The Real Morroco Jacket

jared_nomak

Another great item just added to my collection, it's the John Varvatos Split Seem jacket that the screen used matchless jacket was a direct copy of! It's also the jacket worn in the Martian.


I will add some better images being worn soon when it's stopped raining outside.

nafets47

Very cool. Is the collar ridged with wire in it, or does it droop?

Best,
Stefan

Westward_Drift

Very nice Ross. -{

Glad you managed to pick up that size 50. I still search for a 52. I look forward to more pics.

After several releases of the Marine Blue Suede Racer jacket I'm surprised John Varvatos never released this in both the Soil color and in a color matching the Spectre Morroco (preferably in their Star USA line).

jared_nomak

Yeh would be good if they had as it is a nice jacket but the are probably not even aware the matchless SA version was a direct copy.
Ross

Westward_Drift

jared_nomak wrote:

Yeh would be good if they had as it is a nice jacket but the are probably not even aware the matchless SA version was a direct copy.
Ross

We bugged customer service enough for the Racer to be re released. Might be time to bug them about this.

Westward_Drift

Four years after The Martian, the best look yet at the JV Split Seam jacket on screen appears...in a commercial for Touch of Modern worn by the company's CEO Jerry Hum. )






I caught the commercial this evening while eating dinner. Weird seeing it after all this time. Weirder yet is the timing. Barring postal delays, my JV Split Seam jacket is due to arrive tomorrow.

JTM

Westward_Drift wrote:

Four years after The Martian, the best look yet at the JV Split Seam jacket on screen appears...in a commercial for Touch of Modern worn by the company's CEO Jerry Hum. )






I caught the commercial this evening while eating dinner. Weird seeing it after all this time. Weirder yet is the timing. Barring postal delays, my JV Split Seam jacket is due to arrive tomorrow.

Nice casual look by Mr Hum with his jacket. Where did you manage to pick your one up from WD??

Westward_Drift

My JV Split Seam jacket arrived. I am very pleased with it.



To answer nafets47, the collar does have a wire and does not droop.






For such a light jacket it has remarkably heavy zipper hardware. I also believe that the zipper is more apparent in the JV jacket than the Matchless version, keeping with the John Varvatos aesthetic.





If it were a 52 it would be perfect, but the 54 still fits. After 4 years of searching I really can't quibble.

emtiem

Looks great!

MikeG77

Westward_Drift wrote:

My JV Split Seam jacket arrived. I am very pleased with it.



To answer nafets47, the collar does have a wire and does not droop.






For such a light jacket it has remarkably heavy zipper hardware. I also believe that the zipper is more apparent in the JV jacket than the Matchless version, keeping with the John Varvatos aesthetic.





If it were a 52 it would be perfect, but the 54 still fits. After 4 years of searching I really can't quibble.

Did you get this off of eBay?

Westward_Drift

emtiem wrote:

Looks great!

Thanks entiem. There is something about this jacket. It's not showy, but it has presence.

apple8

Very understated! Love it

drum007

I like it. A versatile jacket and perfect for fall. Congrats Ross and Westward! Very cool B-)

The Bond Vivant

Ross and Steve- how thin is it compared to the Matchless jacket? I was gutted to have missed out when I had the opportunity to buy the 48. You mention that it is light, Steve. Does it have the same feel as the Matchless, or is it slightly more or less "robust"?

So jealous....

Westward_Drift

Blair, I hope Ross chimes in. I have never had the Matchless so I cant compare.

The suede of the Martian jacket feels a little softer and more plush than what I recall for the blue JV Cafe Racer. I sold my Cafe Racer years ago so I am relying on memory here. Weight wise the two JV jackets are pretty comparable with the Martian being a hair lighter.

The Martian jacket doesn't feel flimsy by any means. I wouldn't be surprised if it's also made of goat suede.

The Bond Vivant

Thanks, Steve. Just wanting to see if I should still hold out for one, as I think that I've only worn my Matchless once, but if the JV one was slightly more substantial, I might get more use out of it. The Matchless always seems too delicate for my lifestyle...And I think that you may have a point- if we bug the guys at JV enough, they might just do a reissue. Hope springs...

