Yes, I wasted an hour of my life watching Netflix’s “GirlBoss”.
And I will be first to admit I only watched it because all the promos featured a Vintage East West Musical Instruments leather jacket. That jacket is an integral plot point.
But seriously, it was painful to see the trashing of an original EWMU Jacket for this piece of dreck.
I cringed when I saw some of the abuse – and the jacket did appear genuine. Unlined, with those wonky loose facings, plus it’s never zipped up. Those original jackets have a bizarre fit. The Medium sized one I worked with firsthand would not have fit a very small, skinny 12-year-old boy in the 1990s. Let alone zipped up on a girl. Yes, those jackets are absolutely art, but not to wear, not today!
My review (of the show) in a nutshell: HARD PASS.
So now, to my story of how my Homage to the famous East West Musical Instruments Parrot Jacket came about.
I had been selling my World Domination Line to Patricia Field from 1991, and by 1995, she was repping my line for sales.
One day Pat came to me with this absurdly tiny and insanely beautiful leather jacket. It was one of East West Musical Instruments Co’s famous parrot jackets. She asked if I could do a jacket like it for her shop. I jumped at the chance to do a modern, wearable homage to such a beautifully designed garment.
I wanted it to be as faithful as possible, visually, but it needed to fit an actual body and a “rub-off” well, no way was that happening! That jacket bore no relation to a human body – either adolescent or adult in 1995!
It took about a month to re-create the jacket with a completely new fit. And with re-coloring, and better leathers, it became a “Swan.” It was also properly finished and fully lined. Sadly, no stash pocket (but 2 lining pockets added!) – none of us knew what was under the collar-doh!!!!
Pat put the new Swan jacket front and center at the next trade show we did, and it got a lot of attention. And then this older gentleman approached the booth, raving about the jacket.
His name was Freddy Solomon, and he had been responsible for selling over $825,000.00 of EWMI jackets back in the 70s, and he could tell that the one in front of him now actually fit.
Yes, people were smaller and slenderer (even just 50 years ago), but the designer apparently based the fit on himself and his friends, (very lanky, VERY skinny) resulting in the impossible fit.
All I know is I was thrilled that he’d appreciated the homage I’d created and was astonished at how many jackets $825G would have been in the early 1970s! I think they retailed for about $225. (That’s about $1950.00 in 2026 money for an unlined cowhide jacket with old school, 1970s rough finishing and a giant outsized zipper without matching tape. It was a very different aesthetic back then)
Freddy and I struck up a friendship. He spoke of EWMIC with tremendous fondness and admiration of the work and the boundless creativity of the designer, Norman, and the magic embodied in the companies’ ethos. And, his regret and sorrow that the company was never able to fulfill the financial success he felt the collective of talent deserved. And I also learned what that pocket behind the collar was for!
He felt they fell into the trap of giving out too far many “Gifts” to celebs and friends, and that they were never able to get the fit right for the much broader market they were beginning to explore, even back then apparently, the fit was an issue.
I am just glad that they left behind the body of work they did; it will inspire others forever.
So, If you LOVE that jacket, but want a couture quality “Homage” that fits a modern body, (in your choice of colors & leathers) or you want one that is 100% Custom made for you.
I have completely updated the RTW sizing from 1995 to my current standard fit and of course I offer FULL ON on CUSTOM MADE!
Check out the process of making the updated Homage Jacket & Read more about the fascinating history of East West Musical Instruments Co.