Why Do Bikers Wear Leather Jackets and Outwear?

Whether you ride on pavement or go off-road, proper motorcycle safety gear is a necessity. And that doesn’t just stop at a quality helmet, either. Gloves, boots, jackets, and pants are all part of the ensemble. And besides helmets, few things are as closely tied to the biker image than the leather motorcycle jacket. But why is it, despite modern advances in materials, that the leather motorcycle jacket is still so popular?

What Is a Leather Motorcycle Jacket?

A leather motorcycle jacket is a form of protective outerwear consisting of a real leather jacket that’s designed for use by motorcycle riders. Riding a motorcycle, of course, requires certain forms of protective gear to minimize the risk of injury. In any given year, over 100,000 people are injured while riding a motorcycle. Some of these injuries are minor are consist of nothing more than scrapes or bruises. Others are more severe and consist of broken bones, road rash and other major injuries. Leather motorcycle jackets are designed to reduce the risk of certain minor injuries.

Based on the appearance, leather motorcycle jackets look like most other traditional and classic leather jackets. They feature a uniform design in a common color, the most common being black. With that said, leather motorcycle jackets have a few features that distinguish them from the rest. For starters, they are often thicker than traditional and classic leather jackets. Leather motorcycle jackets are constructed of thick leather that offers a higher level of protection against physical injury than those made of thinner leather and other thinner materials.

Most leather motorcycle jackets also have a zipper on the front. In comparison, traditional and classic leather jackets are available with either a zipper or buttons on the front. With a zipper, you can fully close the front of a leather motorcycle leather jacket. This isn’t possible with leather jackets that have buttons on the front.

A brief history of the leather motorcycle jacket

Leather jackets have become synonymous with motorcycle apparel. When driving down the highway, you may see motorcycle riders wearing a leather jacket. These leather motorcycle jackets have been around for over a century. And during that time, little has changed regarding their general construction and appearance. Leather motorcycle jackets are still made of premium leather, and they are still made in the same classic styles as those in the past. For a better understanding of the history of leather motorcycle jackets, keep reading.

Origins of Leather Motorcycle Jackets

The iconic black leather motorcycle jacket is older than many realize. Bearing a close resemblance to the leather overcoats and bomber jackets worn in WWII, it was popularized in the 1950s and 60s. Especially after Marlon Brando wore one in The Wild One.

But the first leather motorcycle jacket actually dates back to the 1920s, Motorcyclist reports. It’s the creation of New York native Irving Schott, who made raincoats and rode motorcycles. He and his brother were the first to put a zipper on a jacket in 1925. But Schott had a problem: none of the coats available at the time were suited to motorcycle riding. Contemporary leather jackets didn’t have the right fit, and they wouldn’t stay closed in brisk winds.

So, in 1928, Schott combined a diagonal zipper with a tighter-fit leather jacket to create the Perfecto. And the Schott NYC company still makes it to this day.

Research shows that leather motorcycle jackets originated in the early 1900s. In 1913, two brothers, Irving and Jack Schott, launched a clothing store known as Schott NYC. It’s believed that this store was one of the first places to sell a leather motorcycle jacket.

The brothers released a specific brand of leather motorcycle jackets at their store in 1928. Known as Perfecto, it consisted of real leather jackets that were designed primarily for use by motorcycle riders. The Perfecto motorcycle jackets were made of real leather and featured a zipper on the front. More importantly, perhaps, they were designed to withstand heavy use without degrading or otherwise succumbing to damage.

Shortly after launching their Perfecto line of leather motorcycle jackets, the Schott brothers sold it to the iconic motorcycle company Harley Davidson. It didn’t take long until motorcycle riders across the country, as well as the world, began wearing these leather jackets. Some of them wore the Perfecto leather jackets, whereas other motorcycle riders wore different brands of leather jackets made by different companies.

Leather Motorcycle Jackets Today

You can still find leather motorcycle jackets sold and worn today. Since their origins dating back nearly a century ago, little has changed regarding their basic design. They are still made of real leather, and they are still designed with a high-quality zipper on the front. Nonetheless, leather motorcycle jackets have gone through a few notable changes.

When compared to those made and worn in the past, leather motorcycle jackets today are available in more colors. You aren’t restricted to choosing one in black. Black is, in fact, the most popular color in which leather motorcycle jackets, but it’s not the only color. Other common color in which leather motorcycle jackets are made include brown, red, green, olive, white and even blue.

