Langlitz Leathers

What Langlitz Leathers does

Langlitz Leathers is a family-owned custom leather goods manufacturer founded in 1947 by Ross Langlitz and headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The company produces hand-built custom motorcycle jackets (including the iconic Columbia, Cascade, and Crescent models), riding pants, vests, and an accessory line encompassing wallets, bags, belts, gloves, boots, and care products. Each garment is built to a customer's individual measurements using traditional craft methods: a single cutter hand-cuts each garment from patterns passed down from the founder, and a single seamstress completes the sewing on vintage PFAFF machines, with initials and a unique serial number placed inside each piece. The company sources top-grain cowhide and goatskin exclusively from US tanneries in Wisconsin, New York, and California, rejects approximately one-third of incoming leather for quality, and uses brass hardware throughout with lock-stitched seams.

The business operates on a direct-to-consumer model with no e-commerce: customers contact the shop by phone, email, mail-order catalog, or in-person visit to the Portland showroom, with a deposit required to start an order and balance due upon completion. Current wait time for custom garments is approximately 12 months, while accessories have a roughly 1-month wait, indicating demand exceeds production capacity. International sales are handled directly to most markets, with Japan served exclusively through authorized dealers. The current owner is Judy, daughter of prior co-owners Dave and Jackie, continuing the family's third-generation stewardship alongside General Manager Bennie Goodson. The company partners with regional Oregon and Washington manufacturers (Wesco for boots, Dehen for wool caps and sweaters, Churchill for gloves, Snowshoe Laboratories for leather dressing) to extend the product line without diluting its craft focus, and maintains a satisfaction guarantee on all custom orders.

Name

Langlitz Leathers

Legal name

Langlitz Leathers

Website

https://langlitz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family-owned custom leather goods manufacturer founded in Portland, Oregon in 1947, producing hand-built motorcycle jackets, pants, and accessories to individual customer measurements using premium US-sourced leather and traditional single-craftsman production methods, sold direct-to-consumer globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motorcycle Leather Goods

NAICS

Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (3169)

SIC

Leather & Leather Products (3100), Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments (2320)

akta.pro primary industry

Protective, Safety & Tactical Leather Goods Manufacturing (Holsters/Pouches/Gear) (IMAOAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Riding Jackets, Pants & Suits Retail (Leather/Textile) (CRAMANAF), Small Leather Accessories Manufacturing (Belts/Straps/Watch Bands) (IMAOAFAG), Sports, Outdoor & Adventure Packs Manufacturing (Backpacks/Duffels) (IMAOAHAE)

Keywords

• Custom motorcycle leather
• Handcrafted leather jackets
• Made-to-measure riding gear
• Premium leather accessories
• American-made leather goods

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Leather Garments: Custom-made jackets, pants, breeches, and vests; deposit required to start order, balance due upon completion; wait times of approximately 12 months for custom garment orders; prices relatively accessible for custom work
2. Accessories and Leather Goods: Belts, wallets, bags, tool rolls, travel bags, gun bags, and other leather accessories; 1-month wait time for custom accessories
3. Repair and Alteration Services: Repairs and alterations for Langlitz garments; simple repairs completed same day; alterations and complex repairs shipped within one week
4. Wesco Boots Distribution: Resells Wesco motorcycle boots as authorized dealer since 1983

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Langlitz Leathers manufactures and sells custom-built, hand-crafted leather garments and accessories for motorcyclists from its Portland, Oregon workshop. Each jacket, vest, and pair of pants is made to the customer's individual measurements by a single cutter and a single seamstress using premium US-sourced cowhide and goatskin, brass hardware, and traditional lock-stitched construction. The company complements its made-to-order garments with leather accessories (wallets, belts, bags, gloves), Wesco-branded motorcycle boots, and a small catalog of apparel and care products, all 100% American-made since 1947.

Product overview

Langlitz Leathers is a family-owned custom leather goods manufacturer established in 1947 in Portland, Oregon, producing hand-built leather garments and accessories primarily for motorcyclists. The core product portfolio centers on custom-fitted motorcycle jackets (Columbia, Cascade, Crescent, Flight Jacket, K9, Sidewinder, Timberline, Racing Timberline) and riding pants (Westerns, Competition Breeches, Rangers), all built to customer measurements. The accessory lineup includes leather wallets, bags (tool rolls, travel bags, handlebar bags, shoulder bags), belts and buckles, gloves, and Boots (Wesco), along with headwear (Brando Caps, Wool Caps, Hats/Beanies), apparel (Shirts, Hoodies, Dehen Sweaters), and care products (Leather Dressing, Zipper Wax). Products are manufactured entirely in the USA using premium cowhide and goatskin from U.S. tanneries, with select accessories sourced from partner manufacturers including Wesco (boots), Churchill Glove Company (gloves), and Dehen (wool caps and sweaters). All garments feature brass hardware, lock-stitched seams, and come with a satisfaction guarantee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Columbia Jacket Original Langlitz jacket model first built by Ross Langlitz in 1945; adjustable stiffening band around the base, offset front zipper for temperature control, semi bi-swing back, Cossack collar, hand warmer pockets, and internal map pocket; custom-built to customer measurements.
• Cascade Jacket Sport-rider jacket with simple, elegant design that functions on motorcycles and doubles as casual wear; Cossack collar, offset zipper with bottom snap, hand warmer and map pockets; custom-built to customer measurements.
• Crescent Jacket Dressier motorcycle jacket with straight front zipper and windflap, full bi-swing back, square cut bottom; typically longer than Columbia and Cascade; hand warmer and internal map pockets; custom-built to customer measurements.
• Flight Jacket Military aviation-style jacket with straight front zipper, three-quarter length windflap, dress collar, open hand warmer pockets, internal map pocket; customizable with epaulets, cargo pockets, and Ike Back.
• K9 Jacket Unlined goatskin shirt jacket named after the chenille patch from the original 1950s design; lightweight yet tough, designed for hot summer riding; Cossack collar, chest pockets with snaps, zippered sleeves.
• Sidewinder Jacket Shirt-fit jacket based on the Timberline with straight front zipper, western yokes front and back, elbow and shoulder pads; horizontal chest pockets, biceps and forearm pockets, laced side gussets.
• Timberline Leather Pullover Leather pullover shirt for hot days or layering under jackets; zippered cuffs, laced neck for western look, long side zippers, standard yoke back.
• Racing Timberline Jacket

