Horsehide Down Insulator Vest 〈NOIR〉

— Fine-Grain Horsehide — Horsehide chrome-tanned at a tanner in Himeji using European hides. After dyeing, little pigment or heavy coating is applied, deliberately preserving the leather’s natural marks and wrinkles. While hides from three-year-old horses are generally used, this material deliberately selects hides from two-year-old horses. Despite being chrome-tanned, it prioritizes a fine-grained, supple texture. Particular attention has also been paid to the character of the black. After being infused with oil, the leather is buffed to bring out rich depth and a natural sheen, creating a leather with abundant character. The decision to make a down vest from leather is unconventional in itself. And it is horsehide, at that. This was not chosen for lightness or softness. The material was selected with one question in mind: how far could the volume of down be tightened? The firmness and density characteristic of horsehide. Its sheen and tension when it catches the light are left fully visible. It accommodates the roundness of the down without blurring the silhouette. The stand collar is not excessively high, with attention focused only on an angle that follows the neck. The front placket has a double-layer construction of snaps and a zipper, with an EXCELLA zipper. It can function as either an inner or outer layer. But it does not stop at being a “convenient mid-layer.” It is properly leather, properly horsehide. This is a down vest brought back into everyday life while retaining its presence.