Do Leather Jackets Shrink?

Many people have asked the question do leather jackets shrink? Do they shrink due to wear and tear? Or are their sizes fixed from the beginning?

In this article, we will explore all these questions. We will present the major factor that affects shrinkage, the moisture on shrinkage, and ways to tell when a leather jacket has shrunk.

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What Causes Leather Jackets To Shrink

The method used to dry a wet leather jacket affects the shrinkage amount. Leather jackets can handle the rain because the surface is usually water repellant. And minimal shrinkage occurs when drying a damp leather jacket at room temperature.

The shrinkage occurs after using a high heat source such as the sun or a dryer to dry the leather. The high heat causes more of the natural moisture to evaporate from the surface. The evaporation occurs at a much higher rate, and the jacket ends up stiff and shrunken.

Will a Leather Jacket Shrink When It’s Wet?

Leather jackets rarely shrink after becoming wet. But, rain tends to make the grain pop more and produces more creasing in the joint areas. The creasing causes the leather to bunch up in some areas. Bunching produces a feeling of shrinkage, but removing creases is easy. Apply a little moisture to the bunched area and wear the jacket.

But let’s think about it for a minute. Leather bomber jackets such as the A-2, G-1, and B-3 were designed to withstand the harsh climate conditions of World War II.

Pilots and aircrew needed jackets to handle the high wind velocity on board a plane. The pilots also had to deal with the rain or snow while they were in flight. The bomber jackets had a protective water-repellent finish. Moisture from precipitation beaded up and bounced off the surface of the jacket.

Leather jackets designed for motorcyclists experience similar effects. Manufacturers apply waterproofing to the outer surface of a leather jacket to prevent shrinking. They do this because if it stays in moist conditions, it shrinks.

What Is the Best Way to Shrink a Leather Jacket?

There are so many methods that describe how to shrink a leather jacket. And these methods should only be used for minor shrinkage. But the best way to get an even shrinkage is to get the leather jacket wet and wear it while it dries. I have included my preferred way of shrinking a jacket below.

Take accurate measurements before beginning to monitor the shrinkage.

Measure back length, shoulder, and sleeves.

Zip up the leather jacket and spray it with warm water
The leather jacket should feel soaked on the outside. But it should not be enough to penetrate to the inside of the leather jacket.
Put the jacket in a pillow cover.
Place in a dryer on the lowest air setting and check it every 10 minutes. If you don’t have a dyer, let it air dry for 10 – 20 minutes.
Remove the leather jacket when it is slightly heavier than when it was wet.
It should not be wet to the touch but should still feel a little supple.
Put on the leather jacket and walk around with to allow it to air dry
After it feels completely dry, take some measurements of the back length, shoulder, and sleeves.

Does Shrinking a Leather Jacket Ruin It?

Washing a jacket to shrink it is risky. A leather hide is divided into different sections. Each section reacts differently to water. Leather jackets made from parts of the hide that dry at a similar rate shrink evenly.

But a leather jacket made from parts of the hide with different drying rates shrinks unevenly.

The shrinking rate of the leather is usually different from the shrinking rate of the lining. The different shrinking rates result in unpredictable shrinkage. The shrinkage is more obvious in jackets with wool lining. Wool shrinks significantly more than the leather material).

Additionally, different types of leather shrink at varying rates. For instance, horsehide rinks naturally when worn in wet weather. Lamb shrinks and stretches the most, while calf leather does not shrink much at all.

3 Ways To Tell If a Leather Jacket Has Shrunk?

Most people will say that the jacket will feel tighter, but this is not a good indicator. I have a few keys to look for, suggesting that a leather jacket has experienced a size reduction.

Wrinkled Zippers

An effective shrinking process causes a size change in the leather. But it does not affect the size of the zipper. A leather jacket with a wavy zipper is a sign of shrinkage.

Bunched-Up Lining

There may be some issues with the lining. The lining shrinks at a slower rate than the leather. Bunched-up areas of the lining material is a good indicator that the leather has shrunken.

Uneven Sides or Sleeves

When the leather jacket was first constructed the sides were the same on both sides. If you notice that one side of the torso is longer than the other, then this is a good sign that the jacket has shrunk. I tend to look at the bottom of the jacket when it is put on. It’s easy to tell if the bottom of one side is higher than the other side. You may also see uneven sleeve lengths.

Warped Pieces and Color Changes

The lapels also look pretty warped. Typically leather stiffens during shrinkage. The grain may become more pronounced or crinkled, and edges may curl. The color of the leather may change and become splotchy looking.