STYLE
Oily Jack.
By Jonathan Campbell
Here at The Obsessive, we believe in buying the best you can, so you don’t have to buy again. This also requires a community of artisan craftspeople who can mend, restore and generally breathe new life into well-used items. And one name that comes up again and again is Oily Jack […]
Here at The Obsessive, we believe in buying the best you can, so you don’t have to buy it again. However, this won’t work without a healthy community of artisan craftspeople who can mend, restore and generally breathe new life into well-used items – be they shoes, clothes, watches or cars and bikes. And it’s not just about buying less for the sake of the planet (though obviously that matters). There’s something about renewing items you’ve built a relationship with over the years; things with which you share a history and that have begun to sport a patina you created. Items like this become important physical artifacts in your life story.
My collection of Belstaff and Barbour jackets is full of pieces like this. In fact, one was positively falling apart. When I started to investigate who I could enlist to help, one name came up again and again: Oily Jack. After a brief online chat, I agreed to pop down to the beautiful Village of Westerham, where they’re based.
The shop is a little tricky to find as it’s tucked behind the high street in a lovely court yard. But you should trust Waze as it literally takes you to the car park adjacent to Oily Jack. The shop is immaculate, which is a reflection of its owner, Ash - who it’s fair to say, is obsessive about the re-waxing, repair and restoration of waxed jackets and bags.
Ash attended a Saville Row tailoring course at college, supported by Henry Poole. And his historical knowledge is so comprehensive, he recently welcomed a team from Belstaff to the shop. Who were keen to learn more about his work. In fact, everything Ash does, he does with forensic attention to detail.
On my visit, Ash greeted me with a huge smile, before enthusiastically examining each of my jackets. He saw things in them that even I had never noticed, discussing the virtues of each one in turn and deciding the best way to restore it. Did I want to return it to its original condition or gently keep the patina, while making it waterproof again? It’s this level of love and care that differentiates the true artisan from the pretenders.I told him I trusted him to do the right thing.
Within a few weeks I received a message informing me that my jackets were ready for collection (he also receives and sends jackets by post). I raced down to Westerham to find my red Belstaff on display in the shop – and it looked amazing. Ash took me through each jacket and how he had restored it. He had practically rebuilt one. I was astonished. The quality of work was way beyond my expectations, so much so that I offered to pay him extra. He wouldn’t hear of it.
Suffice to say that if you have a wax jacket or bag that needs some love, it will be in very safe hands if you take it (or send it) to Ash at Oily Jack.
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Images. The Obsessive, Oliy Jack
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