Taylor's Leatherwear - "Real Leather Craft"

This month, CHIEF spotlights a company that was built from "the garage up", a very successful company that deftly illustrates the American dream and what "real" leather craft is all about.

American Ingenuity + Hard Work = Success

Taylor's Leatherwear began in Tullahoma, Tennessee in 1939 with no official name. It is a story of American ingenuity and lots of hard work. And, as with many successful businesses, it has humble beginnings.

It all started in a garage. Lee Soesbe's to be exact. Mr. Soesbe was the founder, designer and tailor. By the mid-1940's, the business had grown so much that Mr. Soesbe hired George "Red" Taylor to manage the leatherwear shop.

When the shop began to outgrow Lee's garage, the men opened a shop on Atlantic Street in Tullahoma. About the same time, Mr. Soesbe bought Appalachian Tanning in North Carolina and moved it to Tullahoma with the leatherwear factory. Lee Soesbe ran the tannery and "Red" Taylor ran the leatherwear factory. They sold their jackets to companies like Sears, JCPenney and Montgomery Ward.

Together, they ran the business for almost two decades, employing up to 200 people at one point. Mr. Soesbe later sold his interests in the company, leaving all the business operations to Mr. Taylor. In 1977, Mr. Taylor also retired, selling the business to a friend.

Setting Leather Jacket Standards Yesterday and Today

Today, Taylor's Leatherwear continues the same tradition Soesbe and Taylor started in 1939 – making quality leather jackets for every major law enforcement agency in the U.S., as well as many corporations throughout the country. Well-known for being well-made, and coveted for their attention to detail, Taylor jackets aren't just another leather jacket, they're the ones all others aspire to be.

For the best selection of Taylor's Leatherwear, look to CHIEF – your Taylor's Leatherwear authority.