Ready to ship to us? Just print our shipping form and include it in your package!
Services
Here at LCS you can get your knits replaced, tears fixed, leather restored- all in one place. Owner, Dena Hamilton has been working with leather for 51 years now. We love leather, care about our customers, and enjoy attending to the smallest details of your leather garment.
When you send your jacket in to us, we offer you CUSTOMIZED service with CHOICES. We offer more than one size zipper, more than one type of fabric and interlinings (degrees of warmth) for relining your jacket. We also offer a full array of repair services so your don't get your jacket back with a new zipper - and still a small tear, hole in the pocket, or maybe a small area of seam that has split open.
Leather CARE Specialists may not be the least expensive company out there, but we'll make sure you get what you pay for!
Our Ship Now page will guide you through the process of sending and receiving your leather item.
Left: A vintage motorcycle jacket—let's save it! Right: We also lengthened the sleeves. Ready for more years of wear!
The left arm on the G-1 flight jacket above was stiff and stuck straight out. (Fortunately it was not brittle.)I patched the large hole on arm with matching goatskin. Amazingly, the family had the original squadron VAW-111 patch, so we were able to use it to cover the hole over the front pocket. Looks like Jesse Bohannon was very pleased with this meaningful restoration gift from his son! (color difference is due to camera and lighting variances. It remained the original color)
Hi, Dena, wanted to let you know that we presented the restored flight jacket to my girlfriend's 97 year old uncle (Elliott) this past weekend. He was absolutely shocked by the incredible work you did!! He called it a "miracle". You made this World War II veteran pilot incredibly happy!! He wore it practically all the time for the three days we were with them! See photo attached. Thank you for doing such a great job on the jacket. I will definitely be recommending you to any friends and family that need work done! Thank you so much.
This is why we do what we do!!!
(see photo of Elliot in his jacket below)
We replaced the mouton collar and replaced the knit cuffs and waistband in this original G-1 flight jacket sent for leather repair and restoration. We also replaced the zipper with NOS (New Old Stock), replaced the lining and a button, repaired a hole in the leather, went over the stitching, and refurbished the leather. Looks like it was worth it!
Our replacement knits are the highest quality, heavy, custom knit here in the USA specifically for the G-1 and A-2 jackets. (They look great on any jacket!)
We use USA YKK solid brass zippers with an antique finish for most jackets. If you want a NOS zipper (new-old stock), be advised that these zippers are quite pricey because they have to be ordered from the only company that I know of that makes them- and they are in Japan.
This A-2 leather jacket we restored for for Patrick Murphy. While it was not restored to a wearable condition - because the leather was crumbling in places - it was made presentable for a lasting display.
We specialize in full or partial restorations of both military and civilian, vintage and newer, leather JACKETS. Click HERE for our contact and shipping information.
(If you need help with bags, luggage, etc. please contact my colleague Jeff Moses at Shoe Biz Shoe Repair Inc. in Peoria, IL. 309-692-5414)
Reviews
Dena, I am so pleased. You have exceeded my expectations! It easy to see why you have such a great reputation for Flight Jacket restoration. I’m tempted to move closer to Arctic Circle and wear them constantly. Yet their condition and your craftsmanship are of museum quality.The seem irreplaceable; I’m almost afraid to expose them to the elements.
