Like many great pieces of outerwear, the Valstarino hails from the military and we were inspired by the A1 flight jacket, which was designed and issued in 1927 as a summer jacket for USAAC (United States Army Air
Corps) pilots. By reimagining the A1, we became the first company to reinterpret military apparel for the civilian market in a sporty and casual way.
The original A1, of which very few examples remain today, was made from a leather called capeskin, a durable, grainy, and highly supple leather obtained from sheep skin.
The design, purposely simple and functional, featured a front closure with five buttons plus two additional buttons fixed on the hem and on the Mandarin collar, while both the collar and cuffs were finished with a ribbed cotton knit trim. Completing the garment were two side pockets with button closures.
The jacket was cut slim with a high armhole, designed to ensure maximum freedom of movement inside the tight cockpit of airplanes, yet it was also perfect as a piece to wear off duty.
Although the A1 was produced for only four years before being replaced by the A2, it left an indelible mark on the history of military outerwear, remaining an icon of functional and timeless design.
Our Valstarino pays homage to the iconic A1 by elevating it with small design details and the use of luxurious materials, crafted with the highest level of artisanal quality.
Although the Valstarino is available in both technical fabrics and traditional textiles, we are particularly proud of our goatsuede version, which offers an optimal combination of softness, elasticity, and breathability. Most of the leathers come from a renowned Tuscan tannery, where they are pressed to achieve an ideal thickness between 0.5 mm and 0.6 mm.
Subsequently, the leathers are carefully tanned to obtain intense and deep colors. From classic tones like brown and navy blue to more contemporary shades, the Valstarino perfectly suits every occasion and enhances every hue. The leathers are then transported to our workshops in the Veneto and Tuscany regions, where our team of artisans carefully inspects them, scanning to detect any imperfections or irregularities, thus ensuring only impeccable and unique pieces.
Our team hand-cuts all parts of the Valstarino, which can include up to 20 elements, including the three large back panels and smaller pockets. This process can take up to 60 minutes per jacket. After cutting, Valstar's tailors assemble the jacket, a task that may take up to eight hours and involves various machines and tools requiring great skill and patience. Smaller, intricate parts like buttonholes are sewn strictly by hand.
A delicate phase in making the Valstarino is sewing the suede onto the ribbed trims of the collar, cuffs, and hem. Being an elastic and springy material, suede must be perfectly distributed—not too loose or too tight—to avoid unwanted puckering or deformation.
After assembly, each Valstarino undergoes strict quality control to ensure every detail is flawless. The final step is sewing in the label that marks the excellence of true Made in Italy craftsmanship by Valstar.
It’s important to note some differences in our range Valstarinos. Such as, our F/W jackets have two internal pockets and a lining that is carefully inserted by hand, plus a wool or cashmere ribbing. Our S/S jackets are unlined and have one internal pocket and a specially-made cotton ribbing.
Here at Valstar, we’re constantly updating and modifying our classics and this particularly applies to our Valstarino, which is now available in a wide range of fa- brics and materials in addition to goat suedes. From Italian wool flannels to hearty British tweeds, to cutting-edge cotton and nylon blend fabrics for water resistance, we’re certain that whatever your preference, there’s a Valstarino jacket for you.
With the changing codes of dress, the Valstarino is in many ways the modern blazer. It’s a classic design and its flattering silhouette ensures that it looks great on everybody. Whether worn with tailored flannel trousers, a denim shirt or a cashmere rollneck in winter, or with cotton chinos and a T-shirt in spring, the Valstarino can be worn throughout the year.