Actually there are two Vanson Leathers factories, both owned and operated by Vanson. One is currently in Fall River Massachusetts where we have worked for more than 25 years. The other is in San Salvador El Salvador and has been open since October 2008. We make items in both locations depending on the resources of available labor hours and raw materials. We use the same materials, stitching, assembly and quality inspection protocol in each location.

 

Yes you can, and we will accommodate that request as best we can. To specifiy the garment being made in Fall River may extend the production cycle as there are fewer stitchers in that facility than in El Salvador, or a delay may occur due to arranging the transportation of appropriate pattern and/or materials from one location to the other. However there are some items that we only make in the US as well as some items we only make in ES due to specialized processes and equipment.

 

There are 2 main factors that contribute to the long delivery issues that we have faced for the past couple of years.
1. Raw materials supply. Like other manufacturing segments our supplier base has contracted. Many of the suppliers are smaller and do not have available stock at hand and we have to wait for their production cycle to occur. Several of our suppliers have gone out of business and we have had to source new ones, or change the specification of what we use.
2. Labor hours and hand made quality. We make our items in the same meticulous way we have for 35 years. We have improved efficiency with some technologies, but nothing takes the place of hand cutting and individual sewing machine operators. We typically sell more items each week than we make, we continuously run a backlog.

Yes we have a pricelist and this can be faxed, mailed or emailed to you. No we no longer print a full catalog. We rely on our website. The 225 page catalog we printed in 2000 is available as a pdf at:

No we do not make boots, or saddlebags nor do we sell helmets.

 

Our dealers have their own criteria for selection based on their climate, customer demographic and other fiscal constraints. In the past few years the later element has become the significant deciding factor. Some dealers do not stock but will special order a requested item. We make a lot of items, it can be a challenge for a dealer to anticipate the items you are expecting to see. Our own delivery issues can be a factor for stocking dealers as well.

 

The Firenze (fuh-ren-zee) leather is cowhide that is approximately 1.mm thick. It has been tumbled to increase the softness and texture. It is very durable and strong and is more typical of the weight and feel of other industry standard leather.
Our competition weight black cowhide is 1.4-1.5 mm thick and produced with a proprietary process that results in a smoother, stiffer appearance. This product is very carefully crafted and requires several steps to produce. It is extremely strong and gives our products that characteristic look and longevity that Vanson is known for.

 

Leather should be air dried at room temperature. Do not force the drying time with heat, this will shrink and stiffen the leather. A good shower is an opportunity to condition the leather with our leather balm.

 

Mix a solution of diluted mild dish or laundry soap. Wipe your garment down with a soft cloth, don't be afraid to use the secret weapon of elbow grease. If you have a lot of bug juice and road grime you will need to loosen it by rubbing the surface. Do NOT scrub. Then wipe off the soap residue with a clean wet cloth using water only. The final step should be a light coat of Vanson leather balm while the garment is still damp.
A couple thin layers of balm is better than one heavy layer. Too much leather balm can leave the surface sticky with excess wax. A couple of cleanings a year is sufficient to preserve and protect the leather.

 

Wear it. Roll it up and use it as a pillow when you watch TV. Unroll it and roll it the other way. Work it with your hands. Wear it more….

 

Our computer system requires a number and letter specification.
4L is a large.
1XS = XS
2S = S
3M = M
4L = L
5XL = XL
6XXL = XXL
7XXX = XXXL
84XX = XXXXL

 

Yes, our webstore order screen has some limitations. Behind the scenes we are building a new site. However in the interim you should put any information you cannot fit in the fields provided in the special instructions area.

We ship to many countries outside of the USA. However these orders are subject to all applicable duties, taxes and international freight charges as well as currency differences, and must be prepaid in full. We will contact you with this information before we process your order.

No, we will not work on any other manufacturers garments. We will not be able to match materials, or construction methods.

 

No

 

All of these variables come together to help our pattern department construct a complete mathematical snapshot of you. Weight can be an indicator of shape, as can age. We compare your set of measurements to a large database collected over the years.
While you may actually be the same height and weight as you were at 18 you are most probably not the same shape. When comparing you to this database we will want the pull the correct age category. We would no more compare an 18 year old to a 58 year old as we would the opposite.