Aero Leather Clothing
Aero Leather Clothing is a privately held Scottish manufacturer, founded in 1981, that hand-crafts premium leather jackets and contract-accurate WW2-era military flight jacket reproductions, selling direct-to-consumer worldwide through its own e-commerce site and a Galashiels showroom.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersScottish Borders, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aero Leather Clothing does
Aero Leather Clothing Ltd is a privately held Scottish manufacturer of hand-crafted leather jackets and curated vintage-style clothing, founded in 1981 and headquartered at Greenbank Mill in Galashiels, Scottish Borders. The company's core business is the in-house hand production of premium leather jackets using traditional working methods and high-grade materials including Chromexcel front quarter horsehide (sourced from Horween Leather in Chicago), vegetable-tanned full grain Italian horsehide, vegetable-tanned goatskin, and steerhide. Its product portfolio centers on the flagship Highwayman jacket (in continuous production for over 40 years) alongside an extensive line of contract-accurate WW2-era flight jacket reproductions for the USAAF (Types A-1, A-2, B-3, B-6, B-7, D-1, C-3), RAF (Pre War, Battle of Britain, Late WW2, Coastal Command), and US Navy (M422A, AN-J-3), with period-accurate hardware including WW2-era Talon zippers.
Aero operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model via aeroleatherclothing.com with both made-to-order (6-8 week production) and ready-to-wear stock offerings, plus a by-appointment showroom in Galashiels. Pricing ranges from £12 for accessories to over £1,500 for premium made-to-order jackets, with UK and Rest of World pricing tiers. The company also retails curated third-party heritage brands (Pike Brothers, Levi's Vintage Clothing, Goodwear, Lee) and ancillary products such as Scottish knitwear, Harris Tweed, Lochcarron tartan accessories, and Northampton-made boots, broadening the basket beyond its own leather goods. Lower-priced entry points are provided through the Blue Label and Apprentice sub-brands, while the CC41 sub-brand covers British-made vintage-pattern clothing.
The company serves a single horizontal customer segment of vintage and heritage fashion enthusiasts, military history collectors, and consumers seeking durable, authentically reproduced leather outerwear at accessible price points relative to original vintage pieces. All Aero and CC41 labeled items are made in the UK, primarily at the Galashiels facility. Aero holds no external investment, has no subsidiaries, parent company, or disclosed leadership team, and is independently owned and operated with 11-50 employees.
Aero Leather Clothing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aero Leather Clothing
- Legal name
- Aero Leather Clothing Ltd
- Website
- https://aeroleatherclothing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aero Leather Clothing is a privately held Scottish manufacturer, founded in 1981, that hand-crafts premium leather jackets and contract-accurate WW2-era military flight jacket reproductions, selling direct-to-consumer worldwide through its own e-commerce site and a Galashiels showroom.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aero Leather Clothing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hand-crafted Leather Outerwear
- NAICS
- Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (3169), Luggage and Leather Goods Retailers (458320), Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316990)
- SIC
- Leather & Leather Products (3100), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Riding Jackets, Pants & Suits Retail (Leather/Textile) (CRAMANAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Small Leather Accessories Manufacturing (Belts/Straps/Watch Bands) (IMAOAFAG), Belts & Suspenders (CRAAAJAD)
Keywords
Where Aero Leather Clothing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Scottish Borders
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aero Leather Clothing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Leather Jacket Sales: Primary revenue from sale of hand-crafted leather jackets, both made-to-order and ready-to-wear. Custom jackets are priced from £570 to over £1,500, with standard production time of 6-8 weeks.
- Clothing and Accessories: Secondary revenue from vintage-style clothing including knitwear, denim, trousers, footwear, and accessories. Products sourced from curated partners like Pike Brothers, Levi's Vintage Clothing, and Goodwear, as well as own-brand accessories.
