heat of the moment, many won’t be feeling the need for a leather jacket. As mentioned, our production volume for the year is fixed by March, and it’s unlikely we would be able to expand our quota after that. By the time the peak season for leather jackets arrives, it’s not uncommon for some models to be completely out of stock. Just to obtain the leather material, we have to coordinate with the tanners, as the schedule can vary depending on the condition of the raw hides. We can’t just order leather and get it the next day. Of course, leather is an organic material, so the jackets turn out differently from one year to another. Each jacket is truly one of a kind. If you encounter a jacket you like, we recommend purchasing it right away, even amidst the pre-season summer heat. We hope you’ll encounter the perfect jacket that will be a lifelong companion.