Vintage Schott NYC 126 Leather & Goose Down Jacket, Convertible Vest, Made in USA

Made in the USA by Schott of New York, most likely in the [1980s or 90s], this is the Schott 126, a jacket that pairs a tan leather front with a body of green nylon filled with goose down. The sleeves zip off, so it can be worn as a full jacket or as a leather-fronted down vest. It carries the "Down by Schott N.Y.C., The Finest Insulation" label, with a Made in USA flag tag marked size 44.

Schott is one of the great names in American outerwear. The brothers Irving and Jack Schott started the company in 1913 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and in 1928 Irving designed the Perfecto, the motorcycle jacket that became famous through The Wild One and the Ramones. During the Second World War Schott made pea coats for the US Navy, and the company is still owned by the Schott family and still makes much of its clothing in America.

This jacket takes its shape from the American West. Down jackets with leather yokes were made famous by Rocky Mountain Featherbed of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, from the 1960s onwards, and were worn by skiers and ranchers who needed warmth with something tougher across the shoulders. Schott's version puts leather across the whole front as well as the back.

The leather is the heart of this piece. It's a warm tan with a soft, even sheen, and it has started to take on the gentle creasing and colour of real wear around the front edges and pockets. The front closes with five copper snaps, each stamped Schott, over a full-length zip. There are two welted hand pockets, with "Schott" embroidered in green script beneath the left one. Across the back, a pointed Western yoke in the same leather sits over quilted down panels.

The fill is 60/40 goose down and feather, full and lofty throughout. A tall stand collar closes with two more Schott snaps, and the sleeves are finished with elastic cuffs. They zip away at the shoulder in a moment, turning the jacket into a vest. Inside the pocket, the original Schott factory production ticket is still in place.

An American two-way jacket from a New York maker that has been dressing people against the cold for more than a century.

Condition & Restoration

Very good vintage condition.

The leather is supple and sound, with a few light marks from normal wear. The zips, including the sleeve zips, and all the Schott snaps work as they should, and the labels are intact.

The leather has been specialist cleaned and conditioned in-house, and the down has been cleaned and fully restored to its original loft. The jacket is now full, plump and warm, just as it should be.

Key Features

• Schott model 126, confirmed by the original factory production ticket inside the pocket
• Made by Schott N.Y.C., Made in USA
• "Down by Schott N.Y.C., The Finest Insulation" label and flag size tag, size 44
• Tan leather front panels with Western-style leather back yoke
• Green nylon body with 60% goose down, 40% goose feather fill
• Down restored to full loft
• Zip-off sleeves, wearable as a jacket or a vest
• Five Schott-stamped copper snaps over a full-length zip
• Stand collar with two Schott snaps
• Two welted leather hand pockets
• Green embroidered Schott script on the front
• Elastic cuffs

Garment Measurements, Laid Flat

• Chest, armpit to armpit: 24" / 61 cm
• Shoulders, seam to seam: 19.5" / 49.5 cm
• Sleeve, shoulder seam to cuff: 27" / 68.5 cm
• Underarm seam to cuff: 21" / 53.5 cm
• Back length, base of collar to hem: 26.5" / 67.5 cm

Best suited to: 44" chest / Size Large

Fit: A relaxed down jacket fit, sitting at the hip.

For the best indication of sizing, please compare the measurements above with a similar jacket you already own. For any sizing questions, please get in touch.