- Curated Third-Party Products: Revenue from curated collection of vintage-style clothing from respected names like Pike Brothers, Levi's Vintage Clothing and Goodwear, offered alongside their own products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | USAAF/USN Flight Jackets |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | British Armed Forces Jackets |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Ready-to-Wear Stock Jackets |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Waistcoats and Vests |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Knitwear |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Footwear |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | T-Shirts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Denim |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Clearance/Discounted Items |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Aero Leather Clothing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aero Leather Clothing hand-crafts premium leather jackets and vintage-style clothing at its Galashiels, Scotland facility. The core offering is made-to-order and ready-to-wear leather jackets using high-grade leathers (Chromexcel horsehide, vegetable-tanned Italian horsehide, goatskin, steerhide) with period-accurate WW2 military flight jacket reproductions (USAAF, RAF, USN) as a signature line. Complementary categories include knitwear, denim, footwear, and leather accessories, with production lead times of 6-8 weeks for custom orders.
Product overview
Aero Leather Clothing is a Scottish manufacturer of hand-crafted leather jackets and vintage-style clothing, established in 1981. The company operates as a single unified brand offering custom made-to-order leather jackets alongside a curated collection of vintage-style clothing and accessories. The core product line centers on hand-crafted leather jackets including the flagship Highwayman, Cafe Racer, and 1930s Half Belt styles, all made from high-grade leathers such as Chromexcel front quarter horsehide, vegetable-tanned Italian horsehide, goatskin, and steerhide. The company also specializes in unequalled military recreations including USAAF (Type A-1, A-2, B-3, B-6, B-7, D-1, C-3), RAF (Coastal Command, Pre War, Battle of Britain, Late WW2), and USN (Type M422A) flight jackets. Complementary product lines include Scottish-knitwear (RAF Comforts Sweaters, RN Submariners, Best of British Breeds), curated denim (Levi's Vintage Clothing, Lee 101), classic footwear (1920s Town Boots, Border Patrol Motorcycle Boots), and leather accessories (belts, wallets, coat hangers). All Aero and CC41 labeled items are made in the UK, with many products featuring British materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CC41: A range of British-made clothing featuring classic designs from the early 20th century, including flannel shirts and corduroy trousers.
- Blue Label
- Apprentice
Products and services
- Highwayman Leather Jacket (Made-to-Order) The company's flagship 1930s-style leather jacket, in continuous production for 40+ years, available in Chromexcel front quarter horsehide and other premium leathers. Made-to-order with custom measurements.
- Leather Jackets (Made-to-Order Range) Hand-crafted made-to-order leather jackets including Highwayman, Cafe Racer, 1930s Half Belt, and Premier 1930s Highwayman styles, made from Chromexcel horsehide, vegetable-tanned Italian horsehide, goatskin and steerhide. 6-8 week production time.
- USAAF Type A-2 Flight Jacket Faithful reproduction of the iconic US Army Air Forces Type A-2 flight jacket in multiple contract specifications (£1,080-£1,170).
- USAAF Type B-3 Sheepskin Jacket Heavy-duty shearling flight jacket for USAAF pilots with 3/4 inch shearling and horsehide trim, available in multiple contract specifications including Arctic Issue (£1,320).
- USAAF Type B-7 Extreme Weather Parka Mid-thigh length sheepskin jacket for flight crews in extreme cold, with hood, cargo pockets, toggle buttons and storm cuffs (£1,500).
- USAAF Type D-1 Lightweight Sheepskin Jacket Simple lightweight sheepskin jacket for USAAF ground crew personnel with 1/2 inch shearling, replica WW2 Talon zipper and horsehide trim (£1,140).
- USAAF Type B-6 Lightweight Bomber Jacket Lighter weight sheepskin bomber jacket introduced in 1939 with bi-swing back, adjustable cuffs, epaulettes and zip waist adjustment (£1,260).
- RAF Flight Jackets (British Armed Forces) Faithful reproductions of RAF Irvin flight jackets worn during WW2, including Pre War, Battle of Britain, Coastal Command (hooded), and Late WW2 styles (£1,260-£1,290).
- USN Flight Jackets (US Navy) Recreations of US Navy WW2 flight jackets including USN Type M422A and USAAF/USN Type AN-J-3, plus Pike Brothers deck jackets and accessories.
