Distressed, Vintage Leather, Soft and Gently Used

Suzanne Bowen
2 min readApr 3, 2023

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The most memorable vintage recycle shops like Good Will, Watt Mans, and Waterfront Mission have the sweetest leather jackets, leather coats, and leather vests… the coolest are distressed. At least half of our Suzahdi’s handcrafted classic and cosplay leather selections are distressed because customers demand what they call “a trendy look.” Vintage is king and queen, for sure. Vintage and distressed are the leather jackets of today because they bring back memories of old-fashioned life and softness to the touch.

Fondly, I shared my mother a love for shopping at gently used items’ shops as young as five years old. That is what she called them, “Gently used.” She would say, “The older we get, the better we feel, soft and gentle. Clothes are the same way.”

Even Vogue noted in a March 1, 2023 article, “Ever since Prada’s vintage-inspired biker jacket first walked the Spring Summer 2022 show, ultra-worn-in, distressed leather jackets have become the more relevant and sought-after choice. Tastemakers and street style stars can’t seem to get enough of the weathered ‘used’ look; we’ve seen it pop up in each city this fashion month beginning in Copenhagen.”

Scott Slay, Mandolin Player of the Slay bluegrass music band in distressed black biker jacket Suzahdi Style

The distressed, vintage look is stylish and timeless. Suzahdi’s most sought after classic and cosplay leather jackets, leather coats, and leather vests are distressed. I’d like to share our versions of the Dean Winchester “Supernatural” brown distressed leather coat, Deckard Shaw Jason Statham “The Fast and Furious” distressed leather coat, casual brown distressed biker style leather jacket, and Cyber Punk 2077 Samurai distressed brown leather jacket for women and men. If only my mother were alive today; I think she would be so excited about where I’ve…actually all four of us Suzahdi, have taken her appreciation of vintage anything.

Irish Lad in Suzahdi version of the distressed brown Jamie Fraser Outlander style leather coat

At a Suzahdi classic and cosplay leather jacket show at Pensacon ComicCon where Suzahdi also was booth vendor, the distressed leather selections received the most appreciative accolades. Pre-owned is key to the classic and cosplay leather scene. I think that paired with the likes of Legging Lass (also at Pensacon ComicCon) vintage appeal soft skirts, dresses and leggings…customers and models looked like characters in a “Seventh Age” Rick Heinz book.

What are your favorite vintage leather finds and vintage shopping memories? I would love to see them and read them.

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Suzanne Bowen

Love the lightness of being that results from sharing knowledge, running and trading hugs. My business? Suzahdi cosplay and classic leather jackets and vests!