OUR CEO & FOUNDER
Hi all, I’m Leilah and I’m obsessed with leather jackets.
My interest started around 2008 when I purchased my first ever vintage leather jacket - a B-3 aviation bomber from an online auction site. It was a thing of beauty. I remember immediately noticing how the quality was so profoundly superior compared to anything that was available on the current market at the time. Since then, I can’t count how many vintage leather jackets I have held in my possession but I’ll wager a bet that it’s above the 250 mark. These days I’m able to identify a jackets brand in a nanosecond, the hide it’s made out of from 10 feet away and the timestamp of a jackets creation by looking at the hardware that runs through it. Pretty nerdy, I know. I’m proud of it.
It was mid-pandemic and I was living in suburban New York when one evening I decided to post a picture of a few jackets I had in my collection. I accidentally stumbled across an entire subculture of leather/workwear enthusiasts. My kindred spirits, if you will, who have undeniably quenched my thirst for jacket porn in picture content for the last three years - cheers guys. However, it didn’t take me long to notice that all of the incredible leather jackets I had seen being worn were only marketed toward men. I was going to change that, so I filled a sketchpad full of designs, each annotated with panel cuttings, hide and hardware choices.
Upon returning to the UK, I found myself in London’s East End, sketchpad in tow, attempting to sell myself as a budding designer to the head office of a large Highstreet chain that were famous for leather outerwear (no names, take a wild guess...) Alas, as I didn’t have a design degree, I was given a pat on the back and notified of vacancies in the stockroom.
Throughout 2023 I travelled the globe in hunt for the best leather tanneries and found my team of expert craftsmen who have become a treasured part of the Rugged West crew. From the outset, I knew that we needed to create jackets that were going to supersede what was already on the market, in every way. Jackets that not only turned heads, but were a lifetime companion for the owner.
It’s time for us to reach you all. We can’t wait for you to join the family.
- Leilah Osman, CEO & Founder of Rugged West
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.