- Shackleton Waistcoat 1920s-style fitted waistcoat inspired by Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition wear, with four pockets, football buttons, cotton ticking lining and adjustable cinch belt. Made-to-order from £570.
- Knitwear Collection Traditional Scottish hand-knitted sweaters including RAF Comforts Sweaters, 1941 RN Submariners, Paratrooper, and Best of British Breeds (Herdwick, Hebridean/St Kilda) made from British wool (£150-£210).
- Denim Collection (Curated Third-Party Brands) Curated heritage denim from Levi's Vintage Clothing (501XX, 501ZXX 1933-1955) and Lee 101, made with Cone Mills selvedge denim (£150-£390).
- Footwear Collection Classic boots handmade in Northampton, England, including 1920s Town Boots (Horween Chromexcel, Goodyear welted) and Shearling Lined Border Patrol Motorcycle Boots (£270-£360).
- Leather Accessories Range Handcrafted leather accessories including Vegetable Tanned Heavy Duty Belts, CXFQHH Wallets (Horween Chromexcel horsehide), Coat Hangers, Beeswax Leather Polish, headwear, neckwear, gloves, books and mugs.
- Ready-to-Wear Stock Jackets Pre-made leather jackets in stock for immediate dispatch, including Highwayman, 1930s Half Belt, Original Hercules, Premier 1930s Highwayman, Cafe Racer and Half Belt STF styles (£870-£1,140).
Companies that use Aero Leather Clothing
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Aero Leather Clothing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Aero Leather Clothing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Cone MillsminorDenim supplier to Levi's for over 100 years. Their White Oak Plant closed on December 31, 2017, marking the end of US-made denim for Levi's Vintage Clothing.
- Horween Leather (Chicago)corePrimary leather supplier providing Chromexcel front quarter horsehide and steerhide used in Aero's leather jackets and wallets. Based in Chicago, USA.
- Pike BrotherscoreCurated partner selling WW2-style deck jackets, military vests, and accessories through Aero's website. Products include US Type N-1 Elephant Skin Deck Jackets, 1942 C-2 Vest, and USN Watch Caps.
- GoodwearcoreAmerican manufacturer of premium heavyweight T-shirts (Made in USA), sold through Aero's website. Known for tubular knit construction and shape retention after hundreds of washes.
- Levi's Vintage ClothingcoreCurated vintage-style denim from Levi's, including 501XX and 501ZXX jeans from various years (1933-1955). Products feature Cone Mills selvedge denim and are noted as 'last of an icon' as Cone Mills closed in 2017.
- LeeminorCurated vintage-style Lee 101 jeans (Dry 14oz and 101z styles) sold through Aero's website as part of their denim collection.
- W.S. Robson of Berwick upon TweedminorSupplier of Beeswax and Carnauba Neutral Superior Quality Leather Polish (50g), exclusively sold through Aero's website for leather care.
- LochcarronminorScottish manufacturer of tartan wool scarves (including Royal Stewart pattern), sold through Aero's website and included as carry bags with vegetable-tanned belts.
- Harris TweedminorTraditional fabric used in Aero's vintage-style clothing range including trousers and caps cut from 1930s patterns.
- Pike Brothers, Levi's Vintage Clothing and GoodwearcoreCollective reference to curated third-party brands offering vintage-style clothing. Pike Brothers provides military-style outerwear and accessories; Levi's Vintage Clothing provides heritage denim; Goodwear provides premium T-shirts.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aero Leather Clothing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- RRL (Ralph Lauren): Premium heritage Americana line within Ralph Lauren producing vintage-style workwear, denim, and leather goods. Overlaps with Aero on vintage-heritage aesthetic, curated partner brands (e.g., Levi's Vintage-style denim), and serving the same high-end heritage customer, but operates as one line of a global fashion group.
- Filson: American heritage outdoor brand founded 1897 producing rugged bags, jackets, and accessories from premium leather, wool, and tin cloth. Overlaps with Aero on heritage positioning, premium leather/accessories catalog, and made-to-last craftsmanship ethos, though broader product range and US-based.
