A Closer Look at Three of Y’2 Leather's Classic Designs Part 3 of 3: The Car Coat 76 Series

140, 42, 76. Do these numbers ring a bell? If so, you are a bona-fide Y'2 aficionado. Each of our products has a serial code, and the number portion indicates the design pattern. These are the “jersey numbers” of some of the most iconic designs in our roster, some of our longest-selling and most beloved models. For our final post in this three-part series, let’s get into the finer details of the “76,” our car coat. 

The 76: A defining jacket in Y’2 Leather’s legacy

It all started when I encountered that 1930’s car coat at a vintage shop. The unforgettable character of the leather is what inspired us to create the Eco Horse car coat, a story we shared in a previous blog post. Our first car coat, which debuted 17 years ago, was assigned pattern number 86. The design was faithful to an authentic vintage model, including a chin strap and an adjustable back tab, and hidden ribbing on the sleeve cuffs. With Eco Horse leather measuring about 1.8 to 2 mm in thickness, some of the features were a bit unwieldy, like the chin strap getting in the way and the back tab getting caught on nearby objects. We also realized that eliminating the hidden ribbed cuffs made the jacket easier to throw on over nothing more than a T-shirt in spring or autumn. Our goal was not only to improve the jacket’s practicality, but also let the dynamic aging of Eco Horse leather take center stage. And the result was the 76, a car coat stripped down to only the essential details. It has since become a defining jacket of Y’2 Leather’s legacy, and one of our flagship models.

The 76-C: A rounded hem that exudes sophisticated allure

The 76, our standard car coat model, has a brother, the 76-C. At a glance, you might think it’s exactly the same jacket, but let’s take a closer look at the hem. The 76-C features a rounded hem. The straight hem of the 76 is, of course, one of its defining features. But for car coats that use softer, more supple leathers like deerskin and aniline steer, we wanted to match their refined character with a more elegant design. Eco Horse's stiffness makes it difficult to achieve the clean lines of a rounded hem. With that in mind, take another look at the 76-C. You’ll find that the subtle change in the hem gives the jacket a more refined, sophisticated allure.

The 77: A car coat for effortless style

Wearing an Eco Horse car coat can feel almost like putting on armor, and breaking it in is part of the experience that so many enthusiasts enjoy. Still, we wanted to make one more model that could be worn more effortlessly. The result was the 77. The 77 offers a slightly roomier silhouette—about a half-size more generous than the 76—and is finished at approximately 1.3 mm thick compared with Eco Horse’s standard thickness of 1.8 to 2.0 mm. 

Rather than starting with thinner leather, we tan the hide at the same thickness as Eco Horse before putting it through a splitting process to achieve the final 1.3 mm thickness. Because the leather retains its rich tannin content, it still develops the deep character and patina that Y’2 Leather is known for, while being noticeably easier to wear. Although 1.3mm horsehide is still considerably thicker than most leather jackets, it’s on the light side by Y’2 standards. If you've already broken in an Eco Horse jacket, the 77 will feel remarkably easy to wear.

The 77 also borrows details from the 42 (introduced in a previous blog post): a zippered left chest pocket and slash hand pockets. It’s especially popular with customers who appreciate the style of a motorcycle jacket but aren’t quite sure about going full-on biker’s style.

We hope you've enjoyed this three-part look at some of Y'2 Leather's signature designs. With a wide range of leathers, silhouettes, and designs to choose from, every Y'2 jacket offers its own unique character. As you consider your next jacket, think not only about the design you love, but also the kind of aging and patina you want to experience. We hope this will add a new dimension to the way you enjoy leather jackets.