Thank you! Cordially, James F. Roy III Director of Presidential Services
Dena, WOW!!! So awesome!!! Thank you so much for repairing my leathers!!! I just received them and I love the work that you have done!! It is so hard to find people that take pride in their work and care as much as you. I really appreciate everything you have done to give these leathers new life.I will be sure to spread the word about how great, Great Leather is. With much thanks,Tim Terrio (this was for work on a motorcylce jacket and riding pants)
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you did on my A-2. The work is superb! I had the good fortune of dropping off and picking up in person, so I was able to see firsthand what a first class operation you have. It is a real testimony to you and your staff that you get leather products to clean/repair from around the world. Again Thank you. P.S. Give Joe and your dog a treat from us. Paul Kruse
Hi, Dena. The jacket arrived yesterday and we are absolutely stunned. You did such a beautiful job on it. The collar matches the rest of the leather so perfectly that no one will ever know it was damaged. And the redye and conditioning made the leather look like new, yet without losing the patina that makes it special. Thank you a thousand times over. I will recommend Great Leather to everyone I know. Best regards, Karen Hall
I was really happy that Dena was able to restore my old, beloved leather coat so nicely. I was on the verge of getting rid of it because the color had worn off so badly and the cuffs were really frayed - this thing was a rag. She re-dyed it and carefully repaired the cuffs with banding, and now I feel like I have a brand-new coat. For a tremendous amount of work it was quite affordable, and the entire transaction was very smooth and professional. I would happily recommend Great Leather to anyone ready to give up on a favorite leather jacket or coat. Sandy Malloy
Dena, The jacket came out as perfectly as I could have imagined it. When considering something like a World War II US Navy bomber jacket, I think you have a dilemma between leaving it as it is and placing it in a display case for posterity -- where its value may be arguably higher -- or restoring it and allowing it to be part of living history. I obviously would prefer the latter. I could tell from speaking with you about the jacket, and from the beautiful results, that yours are the best hands for this jacket to be in for it to receive the care that it deserves. The whole thing, including the knits, came out beautifully, and as I think you said yourself, the mouton collar is just perfect. I am honored every day that I wear this jacket and thank you for your special care and excellent and respectful restoration work. Best, Jonathan
Dena, I received my treasured leather jacket back today. I could not be more pleased with each of the individual repairs you made. The time you took to evaluate the damage and develop a plan to return it to its original condition reflected the mastery level of your craft. Your continued contact to keep me informed of progress along the way was first rate. The charges for such skill and attention to detail were very reasonable. If ever I should find myself in need of any leather services, I will not hesitate to contact you again. With deepest gratitude, Daniel Leyes
We recently had some leather items repaired by Great Leather. The repairs they did for us were nothing short of miraculous. We shipped the garments because we live in another state, and it was totally worth it. We could not be happier. I spoke with the owner several times over the phone and via e-mail and she is extremely knowledgeable and skilled, not to mention super nice. They are also very reasonably priced. I would recommend Great Leather highly. We are so happy that we found out about Great Leather. They not only saved our leather items but restored them. I rarely feel this way about any business, but I really do wish I could give them more than 5 stars, because their service and quality is exceptional!
Hi Dena, I received the leather flight suit, and my husband and I are absolutely thrilled. Your hard work, expert knowledge and care is truly evident. Your restoration on the antique leather flight suit is better than I could have imagined, or even hoped for. It is truly amazing! The leather looks supple and beautiful once again. I cannot thank you enough. I am recommending you to all of my friends and even posting about you on my facebook page. I look forward to using you in the future as well. Thank you so much for your amazing work. Thank You, Christina Montgomery
Hi Dena!I received my jacket last night and WOW! You are nothing short of a miracle worker!!! The jacket and lining are incredible. You far exceeded my expectations and I couldn't be happier with the results. The attention to detail made the difference. Also, I wanted to add that it was a true pleasure working with you and many THANKS for your extra efforts for the quick turnaround (obviously a lot of work). THANKS again, all my best to you!!! John
Here's an unsolicited video review from customer Matt Johnson - "Majo" Thank you, Majo!
Leather CARE Specialists™ - SHIPPING
There may not be someone in your area with the experience, skill, and dedication of the Leather CARE Specialists. So, send us your leather item and we’ll have it back to you in no time.
Here’s all you do - In 3 easy steps:
Empty your pockets. We’re never tempted to keep money or gloves - but chocolate...
Seriously though, we find credit cards and other things you wouldn't want to be without.
Check your garment over for other needed repairs. It saves time and money to have things done all at once- and it feels great when you get your item back knowing everything about it is in good condition.
Check the pockets at the corners and look for tears or small surface snags elsewhere. (We will find these but we would like you to see them before you send your item to us.)
Check the tape at the zipper pin for wear, or check the buttons that they are secure.
Consider having your item cleaned, conditioned, and possibly re-dyed. Or you can purchase our favorite care products to use yourself.
Print and fill in the SHIPPING FORM to put inside your box. (To view these documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download). Or enclose a note with the same information and mail to:
Leather Care Specialists (or LCS) 101 W. King Avon, IL. 61415
Payments can be made by:
Credit Card over the phone, Paypal, or you can mail us a check or money order.
