Leather Jacket Guides

A custom leather jacket lets you decide everything a ready-made jacket decides for you: the cut, the leather, the color and the details that make it yours. Whether it's a jacket with your club's logo, a gift with a name on the back or a classic style you've never found in the right color, you can design your own leather jacket online in a few steps.

Here's how our custom builder works and how to make each choice with confidence.

How our custom leather jacket builder works

The custom builder walks you through five main choices:

1. Design: choose one of 80 jacket designs as your starting point.
2. Leather: pick from 20 genuine leathers.
3. Color: choose from 48 colors.
4. Personalization: add a logo or name, embroidered or printed.
5. Size: order a standard size or have it made to your measurements.

Fully custom designs are quoted from $199 to $499, depending on the design and the leather you choose. Every custom jacket is then made by hand in our workshop.

Step 1: Choose your design

Start with the silhouette, because it shapes every other decision. Decide which kind of jacket you'll actually wear most, then look for designs in that family:

• Biker jackets with an asymmetrical zip, wide lapels and a belt give a bold, classic look.
• Cafe racer jackets have a clean front, a small collar and a trim fit, and their smooth back panel is ideal for a large logo.
• Bomber and flight jackets are relaxed and warm, with ribbed cuffs and a ribbed waistband.
• Trucker and workwear jackets have a boxier shape, a button front and chest pockets.
• Coats and blazers give you a longer, dressier line for work or evenings.

If you're unsure what separates these styles, our guide to leather jacket styles explains each one. As a rule of thumb, a cafe racer is the easiest to wear every day, while a belted biker makes more of a statement.

Step 2: Pick your leather

The leather decides how your jacket feels on day one and how it changes over the years. Whichever of the 20 leathers you're considering, it helps to think in three broad groups:

• Soft, lightweight leathers such as lambskin drape well and feel comfortable straight away. They suit fitted fashion jackets and milder climates.
• Sturdier, heavier hides such as cowhide feel more structured, take a little longer to break in and develop strong character with wear.
• Textured finishes, including distressed, waxed and suede looks, give a vintage or rugged character from the start.

Your leather choice is one of the main things that moves the quote within the price range. Our leather types page describes each hide in detail, and lambskin vs cowhide compares the two most popular choices side by side.

Step 3: Choose your color

With 48 colors available, a custom jacket is the right place to try something you won't find on a store rail. A few pointers help you pick a color you'll still love in five years:

• Black and brown are the most versatile and go with nearly everything. If you're torn, our guide to black vs brown leather jackets can help you decide.
• Deep shades such as navy and burgundy feel distinctive but are still easy to wear.
• Bright and metallic shades make a statement and suit event, stage and wedding jackets.
• Screens vary, so a color can look slightly different in person. Our leather colors guide shows how popular shades look and age.

Step 4: Add a logo or name

Personalization is what turns a well-made jacket into your jacket. You can add a logo, a name or a short line of text using embroidery or printing.

Embroidery or printing?

• Embroidery stitches the design in thread, giving it texture and depth. It suits names, initials, short phrases and logos with clean shapes and a handful of colors.
• Printing applies the design to the leather surface, which handles fine detail, gradients and many colors better than thread can.

Tips for a clean result

• Send the highest-resolution file you have. For logos, a vector file (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF) is ideal.
• Keep text short and legible. A name, a date or a few words reads better than a long sentence.
• Think about placement: a large design suits the back panel, while initials or a small logo work well on the chest or sleeve.
• Choose thread or print colors that contrast with the leather so the design stands out.
• Only use logos and artwork you own or have permission to use.

Women's Leather Bridal Jacket with Custom Embroidered Text Women's Leather Bridal Jacket with Custom Printed Text Men's Black Leather Jacket with Red Dragon Embroidery

Personalized wedding jackets are a lovely example of what the builder can do. Our custom bridal leather jacket guide covers them in more detail.

Step 5: Choose a standard size or send your measurements

Custom jackets are made by hand either in a standard size or to your own measurements. For a standard size, compare your chest, shoulders and sleeve length with our size guide. For a made-to-measure fit you'll need your chest, shoulders, sleeve length, waist, hips and jacket length, and our guide on how to measure for a leather jacket shows exactly where to put the tape for each one.

Measurements are worth the extra ten minutes for fitted styles such as cafe racers and bikers, or if you often find yourself between sizes.

Before you order: what to know

• Price: quotes range from $199 to $499 depending on the design and leather.
• Returns: custom jackets are made for one person, so they can't be returned. Before you confirm, check the design, the spelling of any text, the color and your size or measurements.
• Questions: if you're unsure about any detail, email info@whiteburaq.com before you order.
• What happens next: our guide to what happens after you order explains each stage from order to delivery.

Ideas for your custom leather jacket

• A bridal or wedding jacket with a name and date on the back.
• Matching jackets for a riding club, team or crew, with a shared back logo.
• Branded jackets for your business, with a small chest logo.
• An anniversary or birthday present with the recipient's initials. Our leather jacket gift guide has more ideas.
• A classic style in an unexpected color, such as a bomber in burgundy or a biker in navy.

FAQ

How much does a custom leather jacket cost?

Fully custom jackets are quoted from $199 to $499. Where yours falls in that range depends mainly on the design and the leather you choose.

Can I put my own logo on a leather jacket?

Yes. You can add a logo or name with embroidery or printing. Send a high-resolution or vector file, and only use artwork you own or have permission to use.

Can a custom leather jacket be made to my measurements?

Yes. Every custom jacket can be made in a standard size or to your own chest, shoulder, sleeve, waist, hip and length measurements.

Which leather is best for a custom jacket?

It depends on how you'll wear it. Lambskin is soft and light for fitted, everyday fashion jackets, while cowhide is sturdier and suits riding-inspired and workwear styles.

Can I return a custom leather jacket?

No. Because each custom jacket is designed and made for one person, it can't be returned, so it's worth double-checking every choice before you order.

Designing a custom leather jacket comes down to a few clear decisions: the style you'll wear most, a leather that suits your life, a color you'll love and a personal detail that makes it unmistakably yours. When you're ready, design your own leather jacket in our custom builder.