A true relic of French industrial heritage, this 1940s leather workwear jacket embodies the endurance and craftsmanship of post-war France — a period defined by resilience, resourcefulness, and the pursuit of rebuilding through skill. Cut from heavy vegetable-tanned hide, it represents a generation of garments built for purpose, not prestige. These jackets were trusted by engineers, tradesmen, and workshop labourers, with some even privately acquired by military personnel during the post-Occupation years.
The hide has developed a magnificent storied patina, shifting between olive, brown, and charcoal hues — a complex surface born from decades of wear, handling, and exposure. Every mark tells a chapter of its life, from workshop grit to road dust, creating a finish that modern leather could never replicate. Inside, the jacket is wool-lined in a plaid check with cotton-lined striped sleeves, a distinctly French detail of the era that blends durability with understated refinement. It fastens with its original Spidex ring-pull zipper — a hallmark of French post-war manufacture and a rare survivor in itself.
Time has left its honest signature: subtle hand-stitched repairs to the inner hem and sleeve linings, all completed many years ago with care to preserve integrity rather than erase history. One pocket zip features a period replacement puller, and while all original buttons remain intact, one has been replaced with a near-perfect match. The leather bears natural creasing, light chapping, and depth of tone that enhance, rather than detract from, its beauty — every inch of this jacket wears its history proudly.
Professionally leather-cleaned and conditioned in-house, it has undergone Revive & Restore’s specialist treatment — removing decades of soiling and dormant bacteria without disturbing the jacket’s surface finish. Conditioned with our in-house formulas for period leathers, the hide now displays renewed suppleness, integrity, and a deep natural sheen, all while retaining its original authenticity and depth of character.
This is a formidable piece — substantial, unapologetically rugged, and full of life. Whether displayed as a centrepiece of a collection, worn on rare occasions, or appreciated as a study in craftsmanship, it stands as an evocative testament to mid-century French design and industrial artistry.
Key Identifying Features
- 1940s French leather workwear jacket
- Heavy vegetable-tanned hide with deep, aged patina
- Original Spidex ring-pull metal zipper
- Wool plaid check lining with cotton-lined striped sleeves
- Hand-stitched vintage repairs to inner lining hem and sleeves
- All original buttons except one near-matching period replacement
- Pocket zip with period replacement puller
- Adjustable cuff straps and rear buttoned waist tabs
- Professionally cleaned and conditioned in-house
- Displays authentic surface chapping and age-appropriate wear throughout
Garment Measurements (Laid Flat)
- Chest (armpit to armpit): 24"
- Shoulders (seam to seam): 19.5"
- Sleeve length (shoulder to cuff): 26"
- Sleeve length ( underarm seam to cuff): 17"
- Back length (collar seam to hem): 29.5"
This jacket would best suit a 44 regular chest size, large frame.
A rare survivor from 1940s France — restored with precision, marked by time, and radiating the kind of authenticity that only true age can bestow. A powerful piece of European workwear history, brought back to life by Revive & Restore Vintage.
