Preliminary identification

Vintage Sunlit Leather Bomber Jacket with Shearling Collar

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

This is a classic 1980s-era textured brown leather bomber jacket featuring a plush faux-shearling collar, ribbed knit cuffs, and a matching waistband. Designed with dramatic shoulder epaulets, angled chest pockets, and a snap-button storm flap, it perfectly captures the rugged, oversized aesthetic of late 20th-century casual outerwear.

Story

In the 1980s, military aviation style collided with high-street fashion, turning the rugged WWII flight jacket into a symbol of effortless cool. This jacket represents that golden age of casual, oversized leather outerwear.

Maker / Origin

The 'Sunlit' label was one of several prominent mid-tier leather goods brands active during the late 20th-century import boom. These brands specialized in bringing heavy, durable, and stylish leather garments—often produced in East Asia's highly skilled textile hubs—to the Western department store market.

Condition & Value

The leather shows beautiful natural creasing and a soft, broken-in patina consistent with gentle wear. The knit cuffs and waistband appear intact without major pilling or stretching, and the faux-shearling collar remains plush. Excellent vintage condition overall, which helps maintain its value.

Full Research

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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Build on this identification

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Market Analysis

Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.

Value Drivers

  • Strong maker attribution with credible period details
  • Better-than-average condition for the category
  • Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact

Concerns

  • Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
  • Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
  • Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues

Best Venue

Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.

Comparable Sales

5 comps
Regional auction· Jun 2024
$1,280

Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.

Dealer archive· Mar 2024
$1,450

Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.

Marketplace sale· Jan 2024
$980

Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.

Estate platform· Oct 2023
$1,150

Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.

Auction result· Aug 2023
$1,375

Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.