Movie Stars and Rockers make Nate's Leather part of their wardrobe. Read about who and why....

'COOLEST PART OF THE UNIFORM'

By David Staudacher

Correspondent

"It's the coolest part of the uniform." Chicago Police Detective Paul Staudacher said.Staudacher wasn't talking about his badge or gun. He was talking about his leather Chicago police Jacket.Staudacher, who has been on the force for more than nine years, had his jacket before he was a cop. " I bought it 1988, when I was in college, "he said. " One of my friends had one, I liked it, and decided to get one."

Leather Chicago police jackets are made at various locations in Chicago. but for many, there is only one place to get one-Nate's Leather and Police Equipment Co.

Nate's opened in 1958 on 79th Street in Chicago before moving to 2950 W. 63rd St. in 1973, where it has remained.

"We originally got into the business because we made custom leatherJackets, and we did police jackets on the side, "said Josh Chernoff president of Nates's Leathers. "When we started doing it, it wasn't really (for just police.)

"Over time, the Police jackets took over more of the custom work we were doing," Chernoff said.

Nate's sells more than just leather Jackets. offering an array of items for police and security officers. "Our core business is making the leather police coats for the Chicago Police department" Chernoff said." Along with other uniforms, we also make covers for bullet proof vests. "We've been really busy making these black carriers for the overshirt body armor."

While the store's customers primarily are police officers, the shop is open to the public, and the main reason to visit is for one of the police jackets.

Nates makes between 500 and 600 jackets every year, with each jacket taking nearly five hours to make.

We made a jacket for Sandra Bullock," Chernoff said. "We made a motorcycle coat for Dennis Rodman with the sleeves cut off." Nate's also made a jacket for Chicago area actor Mike Starr who appeared in "Goodfellas." He came in here and got a coat."

"We did work for a lot of wrestlers," he said. "They are guys that just found us. Like AX from demolition."

"We have a great reputation for leather coats," Chernoff said. It is all word of mouth."

And it's Nates reputation that keeps customers coming back and new customers coming in.