The Heron A-1 Custom

$2,650.00

DESCRIPTION
BESPOKE & STOCK
DETAILS
SHIPPING & RETURNS

The Heron is named for both the majestic Canadian waterfowl, and the White Heron Castle in Japan, near where our proprietary Shinki horsehide is sourced. It’s based on a deeply primitive early-1930s style, which demonstrates both the simplistic beauty of naïve tailoring, and the construction excesses of the 1930s. Characteristic of adventurers from Earhartt to Byrd, this Cossack style was adopted by the American military and designated the ‘A-1.’

The A-1's descendants became universal—but the Heron is unique. Its shawl collar shape and organic, hand-drawn lines are specific Himel Bros. innovations. We stand by it—the Heron is the finest A-1 money can buy.
This is a bespoke product, that requires additional measurements to be submitted by the customer. Once you submit your order, you can find the interactive instructions and order form right here.

For stock size orders, please consult the size chart here, and select "I am ordering a jacket in a stock size." on the order form.

Our online bespoke process has an extremely high success rate—please contact us if you have any questions or require guidance of any type.
1. New Old Stock (NOS) cateye buttons, with buttonholes sewn with our 1940s Reece 101 buttonhole machines. These are the buttonholes that put Himel Bros. on the map.
2. Plain-back design with giant back panel evokes the pre-WWII period of leather design during which wastage was no concern.
3. No gussets or expansion engineering, in keeping with the period reference.
4. Japanese-made reproduction D-ring waist adjusters.
5. Guterman 100% cotton thread, 16/4 gauge, made at one of the last thread companies in New Bedford.
6. Made in Toronto, Canada, by our team of master craftspeople and David Himel.
We ship internationally using DHL from Toronto, Canada. Please contact us for any special shipping requests. We ship in Canada using Canada Post.
Customers are responsible for any and all fees and duties incurred in international delivery.

Return Policy: We accept returns on new, premade items, not including made-to-order, or overstock, within seven (7) days. Items must be in new condition.

We do not accept returns on any bespoke or made-to-order products, limited releases, sample sale, or presale items.

Presale orders may be canceled for a full refund until the end of the specified presale period, after which no returns will be accepted. Exchanges in the event of an incorrect size can be arranged at Himel Bros. Leather's discretion.

Leather: Shinki Horsehide Black Pigment Finish

This is a pigment (paint) finished natural brown horsehide. The smell is the distinctive leathery smell of shinki mimosa tanned HH. The leather pigment finished with a medium hard pigment designed to wear over time and show the lighter teacore underneath. This gives the jacket a worn feeling that develops character over time. The leather is typically 1.2 to 1.3 mm or (2.5 to 2.75 oz) and can come smooth or grainy. Like all vegetable tanned leather fully shrunken grains will pop up and create ripples over time especially after getting wet that will mould the jacket to the wearer and develop character.

Shinki Horsehide Black Oil Tanned

This is a drum dyed black on black horsehide. The smell is the distinctive leathery smell of shinki mimosa tanned horsehide. The leather is then lightly pigment finished with a coating of oil and wax to give a glossy top coat that dulls over time with wear. The base colour never shows through due to the black underdye keeping the jacket black for a lifetime. The leather feels heavier to the hand due to the weight of the drum dye and the oils and waxes embued in the top coat. The leather is typically 1.2 to 1.3 mm or (2.5 to 2.75 oz) and can come smooth or grainy. Like all vegetable tanned leather fully shrunken grains will pop up and create ripples over time especially after getting wet that will mould the jacket to the wearer and develop character.

Shinki Horsehide Dark Brown Oil Tanned

The smell is the distinctive leathery smell of shinki mimosa tanned HH. The leather is then lightly pigment finished with a coating of oil and wax to give a glossy top coat that dulls over time with wear. The base colour will show through due to the natural mimosa colour of the leather underneath the top coat. The leather feels heavier to the hand due to the weight of the drum dye and the oils and waxes embued in the top coat. The leather is typically 1.2 to 1.3 mm or (2.5 to 2.75 oz) and can come smooth or grainy. Like all vegetable tanned leather fully shrunken grains will pop up and create ripples over time especially after getting wet that will mould the jacket to the wearer and develop character.

Shinki Horsehide Medium Brown Pigment Finish

This is a pigment (paint) finished natural brown horsehide. The smell is the distinctive leathery smell of shinki mimosa tanned HH. The leather pigment finished with a medium hard pigment designed to wear over time and show the lighter teacore underneath. This gives the jacket a worn feeling that develops character over time. The leather feels heavier to the hand due to the weight of the drum dye and the oils and waxes embued in the top coat. The leather is typically 1.2 to 1.3 mm or (2.5 to 2.75 oz) and can come smooth or grainy. Like all vegetable tanned leather fully shrunken grains will pop up and create ripples over time especially after getting wet that will mould the jacket to the wearer and develop character.

