Aero Leather Clothing trial update

[nick123]

This is something I struggle with a bit in understanding - in layman's terms, what is the difference between chromexel and chrome tanning? I'm sure I remember reading that my Schott 618 is chrome-tanned. I suppose I'm asking not about the technical processes (which have been discussed before), but what exactly is the difference from an end-product pov?

It's interesting how the market went there. Back around the time AL must have been set up, all anyone seemed to be interested in was Horween FQHH, but by the time AL had reached an understanding with Horween and gotten the variation of Horween horse they use, it seemed that the market had largely moved on and many other hides had become just as popular. I think goat seems to be the big one on the rise these days.

Chrome tanning is one process. CXL undergoes both a vegetable and chrome tan=combination tanned, with some extra finishing steps that is unique to Horween I think. My understanding is that that extra vegetable tanning stage in the CXL is what allows the leather to age so nicely and contributes to its pleasing natural look, rather than just being flat colored. It's the middle visual result. On the left you have a completely vegetable tanned jacket that looks very natural and organic (think Italian horsehide) and on the right you have an 80s Air Force A-2 (very flat/one color-why a FQHH jacket looks a tad bit more processed than say a Vicenza). It is also stuffed with these oils and waxes, (pull up leather), so when the jacket gets worn certain areas will become discolored. I think the CXL was an attempt to bring in the benefits of both chrome (robustness) and vegetable (aesthetics) tanning together. That's how I read it anyhow.

There are different finishing steps in other leathers that make a difference in appearance as well. You can have a completely chrome tanned jacket with no pigment added, which will still bring out the leather's natural variances because there's no pigment covering the leather. So it might not always be easy to tell the difference between chrome/veg. If my analysis is dead wrong correct me!

 

[Otter]

Careful now! <Turns 3 times to widdershins and throws salt over shoulder>. With that kind of talk you will summon the ghost of the Bill Kelso Representative.:rant:

 

[handymike]

Careful Otter, or You may get a tongue lashing from David Himel...
http://www.denimbro.com/himel-brothers-leather-co_topic86_page9.html

Sorry for going way off topic guys.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Yep..unfortunately, this kind of stuff does bury info related to the topic as it drags on.
HD

 

[Worf]

I just bought a custom Aero Jacket and have recieved no such email disparaging anyone or anything! Sorry I'm still out of town in Pittsburgh PA.

Worf

 

[Edward]

I never received any such email either (though I've bought from Aero pre and post September 2012, but never AL). Maybe somebody is pulling their leg.

 

[Sloan1874]

+1

I'm just waiting for their website statement to be 'adjusted' to match reality. It occurred to me that the problem for AL letting their jackets 'do the talking' is that most of them just shout 'Actually, we're just Aero rip-offs!'

 

[Fanch]

+1

I'm just waiting for the statement to be 'adjusted' to match reality. It occurred to me that the problem for AL letting their jackets 'do the talking' is that most of them just shout 'Actually, we're just Aero rip-offs!'

I think the latter part of what Sloan just said emphasizes what could come back to haunt AL above all else. What is the coincidence between the patterns copied over a six-month period described by JL and the emergence of "close resemblance" when AL first introduced their new line of jackets slightly over two years ago?

 

[ProteinNerd]

I feel for the 10 or so other staff members that followed WL to AL.

I doubt they all knew he had embezzled that kind of money or what was really going on.

If AL is forced to close, these people could be in real financial trouble. I can't imagine there are many job opportunities for their skill set.

 

[Sloan1874]

I feel for the 10 or so other staff members that followed WL to AL.

I doubt they all knew he had embezzled that kind of money or what was really going on.

If AL is forced to close, these people could be in real financial trouble. I can't imagine there are many job opportunities for their skill set.

I'm sorry, but from what I heard at the trial, there was a lot of complicity - not least Johnny Minto, who admitted that he knew all about the mislabelling.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Sure that's 1 other person who probably knew what was happening to some degree but that potentially still leaves 9 others who may also become victims of WL if AL goes bust.

 

[devilish]

Reckon you could pull it off like Nic Cage? Back in the day, Steve Strange had a full length trenchcoat patterned snakeskin coat. (Boy George stole it from him during the Blitz Club era, and it later turned up being worn by the Steve Strange character in George's eighties-set musical, Taboo).

I've actually worn that exact jacket. Just for a few minutes. I used to work for NC.

 

[Sloan1874]

Sure that's 1 other person who probably knew what was happening to some degree but that potentially still leaves 9 others who may also become victims of WL if AL goes bust.

Again, having sat through the evidence, I would not say that with any confidence - the similarity of evidence given by the Moffat trio was uncanny. Also, you have to ask yourself what sort of sympathy can you have for the employees who set up a petition against the Calders? That's a sacking offence for a start, so going out the door to join a convicted thief suggests is really on their own heads.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Good point, tbh I had forgotten about the petition. Thanks for the reminder. Guess I'll stop feeling sorry for them then.

 

[Fanch]

Sure that's 1 other person who probably knew what was happening to some degree but that potentially still leaves 9 others who may also become victims of WL if AL goes bust.

Perfect example of how one person's bad decisions can create havoc with others, often involving innocent people. Not only the AL employees but WL's wife and young child. I also recall Ken's comment about how this whole process had aged his wife, Lydia, by 20 years over a 2-3 year period of time. Always the innocent. Absolutely nothing in this whole sordid mess about which to rejoice or be gleeful. [huh]

 

[Don Tomaso]

Again, having sat through the evidence, I would not say that with any confidence - the similarity of evidence given by the Moffat trio was uncanny. Also, you have to ask yourself what sort of sympathy can you have for the employees who set up a petition against the Calders? That's a sacking offence for a start, so going out the door to join a convicted thief suggests is really on their own heads.

Well, maybe KC is not the saint you all make him look like and not everybody loves him, and some of the workers for Aero didn't like the idea of the Calders coming back and had no idea of any mischief and embeezlement on the side of WL? Nobody who left back then joined a "convicted thief" as back then he wasn't one. You blame others to be not as clever as you are now in hindsight, which, from my point of view isn't even unfair, it's nonsense.

 

[wdw]

Sloan, who was the third of the Moffat trio?

 

[Bunyip]

+1

I'm just waiting for their website statement to be 'adjusted' to match reality. It occurred to me that the problem for AL letting their jackets 'do the talking' is that most of them just shout 'Actually, we're just Aero rip-offs!'

From a company puffing their chest up and talking about legal action I would have thought the statement regarding the email might equate to slander?

 

[Bunyip]

Sure that's 1 other person who probably knew what was happening to some degree but that potentially still leaves 9 others who may also become victims of WL if AL goes bust.

I think there are several openings in Arizona for a dynamic little company called Lawless....I think it would suit most of them in name and nature

 

[pawineguy]

Well, maybe KC is not the saint you all make him look like and not everybody loves him, and some of the workers for Aero didn't like the idea of the Calders coming back and had no idea of any mischief and embeezlement on the side of WL? Nobody who left back then joined a "convicted thief" as back then he wasn't one. You blame others to be not as clever as you are now in hindsight, which, from my point of view isn't even unfair, it's nonsense.

It's so hard to say. Were they afraid of KC coming back because WL had poisoned them with lies about him? Was KC a demanding boss that they didn't like? Remember also that KC re-staffed his company with people who had left Aero because they couldn't work with WL. As Fanch notes, a mess all around.