OUR FOUNDER

Hi all. I’m Leilah - founder of R. West.

My obsession with leather jackets began in 2008, when I bought my first vintage piece: a WWII-era B-3 bomber. The difference was immediate. The weight. The texture. The hardware. The construction. It felt alive in a way modern jackets simply didn’t.

What started as collecting quickly became studying. Over the years, I’ve handled and analysed hundreds of vintage jackets from 1920s Cossacks to 1950s motorcycle jackets. I measured them, deconstructed them, compared panel shapes and stitch counts, learned the language of hide, lining and hardware. Some I kept. Many I reluctantly let go. All of them taught me something.

During the pandemic, while temporarily living in New York, I posted a photo of a few pieces from my collection and discovered an entire global community of leather and heritage obsessives. It was inspiring - but it was also clear that the finest jackets in the world were almost exclusively designed and marketed toward men. Female jacket enthusiasts were few and far between and I attributed that to the sub-par quality of choices that we were offered in comparison to our male counterparts.

I wanted to change that.

Back in London, I began developing what would become R. West - drawing on vintage military and workwear patterns, refining proportions, sourcing period-correct hardware, and building relationships with specialist tanneries and craftsmen around the world. Every jacket is rooted in historical accuracy, but built for modern life.

Today, R. West and Olympia leathers are about creating future heirlooms - jackets that improve with age, tell the story of their owner, and outlast fast-fashion trends entirely.

This brand was built from obsession and it will always remain that way.

Thank you for being a part of my journey.

 

TEACORE BLACK STEERHIDE

Crafted from European hides, our Teacore Black steerhide measures in at 1.5 mm (3.5 oz) and features a glossy semi-aniline finish. Beneath its deep black surface lies a rich brown core, achieved by layering black pigment over naturally dyed brown hide. As the leather breaks in, years of wear gradually reveal the warm undertones beneath, creating a dynamic two-tone patina.

CORDOVAN STEERHIDE

A rich, dark brown Italian vegetable-tanned leather, measuring around 1.6 mm (4oz). Tanned slowly using natural extracts, it develops a depth of tone and character that only true veg-tan hides can achieve. The surface carries a subtle lustre and a natural firmness that softens with wear, breaking in beautifully over time and building a deep, organic patina that reflects its journey.

BRITISH TAN STEERHIDE

A beautifully rugged European vegetable re-tanned leather, around 1.4mm in thickness (3.5oz). Its tone sits in that sweet spot between honey and amber with a warmth that deepens as it's worn. Slowly tanned using natural extracts, it carries a rich, earthy glow that will darken and develop a burnished patina over time, capturing the character of every crease and mile travelled.

WAXY BROWN BISON

This is one of the most characterful leathers we work with - an exceptionally rugged 1.8 mm (4.5oz) hide with a medium-to-firm hand and a striking pull-up effect. With its natural, non-aniline finish, every crease, scuff, and mark tells a story, either buffed away for a cleaner look or left to build an extraordinary patina. It’s a heavier hide with real presence - one that moulds slowly to its wearer, evolving into a rich, beautifully weathered piece that only gets better with time.

OIL BLACK BISON

A dense, chrome-tanned leather measuring around 1.7 mm (4.5oz) thick, available in both a smooth and textured finish. It’s an oily black struck-through hide with a subtle semi-aniline coating that enhances its depth and durability. Unlike cowhide, bison leather isn’t stretched during tanning, which keeps its fibre structure tight and gives it noticeably less stretch and greater resilience. With a medium-to-firm hand and heavier weight, this hide rewards patience - moulding slowly and retaining the natural shape of it’s wearer.

TOBACCO ROUGHOUT STEERHIDE

A beautifully rugged hide sourced from Germany, around 1.4 mm (3.5 oz) thick and crafted by turning the full-grain hide inside out to expose its natural, velvety flesh side. Unlike suede, it isn’t split, so it retains the full strength and density of the original hide while offering that rich, tactile texture unique to roughout leather. With its deep tobacco tone and earthy character, it captures a sense of raw authenticity - built to wear hard, age beautifully, and tell its story through every scuff and crease.