Generally, we collect payment when the work is finished.
We will let you know by email when your item arrives. Then after we've had a chance to look your item over, we will call you when we have it on the table in front of us, to discuss your options. At that time we can estimate or confirm a price that includes return shipping, as well as an estimated turn-around time.
You can send questions and photos to: dena@greatleather.com. Please only attach a few photos to your email, and do not zip them so that they appear directly in the email without the need to download a file. This helps me to get back to you quickly!
You can also call the shop at: 309-465-9216
*With any shipment please make sure the label is taped on securely.
*Don't pack your box really tight so it bulges, or it could possibly break open a bit. If there's extra room in the box, be sure and stuff it so it doesn't squash and then split if a heavy box gets set on top of it. Box damage almost never happens! But if it does, it's because a box is packed too tight, or there's empty space in the box.
Hope this helps!
Talk soon- Dena:-)
p.s. please do not send packing peanuts - thx:-)
Testimonials
Dena, The jackets are astoundingly beautiful. The Aero jacket had been used by a motorbike for years and was greasy and dirty from road grime. It now looks new. The placement of the side-gather buckles is perfect. The Eastman jacket also looks new. The interior pockets you built and installed look like they came from the factory. The stitching is perfect. The buckles you found match the zipper to a T. You have exceeded even my high expectations.
Thank you, Bill
Dena, I received my jacket today. To say that I am impressed would be an understatement!! It is absolutely beautiful!! Thank you for doing such a wonderful job restoring it. I can't wait to be able to wear it. I'm sure I will enjoy it for many years to come!!
Thank you again! Ken
Dena, I absolutely love the jacket! My dad was so pleased to see it restored, he began recounting stories while wearing it in his youth. I simply can not express how pleased I am. Your work is profoundly exquisite! Thank you. Thank you.
Sincerely, Tracey
Thanks so much for you beautiful work on my husband’s leather jacket. He is so pleased. It was much better than I’d hoped for.
Best wishes and stay well. Barbara Houghton
We recently had some leather items repaired by Great Leather. The repairs they did for us were nothing short of miraculous. We shipped the garments because we live in another state, and it was totally worth it. We could not be happier. I spoke with the owner several times over the phone and via e-mail and she is extremely knowledgeable and skilled, not to mention super nice. They are also very reasonably priced. I would recommend Great Leather highly. We are so happy that we found out about Great Leather. They not only saved our leather items but restored them. I rarely feel this way about any business, but I really do wish I could give them more than 5 stars, because their service and quality is exceptional!
Dena, I am so pleased. You have exceeded my expectations! It easy to see why you have such a great reputation for Flight Jacket restoration.
I'm tempted to move closer to Arctic Circle and wear them constantly. Yet their condition and your craftsmanship are of museum quality.The seem irreplaceable; I'm almost afraid to expose them to the elements. Thank you!
Cordially,
James F. Roy III
Director of Presidential Services
Hi Dena, I just received the jackets that I sent for alteration and customizing and they couldn't have turned out better. Excellent work!
Thanks again, Dan
The jacket arrived WOW!!!!!!... just more wonderful than I could ever have imagined....appreciate your help and kindness and expertise....thank-you very much!!!!!!!!! ...linda fogle (this was her families heirloom WWII jacket)
Dena, I just picked up my old leather Barbour jacket and you keep on making it look better than the day I bought it many, many years ago. As long as there are tough New England winters and you keep providing outstanding quality and service I will be able to keep enjoying the jacket for many years to come. Thanks again for another fantastic job!!! All the best, Joseph H. Morgart
Hi, Dena: I got my jacket back yesterday and was standing speechless when I opened the box up. You did such unbelievable transformation to that jacket, so I thought it was not mine and was mistakenly substituted with a brand new one. :-)) Thank you a lot for your great work. I believe my jacket will service me well for years to come. Respectfully, Sergey
Hi Dena, I just want you to know I am very happy with the heavy duty zipper you put in my Harley jacket recently. You do excellent work and were very nice on the phone, and the jacket was back to me very fast. I wish you the best! Dixon
"The trumpet players in the US Army Ceremonial Band greatly appreciate the mouthpiece pouch. They all love them!! They are very impressed with the quality and the product!!" ' with Matthew Byrne.
