Aviator & Flight Jackets

Flight jackets were engineered, not styled — designed to keep aircrew warm in unheated cockpits, which is why their details all mean something: the shearling collar that seals the neck, the ribbed cuffs that stop drafts, the patch pockets sized for gloves and maps. Our aviator and flight collection is small and serious: the Aviator Shearling Jacket, cut from real sheepskin with the wool fleece left on the pelt, and the Classic Flight Bomber, a genuine leather A-2 pattern with a clean, insignia-free finish for modern wear.

The two jackets solve different problems. The shearling aviator is a winter instrument — the fleece traps air against the body, the hide blocks wind, and the buckled collar closes the last gap. It is genuinely warm enough for a Canadian January with little more than a shirt beneath. The flight bomber is the all-season heritage piece: cowhide, ribbed trims, a smooth drape and enough room for a sweater, suited to fall through spring and to any outfit that benefits from a structured shoulder and a story. Many customers end up owning both, one for weather and one for everything else.

A word on authenticity: the market is full of flight jackets buried in replica patches, printed insignia and distressed-to-death finishes. Ours carry none of that. The patterns are faithful — the A-2's one-piece back, the aviator's buckle straps — but the jackets are made to be worn in this century, not to impersonate a museum piece. The leather is new, the construction modern, and the ageing will be your own. That is also why these jackets hold up as smart-casual: remove the costume and the silhouette is simply excellent tailoring in leather.

Prices reflect the materials honestly: $459 for the real shearling aviator — shearling is a whole pelt per panel and priced accordingly across the market — and $289 for the leather flight bomber, in USD with approximate CAD available, sizes XS–XXL. Read the fit notes before ordering; both jackets allow room for knitwear by design, and the shearling's fleece compresses slightly with wear for a personal fit.

Buying shearling and flight jackets: a short checklist. With shearling, examine three things. The fleece: it should be dense and even, springing back when pressed — thin or patchy fleece insulates patchily too. The hide side: it should be suede-soft or smooth without cracks at the folds, because the hide is the coat's weather shell. The weight in hand: real shearling is reassuringly heavy, and a suspiciously light 'shearling' jacket is usually fleece bonded to synthetic. With the A-2 flight pattern, check instead for the one-piece back (cheaper versions add a centre seam that spoils the drape), snap-flap pockets that actually close, and ribbing with real elasticity. Both jackets in this collection pass their own checklists, and their specifications state pelt and hide plainly. If your winters are mild, save the shearling money and buy the flight bomber plus knitwear — the honest recommendation this page exists to make.

One last practical note: flight patterns carry their pockets where gloved hands could find them, which in modern life means phones, cards and keys land exactly where you expect. It is a small thing, repeated daily — like everything about these jackets, the design was thought through by people who could not afford to get it wrong.