Shinki Horsehide Medium Brown Oil Tanned

The smell is the distinctive leathery smell of shinki mimosa tanned HH. The leather is then lightly pigment finished with a coating of oil and wax to give a glossy top coat that dulls over time with wear. The base colour will show through due to the natural mimosa colour of the leather underneath the top coat. The leather is typically 1.2 to 1.3 mm or (2.5 to 2.75 oz) and can come smooth or grainy. Like all vegetable tanned leather fully shrunken grains will pop up and create ripples over time especially after getting wet that will mould the jacket to the wearer and develop character.

Indian Goatskin Black

The best goatskins come from India and we order our goat specially specifying larger hides. They are vegetable tanned fully shrunken uncorrected full grain skins. The skins are tanned to bring up a beautiful pebble finish then spray dyed, oiled and wax coated. The goatskins feel very heavy yet very bendy and are primed to break in and mold to the body very quickly. The black colour is dyed right through and the medium brown and dark brown will show the natural lighter colour of the undyed skin with wear over time. According to the tannery they are certified environmentally friendly with full treatment of waste water, and use of green dyes and waxes.

Indian Goatskin Dark Brown

The best goatskins come from India and we order our goat specially specifying larger hides. They are vegetable tanned fully shrunken uncorrected full grain skins. The skins are tanned to bring up a beautiful pebble finish then spray dyed, oiled and wax coated. The goatskins feel very heavy yet very bendy and are primed to break in and mold to the body very quickly. The black colour is dyed right through and the medium brown and dark brown will show the natural lighter colour of the undyed skin with wear over time. According to the tannery they are certified environmentally friendly with full treatment of waste water, and use of green dyes and waxes.

Indian Goatskin Medium Brown

The best goatskins come from India and we order our goat specially specifying larger hides. They are vegetable tanned fully shrunken uncorrected full grain skins. The skins are tanned to bring up a beautiful pebble finish then spray dyed, oiled and wax coated. The goatskins feel very heavy yet very bendy and are primed to break in and mold to the body very quickly. The black colour is dyed right through and the medium brown and dark brown will show the natural lighter colour of the undyed skin with wear over time. According to the tannery they are certified environmentally friendly with full treatment of waste water, and use of green dyes and waxes.
Lining: Black Cotton Twill

Heavyweight cotton twill ideal for long wear. Good for its slippery surface to ease into a jacket and for keeping an even temperature in a leather jacket for all seasons. We use black twill for our sleeve liners and pocket liners.

Khaki Twill

Heavyweight cotton twill ideal for long wear. Good for its slippery surface to ease into a jacket and for keeping an even temperature in a leather jacket for all seasons.

Maple Ochre Flannel

Our flannels are medium weight brushed flannels replicating the provincial tartans of the provinces of Canada. The brushed flannel provides all weather temperature wear and is soft to the touch. While light it provides medium wear life as compared to stronger and smoother twill fabrics.

Stewart Tartan Flannel

Our flannels are medium weight brushed flannels replicating the provincial tartans of the provinces of Canada. The brushed flannel provides all weather temperature wear and is soft to the touch. While light it provides medium wear life as compared to stronger and smoother twill fabrics.

Japanese Tigerstripe Camo

This is a replica of Tigerstripe used in the Vietnam war. One of many variants, this tigerstripe was reproduced in a heavy weight cotton twill in Japan.

HBT Camo Green

HBT frogskin Camo was one of the earliest camos introduced in WW2 for jungle fighting. This faithfully reproduced doublesided camo is green frogskin jungle and brown frogskin camo beach side. Reproduced on a heavy weight cotton twill in Japan.

Mitchell Camo

This is a replica of the famed Mitchell camo developed in the 1950s with its iconic leaf pattern. Used in limited amounts in Korea and Vietnam by the US military this pattern was authentically replicated in Japan in a heavy weight cotton twill.

Japanese Troy Striped Wool

Troy Woolen Mills was one of the oldest woolen mills in the USA, established in 1813. Troy wool liners were iconic in early North American work wear. The striped pattern was a standard in early denim manufacture. We have sourced replica striped woolen liners from mills in Japan that replicate iconic liners of the early period of workwear. Selection of the Troy Striped Wool will result in a $50 additional charge due to fabric cost.

Navy Blue Pendleton Wool

We have limited supplies of Pendleton woolen liners. This is an early American Woolen mill established in the 19th century famed for its high quality woolen blankets.

Black Pendleton Wool

We have limited supplies of Pendleton woolen liners. This is an early American Woolen mill established in the 19th century famed for its high quality woolen blankets.

Burgundy Pendleton Wool

We have limited supplies of Pendleton woolen liners. This is an early American Woolen mill established in the 19th century famed for its high quality woolen blankets.

Brown Wool

Milled in Montreal Quebec we have a limited supply of heavy weight wool Melton for liners.