Usually made of silk, the jackets would feature embroidered icons like dragons, local Japanese flora, tigers, geisha portraiture, and more. Some of the animals were a stand-in for the military units to which the soldiers belonged. These one-of-a-kind pieces were then brought back as souvenirs—hence its alternate moniker— to the United States and given away, traded amongst soldiers, or sold as gifts. Since each soldier infused their designs with their own experiences, memories, and creative vision, no two hand-sewn authentic sukajan from the post-war period were the same.
The silhouette of the jacket was based on classic letterman jackets and baseball jackets, as popularized by high school and university varsity sports teams in 1930s America. The sleeves would usually be of a contrasting colour, and bright colours were often used. It was a perfect stylistic marriage, merging visuals from life in Japan with an Americana cut.