Y-3 SS2004 Heroes Leather Biker Jacket with Portrait Print, Orange and Black Cowhide, Size M, Made in Japan

From the second year of the Yohji Yamamoto and adidas partnership, a collarless cowhide biker in tangerine and black, its back given over entirely to a printed portrait framed by a pale halo.

The Piece

Y-3 began in 2003 as an experiment that few in fashion expected to last: Yohji Yamamoto, the most austere of the Paris designers, applying his cut to the archive and the three stripes of adidas. The earliest seasons, before the line settled into the technical sportswear it is known for today, were openly theatrical, and the Spring/Summer 2004 collection is where that energy is most visible. Its runway leathers, worn with low-slung denim and caps, have become some of the most sought-after Y-3 pieces of all.

This is the jacket collectors call the Heroes biker. Panels of black and tangerine cowhide meet at a band of perforated grey and ivory leather stripes that runs across the chest and down each sleeve, a direct nod to the adidas track jacket. The neckline is collarless and piped in ivory, the front closes on a long two-way zip finished with a leather pull, and zipped hand pockets and zipped cuffs keep the line clean. The back is the statement: a full-width printed portrait of a man in a vest and chain, set against a pale circle on perforated orange leather.

Inside, a perforated silver mesh lining keeps the jacket light enough for spring. The interior label carries the adidas and Y-3 Yohji Yamamoto marks, tagged M and made in Japan, with production code 914613 and the date 12/03, consistent with the Spring/Summer 2004 delivery. A runway image of the same design is included among the photographs for reference.

It wears as a short, regular-fit biker, ending just at the hip with a slightly boxy body and long, close sleeves. Over a white tee and wide denim it reads exactly as it did on the runway; over black tailoring it becomes something stranger and more Yamamoto.

Details

• Designer: Yohji Yamamoto for Y-3 (adidas)
• Season: Spring/Summer 2004
• Model / ref: Heroes biker jacket, production code 914613, dated 12/03
• Material: 100% cowhide leather; perforated mesh lining
• Colour: Tangerine, black, grey and ivory, with printed portrait
• Made in: Japan
• Tagged size: M
• Measurements: Shoulder 44 cm · Chest (pit to pit) 55 cm · Sleeve 64 cm · Length 62 cm
• Included: Jacket only

Condition

• Graded 7 out of 10: light wear with minor marks in keeping with age.
• Leather remains supple, with soft creasing and light surface marks on the orange panels.
• The printed portrait on the back is complete and clear.
• Mesh lining intact; light handling marks inside.
• Zips and pull run smoothly.

Condition grade AB on the Japanese scale; see Japanese condition ranks, explained.

Authenticity & Care

The labels, materials, stitching, hardware and construction are examined together and documented in Japan before dispatch; anything that cannot be confirmed is stated plainly in the description. Every piece carries the Japonista authenticity guarantee. Wipe with a soft dry cloth, condition sparingly once or twice a year, and hang on a broad-shouldered hanger away from heat and direct sun.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything before you buy, and see our published policy.

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