Since I became a father eight years ago my focus and perspective on life has massively changed. Even though the age gap between myself and son is substantial (42-years) we are very close. In fact, he takes a massive interest in my profession and really is interested in design in general. Ultimately this is why we work on concepts together and have developed a watch label in his name (Paolo Mathai Horology).
Over the years I have collected leather jackets and now have a pretty diverse collection. That is why I thought it would be cool to design a unique 1/1 bespoke creation. My concept was a fitted purple leather blazer with contrasting pink quilted detailing. However, to avoid the garment being to outrageously garish I had to strike the perfect balance. It was also crucial finding a quality craftsman to manufacture the piece to my exact specifications. Fortunately, I discovered a connected with John Presser who owns a successful Melbourne based company called Leather Cargo.
John Presser originates from Kraków, in southern Poland where his family ran a successful tannery. Over the years John has been involved in many interesting professions including a stint as a dairy farmer in Pondicherry, South India. However, since 1976 he has operated a successful personalised leather goods business in Melbourne. This company specialises in the production of vibrant coloured backpacks, briefcases, satchels, handbags etc. That is why they seemed the natural choice to produce a custom made jacket to my exact requirements.
Over the years John Presser has created many unique pieces for fashion students and therefore is used to unconventional designs. Once I had had submitted a detailed sketch the next stage was to ship over a well fitting jacket to use as a template. As I am based in Adelaide this was probably the easiest and quickest way to expedite the process. However, it is pertinent to mention that Leather Cargo also offer a full tailored service and invite customers to visit their store.
Literally within two weeks a phenomenal slim fitting bespoke jacket arrived in the post and I was astonished by the results. The two tone (purple/pink) New Zealand Nappa Leather is butter soft and the attention to detail is first rate. Certainly I hope to collaborate with John on many more bespoke designs and would highly recommend Leather Cargo to anyone.
For more information about Leather Cargo follow this link