- Belstaff: Established British heritage outerwear brand producing premium waxed cotton, leather, and technical jackets for a global luxury audience. Wider portfolio than Aero's niche-leather focus, but directly comparable on heritage British identity, premium outerwear positioning, and global DTC distribution.
Direct peers
- Schott NYC: Iconic American heritage leather jacket manufacturer since 1913, originator of the Perfecto motorcycle jacket and supplier of US military A-2 and bomber flight jackets. Directly comparable on product (hand-cut leather outerwear, military reproductions, premium pricing) and on serving the same vintage/heritage enthusiast customer.
- The Real McCoy's: Japanese heritage reproduction brand producing faithful recreations of American vintage workwear, military outerwear, and sportswear using period-accurate fabrics and construction. Comparable to Aero on WW2 military outerwear focus, premium authentic materials, and enthusiast-driven customer base, though primarily Asia-focused.
- Vanson Leathers: American family-owned maker of heavyweight hand-cut leather motorcycle jackets and competition outerwear, including custom and bespoke options. Directly comparable to Aero's hand-made, customisable, premium leather jacket specialization and small-team craft manufacturing model.
- Buzz Rickson's: Japanese heritage manufacturer specialised in faithful WW2-era military garment reproductions including A-2 and B-3 flight jackets. Direct overlap with Aero's USAAF/RAF/USN reproduction line, period-accurate spec materials, and handmade premium positioning, though serving primarily Asian and global collector markets.
- Lewis Leathers: Long-established British heritage leather jacket maker founded in 1892, producing classic motorcycle and fashion leather jackets from UK workshops. Directly comparable to Aero on geography (UK), customer base (vintage/heritage enthusiasts), and product (premium leather jackets including military-inspired styles).
- Himel Bros: Canadian-made heritage leather jacket manufacturer producing authentic mid-century and aviator-inspired leather jackets from premium hides including horsehide and steerhide. Closely comparable to Aero's hand-crafted, period-accurate leather jacket specialization and small-batch DTC model.
- Falcon Garments: French premium leather outerwear maker producing vintage-inspired jackets (USN-M422, A-2 style flight jackets) from small workshops. Comparable to Aero on hand-crafted leather jacket specialty, WW2-era heritage patterns, and small-batch made-to-order operation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aero Leather Clothing social profiles
Digital presenceAero Leather Clothing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aero Leather Clothing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Aero Leather Clothing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aero Leather Clothing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aero Leather Clothing
What does Aero Leather Clothing do?
Aero Leather Clothing hand-crafts premium leather jackets and vintage-style clothing at its Galashiels, Scotland facility. The core offering is made-to-order and ready-to-wear leather jackets using high-grade leathers (Chromexcel horsehide, vegetable-tanned Italian horsehide, goatskin, steerhide) with period-accurate WW2 military flight jacket reproductions (USAAF, RAF, USN) as a signature line. Complementary categories include knitwear, denim, footwear, and leather accessories, with production lead times of 6-8 weeks for custom orders.
Is Aero Leather Clothing a public or private company?
Aero Leather Clothing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Aero Leather Clothing founded?
Aero Leather Clothing was founded in 1981. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aero Leather Clothing based?
Aero Leather Clothing is headquartered in Scottish Borders, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Aero Leather Clothing make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Leather Jacket Sales are the primary driver. The others are clothing and Accessories and curated Third-Party Products.
Who are Aero Leather Clothing's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are RRL (Ralph Lauren), Filson and Belstaff. Direct peers are Schott NYC, The Real McCoy's, Vanson Leathers, Buzz Rickson's, Lewis Leathers, Himel Bros and Falcon Garments.
Does Aero Leather Clothing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aero Leather Clothing.
What industry is Aero Leather Clothing in?
Aero Leather Clothing's product category is Hand-crafted Leather Outerwear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMANAF, Riding Jackets, Pants & Suits Retail (Leather/Textile), with a secondary code of IMAOAFAG, Small Leather Accessories Manufacturing (Belts/Straps/Watch Bands). Its NAICS code is 3169 and its SIC code is 3100.