WWII RAF Irvin Flying Jacket Restoration — Before & After

WWII RAF Irvin Flying Jacket Restoration — Before & After

Some jackets come to us broken, fragile, and forgotten. Others arrive carrying something more.

This original WWII RAF Irvin flying jacket was one of the most memorable pieces we've worked on—not just for the condition it arrived in, but for the story stitched into its seams.

Heavily worn and weather-beaten, the jacket bore all the hallmarks of decades in storage: salt bloom across the arm, rigid shearling, cracked panels, and frozen zippers. But behind the surface damage was something rare—a piece of kit that had truly been there.

According to its provenance, the original pilot was shot down over a field during the war. He survived the crash, sustaining burns and a broken back, and lived on to walk again—though with a limp that never left him. We thought of him constantly during the restoration. His endurance. His legacy. And the sheer weight of what this jacket had seen.

Restoration Details

This wasn’t about polishing it up. It was about bringing it back—carefully, respectfully, and without erasing the years.

  • Specialist Cleaning
    We began with a deep clean using our own controlled process—removing embedded mould, bacteria, and decades of soil while preserving the delicate structure of the hide and fleece.

  • Stitching & Repairs
    The seams were resecured by hand, guided by the original thread lines to retain authenticity. The hem and stress points were stabilised without modern overcorrection.

  • Zipper Revival
    The original sleeve and body zips were restored rather than replaced—cleaned, freed, and brought back to smooth function without stripping away their patina.

  • Sheepskin Reconditioning
    We treated the jacket with our own custom-blended conditioner developed specifically for historic sheepskin—restoring suppleness without darkening or glossing the surface.

The Jacket Lives On

Once restored, the jacket returned to life. The grain relaxed. The russet tone resurfaced. The fleece softened. And every crease, every mark, every sign of age remained right where it should.

We offered it for sale to the right buyer—someone who would understand its past and preserve it going forward. It didn’t stay long. Collectors know when a piece like this appears, it’s a fleeting opportunity.

Why It Matters

We restore jackets like this not for perfection—but for presence.

This wasn’t just a garment. It was survival gear. A shield against frost and flame. A companion through war and sky. And now, thanks to careful work and preservation, it’s part of someone else’s archive. Alive again.

Because in our world, history isn’t something you study. It’s something you wear.

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