Westward_Drift wrote:

Blair, I hope Ross chimes in. I have never had the Matchless so I cant compare.

The suede of the Martian jacket feels a little softer and more plush than what I recall for the blue JV Cafe Racer. I sold my Cafe Racer years ago so I am relying on memory here. Weight wise the two JV jackets are pretty comparable with the Martian being a hair lighter.

The Martian jacket doesn't feel flimsy by any means. I wouldn't be surprised if it's also made of goat suede.

Victor B

Folks, the post mentions this might be the real morocco jacket. But should that be the case anyone knows why it actually looks much darker than in the screen and why Matchless seems to have claim their jacket to be the one in the movie? I also read already some discussion back and forth on this topic but I didn´t find any clear conclusion on this.
Also if I remember well the responsible lady of costume design did confirm the jacket was from Matchless...

Smithers500

It was-I was under the impression that Matchless based their design off of the JV jacket seen in the Martian.

jared_nomak

Yes Matchless made a direct copy in a lighter colour of the JV jacket at the request of Jany. Matchless then sold their inaccurate jackets as they do all the time, sell stuff nothing like used in the films. I am not sure if this is down to licenses or the reason behind it but they never release jacket which are screen accurate and that was the same when they owned Belstaff too.

Victor B

Thanks for the clarification folks. Much more clear now

sunny01

jared_nomak wrote:

Yes Matchless made a direct copy in a lighter colour of the JV jacket at the request of Jany. Matchless then sold their inaccurate jackets as they do all the time, sell stuff nothing like used in the films. I am not sure if this is down to licenses or the reason behind it but they never release jacket which are screen accurate and that was the same when they owned Belstaff too.

Hi there - aside from the metal badge what other details make the jacket inaccurate compared to the screen used version? it looks the same to my uneducated eye!! Thanks in advance!

Fred007

sunny01 wrote:

jared_nomak wrote:

Yes Matchless made a direct copy in a lighter colour of the JV jacket at the request of Jany. Matchless then sold their inaccurate jackets as they do all the time, sell stuff nothing like used in the films. I am not sure if this is down to licenses or the reason behind it but they never release jacket which are screen accurate and that was the same when they owned Belstaff too.

Hi there - aside from the metal badge what other details make the jacket inaccurate compared to the screen used version? it looks the same to my uneducated eye!! Thanks in advance!

The hook at the collar, to close it....

Westward_Drift

The differences between the screen worn Morocco jacket and those sold are the retail version has the badge on the sleeve, the branding on the zipper pull, and lacks the collar hooks.

Blair, I wouldn't wear the Martian jacket on a motorcycle or hiking through the brush, but it's fine for a night out. The color is much more forgiving than the Matchless and doesn't scream "Look at me!"

Westward_Drift

An embarrassment of riches!!

It took almost another 2 years, but I finally got a size 52. It fits me much better.

My size 54 will be heading out to another AJB member.

I hope @The Bond Vivant or @jared_nomak will do a comparison with the Matchless version.

The Bond Vivant

It's on the agenda. Watch this space....

sunny01

Look forward to it....I've go to be honest to me the differences between the SA version and the retail version are not really that noticeable or much of a del breaker...other than the person wearing the jacket most people would not notice branding on the zipper or the lack of hooks...the only major one is the badge on the sleeve...the overall look of the jacket is still great.

The Bond Vivant

There is another difference, but you'll have to wait till I shoot the video!

km1fdm

https://www.ajb007.co.uk/discussion/comment/1021938#Comment_1021938

I know I'm late to the party in this thread, but was this jacket ever reissued at some point? I see yours has tags.. Always wanted one of those jackets but they always seemed impossible to find.

Westward_Drift

https://www.ajb007.co.uk/discussion/comment/1024461#Comment_1024461

I was fortunate in that it still has tags. To answer your question, the jacket was never reissued. Looking at how the knock off is a staple for Matchless, John Varvatos missed a golden opportunity.

Since being identified there have been around 7 to show up for sale: 2 x EU48 (one with arms shortened a great deal), 2x EU50, 2x EU52, and 1x EU54. All I can say is keep searching, There are many online listing sites beyond eBay. You just have to be vigilant.