Hi Dena, I just received my red leather stick bag and could not be happier. What a beautiful work of art. Best stick bag I have ever owned. Thank you again for making me this awesome bag.
Martin "Mofo" Morford
Dena, My LL Bean goatskin jacket arrived today and you've done masterful work in rejuvenating every part of it. It looks brand new, not 25+ years old, yet still feels broken in. The suggestions you made on cuffs and waistband are spot-on. I can't find the scuff marks that you touched up. All stitching is perfect. Your attention to detail and customer service are excellent. Thank you very much. I'll send it back in another 25 years! Regards, Bart
Dena, the jackets arrived this afternoon, and they are gorgeous, like new!! I would never have imagined they could have been brought back to such a state--totally awesome!!
Thank you very much for very good service at what I think is a really fair price. Will certainly recommend you to friends. Best wishes, John
Dena, The jacket arrived as promised and WOW, you did a marvelous job on it. The conditioning, cuffs, waistband, liner, zipper, collar and all the labels transformed an old and very worn jacket into something I could and will wear a lot. My father, who wore this jacket all through WW II and Korea would have been very pleased, I am very pleased and my Grandson will be super happy when he gets it. Thank You, Doug
I just received the drum stick bag, and I couldn't be more pleased! It is absolutely awesome! I can't thank you enough! This is a great gift and you did a wonderful job!
Thanks again!
Good evening Dena, I just wanted to let you know that I received my skirt, and to say the least I was very impressed with your work. You are AWESOME!! I will let anyone and everyone looking to get leather garment care to try you first! I was impressed with the quality of your work, reasonable pricing, and timely manner in which my skirt was returned. Thanks so much. Sincerely, Nicole
Hello Dena.
My coat arrived today and I just want to say thank you. What a beautiful job you've done! It's everything I could have asked for and I want you to know I do truly appreciate the work you've done for me. Have a fantastic day, Albert Blosch
Hi Dena,
I just picked up my jacket from the post office. It is gorgeous! You did a fabulous job bringing it back to life. Thanks you so much for all your work. I sincerely appreciate it. Linda Heimann
Dena
The jacket is fabulous. It looks better than I believe it ever has. The liner color blends well with the leather color. The redying also blends well. The feel and condition of the leather looks great. Thank you for all the thoughtful suggestions for repairing the jacket. I have a number of people that I have referred to you. Thanks again, Richard
Just a THANK YOU for the amazing restoration of my favorite 10 year old leather jacket. You didn't charge nearly enough for the quality of your repair.Memories of your pleasant phone conversation coupled with excellent work will make me smile every time I wear my 'new' jacket. Bill
...It's more beautiful than I ever expected. I don't even know what else to say. Send me a link where I can leave a review for you. Teresa Thackston Hogan
You have been a complete pleasure to deal with, and I'm very glad I found you online. I will recommend you immediately to anyone I know in need of similar service.
According to an inflation calculator I found online, that jacket (purchased in 1988 for $250) -- if it could be found at all -- would cost $508.69 today. So as far as I'm concerned, a jacket that was worthless to me in the condition I sent it to you has been transformed into a brand new $500 jacket with a $200 discount! Thanks so much! Ricky
Hello Dena, The jacket looks fabulous so worth getting it refurbished, I am thrilled and I'm sure Ron will too, it will be under the Christmas tree. Will send you pictures. Thank you so much, wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Marcia
Dena,
All I can say is Wow. The jacket looks great. Just what I was looking for, repairs but still a leather jacket with lots of character and memories. Sincerely, Shawn Moffit
Dena, I got the coat and it looks fantastic!!! You did a great job. thank you so much. I will tell my friends all about your business.
Take care,Mark
Dena,
I received my absolutely new looking leather jacket yesterday. You did a great job in refurbishing my favorite jacket to where it looks as good as when it was new, 10 years ago.
Thank you and again nice work, Norm B.
