Need Help!!! Customized Leather Coats

[NebariNookiee]

I’m curious to find out if anyone here knows where I can go to get my leather duster “customized” – what I mean is I have a leather duster with a simple shoulder cape and I want to make it more elaborate – pressed designs, adding studs and buckles – if you’ve ever seen the film Mortal Kombat then you know what I’m talking about (Shang Tsung’s coat) I’ve been busting my hump trying to find a place that does it but I’m not even sure where to start. Can anyone help me?

[Pip_The_Great]

well, fabric stores and craft stores often sell leather tooling equipment and studing equipment (if you're confident enough in your own skills after practicing on leather scraps for a while), but also, employees at said fabric and craft stores might be able to point you in the direction of fellow hobbiests who would be able to do the task for you.

[aerynstar23]

Yeah, I wanted to get a coat like the black trenches John and Aeryn have. They are split down the back. I found about 20 Matrix type coats, but no designer types like you are speaking of. I guess a seamstress or anyone that works with leather could do it.:rollin: :rollin: :rollin:

[ejp]

Some of what you want done, namely the studs and such, are not at all difficult if either you or the person doing the work has the right equipment. The right equipment is a press, either foot operated (kick press) or hand operated.

I would try calling the costume shop at IU Bloomington to see if they have any ideas about who you could try who is local to you.

The pressed designs are really where the bigger challenge lies. I'm not even sure I know anyone in NY who does that kind of work, although I am sure they are here. Again, the university might be your best resource.

If you are feeling really daring, or really desperate, you might check out www.tandyleather.com

This is a leather working suppply house, and while they cater mostly to western wear, they do have a lot of useful tools, and you might get a better sense of what is possible without big industrial heat operated leather presses.

E

[NebariNookiee]

You guys are frelling awesome! Thanks a lot!

[stlscape]

You might check with a western tack shop to see if they know someone who tools [carves designs in] saddles and would therefore be familiar with working with leather.

[zelbinion]

When I was stationed in Europe, I had a Leather coat custom made (I'me 6'6 and this was a full length coat), but when I came back, Customs confiscated it because the underside had not been sealed (Learned First Lesson).
Upon returning, I wanted to replace my jacket. I asked around at several ateration shops and sew shops. After about a year, I found someone with a good reputation through a local Tack shop, though she also got a reference from a Leather retail shop.
She took measurements, sketched out my desciptions and then produced a almost perfect copy. Total fee 300 bucks (twice what I paid in Europe).
Anyway, I learned alot about custom work, and there are a 1000 ways to get ripped off. Basically, get mltiple references. But the Tack shops are a great place to start. Almost all of them have a list of leather workers that do great work.