PERSONALIZED CRAFTSMANSHIP
Custom Varsity & Letterman Jackets
A varsity jacket is the one garment people buy specifically because of what is written on it. Nobody orders a letterman for the silhouette alone — they order it because it says the name of a team, a school, or a year. That makes it a strange thing to buy off a rack, where the colours are whatever the supplier printed that season and the chest already belongs to somebody else's initials.
The colour decision comes first
Almost every other choice follows from the colourway. A varsity has four colour surfaces, each specified separately: the body, in wool melton or leather; the sleeves, traditionally leather and traditionally the contrast; the rib knit at collar, cuffs and hem, solid or striped; and the lining, which nobody sees except the wearer.
The classic formula is a dark body with cream sleeves, but there is no rule — black on black, with the contrast only in the rib stripe, reads far more modern. If you are matching real team colours, send the closest reference you have. Dyed leather will not hit a screen-printed Pantone exactly, and we would rather say so up front than surprise you later.
Lettering and patches
- The chest letter — the single large initial, usually left chest. Chenille is traditional: a raised, fuzzy pile with a felt backing and a contrasting outline.
- The back — a name, team, year, mascot, or an arched wordmark above a numeral. The largest canvas on the jacket.
- Sleeve details — years, numbers, small patches, or a name on the sleeve instead of the chest.
- Nameplate — a script or block name, often stitched over the right chest.
Send artwork or a photo of a jacket you want to echo, and we will say honestly what translates at that scale. Bold outlined lettering reproduces well; fine gradients and photographic imagery do not.
Fit: roomier than you think
A varsity is not a tailored jacket. It carries real volume through the body, the shoulder often drops past the natural point, and the hem rib gathers at the hip. Order your exact body measurements with no ease added and you get something that reads as a shrunken blazer.
Send your chest, shoulder, sleeve length, and back length from the nape to where you want the hem rib to sit — taken over a hoodie if you plan to wear one underneath. Then say whether you want it close to the body or fully oversized. We add the ease. The measuring guide shows how to take each one single-handed.
Wool, leather, or both
The traditional build is a wool-blend melton body with leather sleeves, and it works: the wool holds shape and colour, the leather takes the wear at the elbows. For an all-leather jacket, cowhide gives structure and toughness, lambskin is softer and lighter, and goatskin sits between the two. For sleeves, a firmer hide holds its shape best. The hide comparison guide covers the trade-offs.
How the order runs
- Message us through contact with your colourway and artwork.
- We confirm the spec — materials, colours, every patch and placement — and flag anything that will not reproduce cleanly.
- We confirm the finished dimensions with you before any leather is cut.
- The jacket is handcrafted to that spec and carries our lifetime stitch guarantee.
- Delivery in roughly 3–5 weeks — heavy embroidery or an unusual colour can add time, and we say so before you commit. Express shipping is free in the USA; international is calculated at checkout.
Before you commit
Can a custom order be returned?
Stock pieces have a 7-day return window. A personalised varsity with your name and colours on it cannot be resold, so custom orders follow different terms — in practice, alteration to correct a fit problem rather than a refund. Read shipping and returns first, and check the spec sheet carefully, including the spelling of every word.
Can you match my team's exact colours?
We get as close as dyed leather and wool allow, and say where the match is approximate. We do not reproduce trademarked logos or licensed team marks you have no rights to.
Browse the varsity jacket collection to start.
Order Your Customized Varsity Letterman Jacket
Customize your varsity letterman jacket with your preferred details, size, color, finish, and requirements.
The Journey of Creation
A meticulous process that transforms raw hides into architectural masterpieces.
Initial Consultation
Submit your request below. We review your vision, functional needs, and material preferences. A master artisan will reach out to discuss the structural feasibility of your design.
Material Selection
Choose from our curated collection of vegetable-tanned leathers sourced from historic Italian and Japanese tanneries. From pebbled textures to smooth bridle hides.
Handcrafted Assembly
Your piece is cut, stitched, and edge-finished by hand. We use traditional saddle-stitching techniques that ensure the piece will last for generations, developing a rich patina over time.
The standard is not what we make, but how we make it.
Learn more about our materials