I picked up the coat today. It is gorgeous and I could not be happier with the results. You have given this old favorite of mine a new life. If you ever need a reference, please don't hesitate to call on me.
All the best, Roger
Hi Dena,
The jacket looks fantastic! Our 17 year old son loves it (high praise indeed!). Thanks for taking such good care of my husbands "heirloom". We are very pleased :) Terry T.
Dena -
I apologize for getting back to you so late. I've been trying to get a picture with Ty and the bag and his drums and near impossible - his drum set is not at the house. But! HE LOVESthe stick bag - I wish you could have seen the look on his face when he opened the present...priceless. He just mentioned the other day he loves the functionality of the bag. I'm hoping to be able to forward a picture to you soon. Thank you again for all your help in making this successful!
My jacket arrived yesterday and I couldn't be happier. The lining is better than original and certainly is an improvement over the replacement you took out. And the leather itself is beautiful. Thanks for your devotion to quality.
Art G.
Dena, Jacket just arrived. The job you did surpasses all expectations. The jacket is prettier'and more supple'now than it ever was. I hope you took photographs for "before" and "after" shots on your website.
I look forward to recommending you to anybody I come across who needs your services. Thanks again, Pris
Dena, I am sorry for taking so long to tell you this. My husband was sooooo happy with his leather jacket. I looks brand new and neither of us could believe you restored it the way you did. If you need any references, let me know. Thanks, Linda
Got my order yesterday. The piccolo Pipe Case is beautiful. The leather care stuff really buffed up my leather trumpet case! Have a great day... Scott
Dena, I received my treasure leather jacket back today. I could not be more pleased with each of the individual repairs you made. The time you took to evaluate the damage and develop a plan to return it to its original condition reflected the mastery level of your craft. Your continued contact to keep me informed of progress along the way was first rate. The charges for such skill and attention to detail were very reasonable. If ever I should find myself in need of any leather services, I will not hesitate to contact you again. With deepest gratitude, Daniel Leyes
Hi Dena I got my leather jacket yesterday, thanks, it looks great, brand new. you did a terrific job
thanks again J. Friedman
Just wanted to let you know that Chase and I LOVED the way the jacket turned out! We could not be happier with the results. Thank you so much! Ashley
Hi Dena, Just wanted to say thanks and let you know the new lining looks fantastic in my jacket! The attention to detail and the way the pattern on the fabric lines up in the center and the way the pockets are fitted in etc. is amazing!
I couldn't be happier and will gladly recommend your services to friends and family! Very best regards, Jeff
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTFUL, BEAUTIFUL!!!! I am so pleased with what you were able to do with my leather coat. Once I saw your website I knew my coat was in good hands. Your professionalism and customer service are second to none! I so appreciate your honesty and fair pricing. I will tell everyone I know about Leather Care Specialists. Many thanks, Diane
Dear Dena,The jacket is beautiful!!
You and your team did a great job restoring my "second skin", B2 Bomber Jacket.
Absolutely Beautiful! Thanks, Jim Montalbano
Hello Dena
Here are some pictures of me wearing my dad's jacket which you did such a beautiful job restoring for me, with his 1929 Indian Scout motorcycle. Again, thank you for everything that you put into this project. Bill Tupper
Dena, My jacket looks wonderful! You did such an amazing job I'm just sitting here speechless. Seriously, I never expected to get it back in such great condition. It look setter than when I picked it up brand new!!!
I'm thrilled. Thanks you again for everything. I will spread the word on what amazing work you all do up there. Brandon
p.s. seriously speechless at how amazing my jacket looks!! :)
Hi Dena,
The mouthpiece pouch arrived safely earlier today. Thank you for the excellent quality and workmanship - it really is a beautiful piece of work, and I'm delighted with it!
All best wishes, Mike
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I received my jacket today amd never in a million years did I expect it to look like the day I bought it. So glad I found your website! Mary Anne
Just got the jacket and it is perfect! Exactly what I hoped for. It looks like an old jacket that has been taken care of. That's all I wanted. It was in such terrible shape and now it is beautiful! Way to match the leather sleeve patch too! I was thinking I wanted to try to clean up the Black Widow patch, but now that I see the final result, I wouldn't change a thing. It is perfect just the way it is. I'll send you a picture once I get it framed with Dad's other stuff.
