Nurhachi1991 said:
Never did get around to buying it. Recently took a look at there site and had a question. Which is better? pre distressed or not distressed. I'm referring to TROLA jacket
Mickiana said:
Did you mean a ROTLA Jacket? If so, buy an non distressed lamb skin jacket and distress it yourself. You will do a better job and to the level of distressing you want. I've got a lamb, a goatskin and a cowhide and I like them in that order from most to least.
I agree with Mickiana about distressing it yourself. If you get it pre-distressed, you stuck with whatever they send you.
That said, be prepared to spend a *lot* of time working on your jacket. I got mine from Wested not distressed. It came out of the box so fresh, new, and dark that it didn't look *anything* like an Indiana Jones jacket. I spend many hours with acetone and rags, sandpaper, rocks, and other items distressing it. (Numerous threads here and at Club Obiwan about distressing your jacket.)
Let me also note that even if you've never distressed leather, you at least need to have an artistic eye. I've seen some terrible distressing jobs, done by people who practically rubbed holes in their jackets here and there with no rhyme or reason. Pick a spot, and rub it in circles until it's almost destroyed.
I believe pre-distressed are thrown into a tumble cycle with some abrasive. Gets it distressed, but it's all over. When I did mine, I did a lot "all over," but then put it on, bent my arm, and added distressing on the wrinkles at the elbow, and on seams where they'd naturally wear. So think about it before you go nuts with sandpaper.
And, yes, you want GOAT!! People have ripped holes in lamb jackets by rubbing against a thorn bush. I've read articles about tensile strength and the vast superiority of goat over lamb. It's much softer than cow, and much (much) tougher than lamb.
Unless you plan simply posing as Indy in a purely urban landscape where no adventures will be had, go with goat.
And if you're 'normal' size, don't get the 80s cut.
In retrospect, I sort of wish I got the TOD cut, because it's an inch or so longer. Mine sits just about at my belt line when I'm sitting, and it can get a bit breezy.
Are you going off the rack? Or getting a custom fit? I got the custom fit to my measurements. (Had I known back then, I would have just added an inch or two to my measurements.) Now when I run into a real Indy fan, it's awesome to say it's a custom jacket from Wested, made specifically for me.
Finally, like you, I agonized over all the decisions. My Wested is now one of my favorite possessions. I wear it all the time. It looks great, and I'll probably pass it on to my son 30 years from now.