Customizing Jackets
1. First you'll need a jacket. You can use one that you already have, make one, or buy one. Look in your closet. You might find an old jacket that would be perfect to alter. If you don't have a sewing machine or very much money to spend, you can usually find a denim jacket at a thrift store for under $10. Or if you have a lot of money to spend you can check out one of the online stores that are listed at the bottom of this page. You can also find jackets on eBay. I sell men's cotton biker jackets if you don't want to buy a leather jacket.
2. Customize it! You can add tons of stuff to a jacket to make it your own.
- Pins/buttons: these fall off easily so put them on the collar or towards the top of the front of your jacket.
- Studs: there are many different kinds of studs you can use, and you can usually put them in by hand. It can be really hard to put studs through leather or thick fabric, so try poking holes through the fabric first. (Another tip: do research before you buy a special "stud awl" for studs, they are sometimes made cheaply and the blades will bend easily.) I hate putting studs on things so I can't offer any further tips.
- Patches: you can make your own patches with fabric paint (I have a DIY guide for it) or buy them. They fray easily so you'll have to sew them on well. You can use a sewing machine to sew on most patches, but if you are going to put any on the sleeves you will have to hand sew them. You can also buy patches from this site. Let me know if you want me to serge the edges before shipping them to you. (Serging cuts off the uneven edge and sews around it to minimize fraying.)
- Other ideas: sew random scraps of cool looking fabric on the collar, sleeves, or anywhere else you want. Paint band logos directly on to the jacket, or paint other designs all over. Sew zippers on your jacket. Add pockets. Use an old t-shirt as a back patch. Be creative!
Where to buy shit for your jacket:
Deranged Designs sells a small selection of patches, back patches, studs, and zippers. You can also find patches, pins, and t-shirts at local shows, usually for cheaper prices then in stores. Support your local scene!
Other options
Jackets (all of these brands have webstores, you'll have to look up the links)
- thrift stores
- eBay
- Angry, Young, and Poor
- Sourpuss Clothing
- Dogpile
- Crustpunks
- Dr. Strange
- Puke N Vomit
- Lip Service
- Angry, Young, and Poor
- eBay
- Crustpunks
- Punkstuff
- Dr. Strange
- Interpunk
- Dirt Cheap Distro
- Punkutopia
- Punk and Pissed
- Puke N Vomit
Zippers, fabric, and fabric paint:
- your local fabric store (for example Jo-Ann)
- crustpunks.com (only fabric, and it's a bit expensive)
- thrift stores: buy a cheap pair of pants or shirt, cut it up and add the fabric to your jacket
- fabric.com
- eBay
If you have any pictures of customized jackets, go to the DIY Gallery page for directions on how to submit them.
Click on these photos to see the original size and the credit to who made them.