Can't tell you how much this means to me. I have been wanting to do this for 15 years. This is a family heirloom that I will be proud to display and to pass down to my kids as a reminder of the part Dad played in our country's history.
Thanks again and God Bless!
Wally Younger
One of our customers answered, "Best place for Durable flight jacket restoration?" on the Fedora Lounge website:
"- I would nominate Dena at greatleather.com. She has been working on some really historical jackets (check her blog), knows flight jacket construction, and is very detail oriented. I've also gotten some great alteration work done by her, and I am a picky trim-fit fanatic. Dena uses the Urad line of care products which are really top flight stuff."
Hi Dena,
I received the leather flight suit, and my husband and I are absolutely thrilled. Your hard work, expert knowledge and care is truly evident. Your restoration on the antique leather flight suit is better than I could have imagined, or even hoped for. It is truly amazing! The leather looks supple and beautiful once again. I cannot thank you enough. I am recommending you to all of my friends and even posting about you on my facebook page. I look forward to using you in the future as well. Thank you so much for your amazing work.
Thank You, Christina Montgomery
Dena, I am writing to let you know that you did a great job on my tan leather jacket. If I ever need anything done to any of my other leather jackets in the future I will definitely use your services. I will recommend you to others as well. It was a pleasure dealing with you and this is some of the best customer service I have ever experienced. Thanks again and I hope you have a great rest of your week.
Chris George
Hi Dena, Got the leather a couple days ago. I am VERY PLEASED!! You do very good work! I will take you up on your offer to make a new jacket next year if everything goes according to plan over here.Thanks Again! Bill
Hi Dena, Just a note to let you know how thrilled I am with my leather coat "renewal". It looks great and I treasure it. I've had it 6 years and I take very good care of it but it needed some of your "Leather Care Specialists" service and I thank you. I'll tell all my friends. Thanks, again, Gwen
Hello Dena. Thank you for making the leather belt for me. I love it and the buckle! Thank you also for taking the time to show Marge and I your shop and work. We both love the work you do. Thanks again, Steve.
Hi Dena,....Amen on the small USA company! Not only do I appreciate your craft and creativity, but I am very proud of the fact that the pillow was created (physically and creatively) in the USA! And the quality could not be any finer. Cheers! Susan
Dena, I picked up my mail yesterday at my PO Box and my coat was waiting for me! You did a great job and I am both pleased with your workmanship and appreciative of your efforts. And, btw, the color looks great! Best regards, Bill
Hi Dena...I received the items you shipped, and they were as expected, beautiful. The small sample bag was a very nice surprise! I see the bag was made with love. As always, Mary
Dena, Just got my coat back from being redyed and it is "better than new"!! Thank you so much for fixing the 2 small tears. Thanks to Willson Leather Store in Iowa for telling me you could do this! Thanks again Judy Roe
Dena, Just wanted to let you know how thrilled I am with my leather jacket. It looks wonderful! From your calls to let me now that you received the jacket, to the call telling me that you have shipped it back was a very nice touch. I will be sure to let all my friends and family know of you fantastic service. Thank you very much! Michael McGinty Shawsville, Virginia
Thanks for a great job on my old jacket. The darker color exceeds my expectations by leaps and bounds. I have already passed on to my friends news of your good work.
Yours,
John F. Burns,
Flight Engineer (ret).
My mouthpiece cases arrived yesterday, thank you very much! They are simply beautiful, fantastic! I am very happy, thank you!!!!! Greetings from Switzerland! -Krisztian
Morning Dena. Received the jacket yesterday (hope you received the payment as well). Looks great. Really strong work. Could not have been easy! I won’t ever hesitate to send you anything I want to reinvent…nor recommend your service to anyone. Appreciate the efforts! BG
BTW…I showed my daughter the jacket yesterday she fell off her chair in awe at how great it looked. Remember…she was a baby…all the way up to being a little girl…when I used to wear that jacket every day to her older brothers little league practice/games….essentially that jacket was part of her childhood :) Really nice work Dena.
HELPFUL INFO / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please see these great articles addressing frequently asked questions and covering tips and tricks for caring for your leather products!
