Product Focus: The Levi’s Type II Jacket
I thought I’d focus a short article on what is one of my most versatile jackets: my Type II jacket. Made in Japan (either under the LVC label or Levi’s Japan — I’m not entirely sure), of 9oz. Cone Mills selvedge denim, it’s a faithful replica of the original 1953 model.
It was purchased as a raw, shrink-to-fit jacket and has gone through subsequent soaks and washes to get to how it is now.
Fits like a glove
Being a shrink-to-fit, I purchased a size 38 and it was huge before soaking. I anticipated that it would shrink significantly but was amazed at how much it’s shrunk in terms of length. Nowadays it sits above my belt line, which I don’t mind at all.
This jacket has a leather patch on the inside, below the collar with the model ‘71507xx’ printed on it. It’z got a combination of zinc buttons and copper hardware which make for a really nice look combined with the aged denim.
The back and front feature two knife pleats that give this jacket that boxy, square silhouette that it’s known for. One big difference that sets it apart from it’s Type I predecessor is that in lieu of a back cinch, they build the jacket with waist adjusters on either side. The front also features two patch pockets instead of the usual one. As with other newer models of this jacket, it features bar tacks on stress points, such as the tops of pockets, instead of the original rivets used to serve this purpose.
I’ve Made Mine My Own
It’s obvious when I say that no two denim jackets are alike: the way and frequency it’s worn will shape the jacket to the owner. But i’ve got one step further and customised mine with a handmade patch I got over at Unionville. Being handmade, no two patches are alike, which I think suited the jacket pretty well. I’ve also added some Levi’s pins that my girlfriend gifted me.
Features:
- 9oz selvedge Cone Mills denim
- Shrink-to-fit
- Two knife pleats on the back and two on the front give a boxy fit
- Zinc buttons and copper rivets on crucial points
- Bar tacking on stress points on pockets
- Leather label on inside
- Two front patch pockets
