As mentioned in previous articles I have always had a penchant for leather jackets. Something about the texture, quality and overall aesthetic massively appeals to me. Ultimately that is why I have no amassed quite an impressive collection of exclusive brands like Armani, Dsquared 2, Dolce & Gabanna, Julius 7, Vivienne Westwood etc. In fact, some of these jackets are very unusual and exceedingly rare. As a designer, this prompted me to design my own unique blazers and potentially launch my own brand later in the year.
Recently I discovered an exclusive brand called KA/NOA that specializes in producing finely crafted clothes for the discerning gentleman. Not surprisingly the powerhouse behind the operation is a veteran of the luxury goods industry. The person I am referring to is Bruno Grande who was at the helm of prestigious watch labels like Jean Richard, Girard Perregaux and later on management board of parent company Sowind. That is why it is no surprise that he has effortlessly been able to transition into a completely different sector of the market. However, this isn’t just a strategic career move for Bruno because KA/NOA has a deep family history born in the picturesque region of Piedmont, Italy.
Bruno Grande’s father Pietro’s profession as a tailor, upholsterer, and decorator was the inspiration for the brand. Essentially he wanted to honor his father’s legacy whilst adding his own contemporary twist. Within the collection, there is a range of premium quality garments on offer ranging from shoes, shirts, knitwear and classically styled leather/suede jackets. My personal favorite is the Leon Leather Bomber Jacket because of the minimalistic silhouette. Generously Bruno agreed to ship one over for me to inspect the level of craftsmanship and quality.
Once I received the Leon Leather Bomber Jacket I could appreciate the level of effort that went into producing this garment. The butter soft Ovis Aries lambskin is some of the finest I have ever seen. A picture simply can’t possibly convey the way it fits around your body like a second skin. Details like the brushed steel zips, jersey ribbing really set this apart from other mass-produced jackets on the market. It is also waterproof, windproof, breathable and therefore highly practical for everyday usage.
From speaking to Bruno it is highly evident he has no intention of becoming just another generic brand. Fundamentally he has adopted the same no compromising approach he used so effectively in the watch industry. That is why in my opinion the certified 100% Italian Handcrafted Leon Leather Bomber Jacket really is about as good as it gets.
Certainly, the 1,998.00 CHF (approximately $2,086) isn’t within the realms of everyone’s budget. However, in this scenario, you truly do get what you pay for. For more information about KA/NOA follow this link
Photographer: David Carlier, www.davidcarlierphotography.com
