I’ve always been a fan of leather jackets, but until now, I’ve only ever purchased faux leather from high street retailers. My first real leather jacket is this stunning piece from The Jacket Maker, which has quickly become my most treasured item of clothing, thanks to the brand’s customisation service.

The Jacket Maker offers a range of designs, styles and colours that can be tailored to your measurements and personalised with an embroidered message or image. Currently, the retailer is offering a 20% discount in its Black Friday sale – its largest discount so far.

When the brand approached me to see if I’d like a unique, custom-made jacket, I was intrigued as I hadn’t come across a company offering this service before. After browsing their extensive collection, I finally chose the Westa A-2 Brown Leather Bomber Jacket.

Usually priced at £240, it’s available for £192 during the Black Friday sale. The jackets come in sizes XXS to 2XL, but you can also have your chosen jacket made to measure for an additional £45.

The team were incredibly helpful, and after providing my height, weight and preferred fit, they recommended a size large, which fits me perfectly. I usually go for a medium in jackets, but in this style of leather jacket, a medium would have been too small. It’s definitely a snug fit, so I would advise sizing up.

As a passionate reader, when The Jacket Maker asked what I wanted embroidered on my jacket, the first thing that came to mind was my favourite quote – ‘I am no bird; and no net ensnares me’ – from my favourite book. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë ignited my love for reading and writing, as I chose to study it for my English Literature coursework.

I spent countless hours analysing its characters and Brontë’s words, and it remains the novel I’ve read the most. Having it immortalised on a beautifully crafted leather jacket is incredibly special.

I had the freedom to choose the font and colour of the quote, and where I wanted it displayed on the jacket. I could even submit an image of a graphic I created to show how I wanted the quote to look.

The Jacket Maker team then sent me a photo of how my jacket would look for approval before they proceeded with making it, providing peace of mind. The jacket took over a month to arrive, which was slightly longer than I anticipated, but understandable due to the personalisation. This is worth considering if you plan to place an order to ensure timely arrival, especially if it’s intended as a Christmas or birthday gift.

My jacket arrived neatly packaged in a slim cardboard box, and to my delight, it contained three complimentary gifts – a charming mini leather-bound notebook, a fabric bag for storing the jacket, and a car air freshener with a heavenly scent. Upon unboxing the jacket, I found myself exclaiming ‘oh wow’.

The rustic vintage aesthetic of the real brown leather appealed to me greatly, and the quality looked and felt exceptional. Turning the jacket over, I was astounded by the beautiful embroidery of the words I had chosen – it looked more stunning than I could have ever envisioned. Slipping on the jacket, it fit like a glove.

The leather felt robust and warm, yet also soft and comfortable. I really like the flap pockets on the front and was pleasantly surprised to discover two additional outer pockets on the sides, as well as two concealed inside the jacket. It has since become an essential garment in my wardrobe, as I’ve worn it with jeans, velvet flares, and dresses.

There are still a few creases from its time in the box, but I’m hopeful these will smooth out over time. While The Jacket Maker’s genuine leather jackets are on the pricier side, they make for a perfect present to yourself or a loved one at Christmas or birthdays – especially while the Black Friday sale is ongoing. The high-quality finish coupled with the unique personalisation results in a truly extraordinary garment.

You can explore The Jacket Maker’s complete Black Friday collection here. Elsewhere, Angel Jackets offers a range of genuine leather jackets, while Debenhams sells both faux and real leather, including Barneys Originals. Both of these alternative retailers are also providing substantial discounts in their Black Friday sale, although they do not offer customisation.