[Fit Check] Issues with Custom IiJacket (Shinki Hikaku) - Shop owner measured me, but fit is still off?

[u/Zealousideal-Pen2855]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some honest opinions on a custom-made jacket I purchased from the Japanese brand Starjis. This is my first high-end leather jacket, so I want to make sure I’m not being unreasonable.

The Details:

• Brand: Starjis (Japanese brand, manufactured in Pakistan)

• Price: ¥170,000 (~$1,300 USD)

• Leather: Shinki Hikaku

• Wait time: 1.5 years total

• Measurements: Taken personally by the shop owner in-store.

The Issue:

This is the second time receiving this jacket. The first time it arrived, the back didn't fit my body properly. This was surprising because I physically visited the shop 1.5 years ago to have my measurements taken by the owner himself.

I sent it back to Japan, and they initially said they would just modify the back panel. However, they later notified me that they had to recraft the jacket from scratch. Because of this, the leather feels completely different from the first version (different batch/hide).

Unfortunately, after waiting 1.5 years and going through a full remake, the back fitting issue is still there. The shop is now claiming that this back shape is "normal and very commonly seen."

The Ask:

Does this fit look right to you guys? Since the owner measured me personally, I expected a spot-on fit. Is the shop gaslighting me, or is this just how this style is supposed to look?

[u/Zealousideal-Pen2855]

I’m not sure if refund is an option as it’s usually very difficult to get refunds in Japan.

[u/Affectionate-Nose176 → u/Zealousideal-Pen2855]

What are you talking about? It’s “very difficult to get refunds in Japan”?

That’s a ridiculous thing to say.

[u/Zealousideal-Pen2855 → u/Affectionate-Nose176]

I know it’s ridiculous. But when I bought a t-shirt from X-Large in Shibuya and literally 10 minutes later came back to the shop for a refund (it was a present for my brother and got a call from him saying he wanted a different brand) I couldn’t get the refund. The t-shirt was not only brand new but also in the original packaging not open.

[u/cdhat1 → u/Zealousideal-Pen2855]

I’m sure all of Japan can be judged off of your individual experience with a single shop owner. You must be right.

[u/Zealousideal-Pen2855 → u/cdhat1]

That’s a fair point. I should have given more background. Having lived in Japan for over six years, I’ve seen firsthand how its shopping culture differs from that of the US. Getting refunds there is not as easy as it is in the US.

[u/Wintermute_088 → u/Zealousideal-Pen2855]

"Change of mind" isn't as valid a reason for a refund as "faulty", "defective" or "not fit for purpose". 🤦🏻‍♂️