Quantifiable outcome

• Jackets documented to survive serious motorcycle crashes with minimal damage to rider
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wesco (West Coast Shoe Company)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1983Langlitz has been a Wesco boot dealer since 1983. Wesco builds Langlitz-branded 12" hi Boss motorcycle boots with 100F sole (heat-resistant and flexible in cold). Wesco is located approximately 30 miles from Portland, Oregon. Langlitz blog documented celebrating Wesco's 100th anniversary in 2018/2019.
• DehenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLanglitz carries Dehen wool caps (made in Portland, Oregon) with Langlitz label on one side and Dehen's on the other. Also carries Dehen sweater collection.
• Churchill Glove CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLanglitz offers gloves produced by Churchill Glove Company (Centralia, Washington). Like Langlitz, Churchill is family-owned and has been building gloves for over a century. Langlitz-specific styles use all exterior seams for comfort.
• Snowshoe LaboratoriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLanglitz Leather Dressing is made by Snowshoe Laboratories in Portland, Oregon. Product is combination of oils, waxes, and silicone for leather care.
• BeckelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortland-based canvas company partner; Langlitz works with Beckel for canvas products they cannot feasibly produce in-house.
• A.E. NelsonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeather goods producer in Scio, Oregon that Langlitz partners with for certain products.
• Scio, Oregon Belt-MakerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal craftsman in Scio, Oregon who builds Langlitz's rugged handlebar bags using heavy 11 oz cowhide.
• Upswept CreativeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal Portland web design company that Langlitz worked with to create their updated website and blog launched in November 2018.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Dehen (Dehen 1920): Dehen 1920 is a Portland-based heritage knitwear and wool cap maker that partners with Langlitz; comparable as a fellow small US heritage apparel craftspouse serving an overlapping moto/heritage enthusiast customer base.
• Wesco Boots: Wesco is a 100-year-old Oregon-made motorcycle boot maker and Langlitz's strategic partner since 1983, building Langlitz-branded Hi Boss boots; a comparable US-made heritage moto-accessory maker rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Belstaff: Belstaff is a UK-founded heritage brand producing a broad portfolio of waxed cotton and leather motorcycle apparel across price points — overlapping with Langlitz on premium leather riding gear but serving a wider lifestyle audience.
• Dainese: Dainese is a leading Italian maker of motorcycle protective apparel including leather suits and jackets, an established incumbent in the same riding protection category where Langlitz competes at the ultra-premium custom end.
• Alpinestars: Alpinestars is a global incumbent in motorcycle apparel and protective gear, offering textile and leather riding jackets and racing suits across price tiers; competes for the same motorcycle protection buyer as Langlitz but at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Vanson Leathers: Vanson Leathers is a US maker of custom and stock heavy-duty motorcycle leather jackets and racing suits based in Massachusetts, directly competing with Langlitz in the made-to-measure American-made motorcycle leather niche.
• Schott NYC: Schott NYC invented the zippered motorcycle jacket (Perfecto) in 1928 and continues to produce heavyweight leather motorcycle jackets in the US with a comparable heritage story and customer base to Langlitz.
• Lewis Leathers: Lewis Leathers is a UK heritage motorcycle leather maker founded in 1892, producing custom and stock leather jackets with a similar one-piece-at-a-time craft ethos and global enthusiast following as Langlitz.
• Aero Leather: Aero Leather is a Scottish made-to-measure leather jacket maker with deep heritage in motorcycle and workwear styles, offering comparable custom-fit heritage leather garments globally.

Emerging players

• Roland Sands Design: Roland Sands Design produces American-made moto-inspired leather and lifestyle apparel with a modern aesthetic, partially overlapping with Langlitz on the heritage leather riding jacket buyer but targeting a younger café-racer/custom-bike demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LanglitzLeathrs
• Facebookfacebook.com/LanglitzLeathers
• Instagraminstagram.com/langlitzleathers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Langlitz Leathers