A Closer Look at Three of Y’2 Leather's Classic Designs Part 2 of 3: The Single Riders 42 Series

140, 42, 76. Do these numbers ring a bell? If so, you are a bona-fide Y'2 aficionado. Each of our products have a serial code, and the number portion indicates the sewing pattern. These are the “jersey numbers” of some of the most iconic designs in our roster, some of our longest-selling, long-loved models. This blog post is the second in a three-part series taking a closer look at three classic designs. Next up is the 42, our Single Riders Jacket.

A Y’2 hit year after year

The 42 series is one of the most popular in Y'2's lineup. We get the most inquiries about it, and its wearers constantly sing its praises. It's categorized as an authentic single rider's jacket, with a zipper to close the front, and an adjuster belt and action pleats on the back. But apart from being a hit with bikers, it also excels as a daily leather sports jacket. Even 20 years since its first release, its popularity hasn't waned to this day, and it continues to be a top seller year after year.

A pattern that fuses an elegant, flowing silhouette with excellent mobility

It's no mystery that the 42, Y'2 Leather’s longest-running series, enjoys such enduring popularity. One reason for this is its meticulously designed pattern, which delivers a flowing, elegant silhouette as well as even greater comfort than it might appear at first glance. It's easy to imagine the beautiful silhouette from a photo, but you’ll appreciate it even more when you put your arms through the sleeves. The waistline, flowing from a slightly fitted chest area, contours inward toward the hem. Despite its slim fit, action pleats on the back give ample shoulder mobility, which brings me to another detail: the gussets. Unlike typical sports or riders jackets with gussets attached to yokes on the back, the 42 series features a rare design using vertical gussets without a yoke. This pattern, a Y’2 Leather original, follows the spine’s natural curve, with the gusset following the shape of the back and creating a subtle swell in the center. When you put it on, you’ll feel it wrap around your body without losing any mobility, and enjoy a uniquely satisfying fit.

The 42 family and its start with a one-of-a-kind model

The 42 series put Y’2 Leather on the map starting with its original model, the HVR-42. Its main material is HV Horse, a material rooted in our history, developed 27 years ago by our current chairman in collaboration with tanners. Rather than relying on layered pigment over the leather’s grain, we aimed to achieve the luster by dyeing the leather itself. The sheen was produced by infusing the leather with paraffin during the natural finishing process. This material is very popular for its paraffin-infused gloss, which radiates from within, and its 1.6 thickness, just below that of the Eco Horse. But paraffin melts in the summer and hardens in the winter, restricting production to certain seasons. This in turn limits production capacity, making HV Horse a “one and only” material used only for this model.

Among the many collared jackets in our catalog, those with the number “42” at the end of the serial code are all part of one family, which started with the HVR-42. The IR-42 features Indigo Horse, one Y’2's most recognized signature materials. The SR-42 uses Steer Oil, finished with ample oil to give it a suppleness that’ll have you wondering if it’s actually cowhide. New this season, the LSR-42 joins our collection, using Aniline Steer, finished with aniline dye by a horsehide-specialized tanner, achieving a fine, horsehide-like grain and translucent color. Don’t miss your chance to experience the exceptional comfort of the 42 series!