The trucker jacket dates back to Levi Strauss in 1880 and has received major updates in 1905, 1953, and finally 1962, the last giving us what we think of as the modern trucker jacket style. It’s a classic design, with one problem: pair a denim trucker jacket with jeans and you’ve got a Canadian tuxedo, as they say. But for many of us, jeans constitute a fair percentage of our casual wardrobe. What if we make the jacket in a different material: something that can be dressed up a bit without feeling stuffy or over the top? Suede comes to mind.

In fact, there’s no shortage of suede trucker jackets from upscale luxury (or approachable luxury) brands: Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, 7 For All Mankind, Todd Snyder, and others have offerings in the $500–1,100 (429–924 €) range. But now we have an option from Thursday Boot, and with their direct-to-consumer model, their suede trucker jacket (available in both men’s and women’s versions) comes in at $360 (309 €). Can it compete with its higher-priced siblings? What do you give up at this price point?

The jacket is available in the same three colors in both men’s and women’s versions: Black, Chocolate, and Dusty. Men’s sizes are available in S to XXL; women’s in XS to XL.

For more on the three-question Tradeoff Audit for evaluating any approachable luxury purchase, see the feature article.

What remains luxurious? First, the tactile experience. Like its near-luxury competitors like those named above—Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, 7 For All Mankind, Todd Snyder—the goat suede used for this jacket is supple, at least after a few wearings.¹ Looks-wise, it has the same elevated casual style, the same versatility to dress up and down, and the same ability to layer. No matter whether you go with a near-luxury trucker jacket or the Thursday Boot offering, you’re likely to get compliments.

What becomes cheaper? Transparency. Thursday Boot doesn’t disclose their leather sources or factory locations on their product page. If you contact customer support, they’ll readily tell you that they both source their leather from and manufacture the jacket in India. In a statement on their website, Thursday Boot says that they “only partner with manufacturers and suppliers that uphold the highest ethical standards,” and that they “work exclusively with tanneries that can provide traceable material records and have received high marks from the Leather Working Group (LWG) for both environmental practices and chemical management”. This is commendable, but they could provide far more information on a product-specific basis, including on ethical treatment of animals—something they don’t currently discuss. They could also provide the same level of disclosure for goat and other leathers as they do for bovine leather.

What are the consequences? Trust. Both at a distance and visiting a retail outlet in person, Thursday Boot presents as a trustworthy company. As the saying goes, though, trust but verify. They could go beyond general assertions of their ethical approach and provide product-specific details, including the type and source of their leather, the environmental and welfare aspects of how it was raised and harvested, where the product was manufactured, and the like. In the absence of this, the burden is on thoughtful consumers to do this research themselves.

If you enjoy the look and feel of suede and appreciate wardrobe pieces that can stand alone or layer, and can work in both casual and dressier contexts, this jacket could work for you—especially if you find the price compelling. If you live in a wetter climate and aren’t interested in protective maintenance on your outerwear, or if you place a high premium on brand disclosures about their sourcing, you might want to look elsewhere.

We do not accept consideration of any kind in exchange for product or service reviews.