Another difference between leather motorcycle jackets manufactured in the past and those manufactured today is that the latter are available in more styles. Styles were somewhat limited in the past. Early leather motorcycle jackets were limited to just a few basic styles. While you can still find leather motorcycle jackets in these basic styles, you can now choose from dozens of alternative styles.

The PKAWAY® Faux PU Leather Jacket, for instance, features the same style as worn by the famous Spanish Grand Prix road racer of its namesake. Marquez has over a half-dozen Grand Prix championships, making him one of the most successful motorcycle riders of all time. You can find leather motorcycle jackets in the same style as those worn by PKAWAY®.

Before you panic, I’m not about to say that moto jackets are completely on the outs. On the contrary, they’re more of a forever staple than a trend. In fact, the moto jacket in my closet is one of the wardrobe anchors that will eventually have to be pried from dead hands. Yep, I’m that committed to it. So don’t read this headline as an instruction to go and toss your motos in the trash right now. Instead, I want to bring your attention to a new wave of leather outerwear that I think will come to be as important as classic motos in the coming months.

As we’ve noted before, motos have basically disappeared from the street-style scene, but in general, every fashion person still has a leather jacket in their cold-weather wardrobe. That being said, we’ve been overdue for a fresh redesign. Well, just as fall is knocking on our doors, the 2021 leather jacket editions have arrived. I dove deep into the new-arrivals section of our favorite retailers, from Net-a-Porter to Mango, and I found a few common themes. Overall, jackets are getting a sleek, ’90s-inspired makeover, and utility shapes, leather shackets, and even leather bomber jackets are taking center stage.

Ahead, take a look at the stylish leather jackets we’ll be seeing on celebs, models, influencers, and everyone else this fall.

Why make motorcycle jackets out of leather?

And why do so many come in black? As Cycle World explains, it’s a matter of practicality and safety. Black doesn’t show stains from oil or dirt. The leather itself is windproof and can be lined for additional warmth. But perhaps most importantly, leather is significantly better at resisting abrasion than wool, cotton, or the typical denim fabric. So, if a biker does go down, the jacket protects their skin.

Is leather still the best material for motorcycle jackets?

While there are different types of materials used in motorcycle clothes, leather stands out of the rest – most notably for

Leather is a raw material created by tanning the skin or rawhide of animals. This process strengthens the hide, making it durable and flexible while preventing it from decomposing. The different techniques of producing leather and the various types of skin used yields a great range of leather types and styles with varying quality. The most common styles of leather used for motorcycle clothing is either Cow or buffalo ride.

While there are different types of materials used in motorcycle clothes, leather stands out of the rest – most notably for jackets and vests. In fact, it became synonymous to the motorcycling world. In fact, leather is the first thing that’ll cross your mind when you’ll be thinking about motorcycle apparel, right?

But why is it that leather, according to many, is the best materials for motorcycle clothing? Here are the top reasons:

• Offers Great Protection
• Durability
• Flexibility
• Comfort Factor
• Suitability for All Weathers
• Long Life Span

Well, the list of advantages we mentioned above clearly tells us that leather indeed is the best material for motorcycle clothing. It offers long lasting comfort, style, flexibility and protection. So, if you are planning on buying a vest or a jacket.make sure to pick high-quality premium leather or Faux Leather Jacket like PKAWAY® offered

Faux-leather Jacket Buying Guide

Leather jackets offer a unique style option that can complement a wide variety of outfits. While real leather is a popular choice, faux-leather offers benefits like improved durability and a potentially lower price point that can bring the look of leather into reach for more people. Understanding the materials used to create faux-leather jackets, how to find the right jacket, and unique care considerations can help shoppers make the perfect purchase.

Why Go Faux-Leather?

There are many benefits to consider when determining whether a faux-leather jacket is the right choice. Affordability as compared with real leather is a major benefit. Faux-leather tends to cost just a fraction of the price of real leather, so people who want to sport the leather look for less can look to faux-leather as a viable option. This allows you to be on trend at a fraction of the cost, and update your wardrobe every season.

Another reason is the fact that faux-leather is easier to maintain. It is specifically manufactured to resist staining, and is usually fade resistant. Caring for a faux-leather jacket tends to be much easier than caring for the real thing.

One final reason to opt for faux-leather jackets is the fact that the color tends to be more consistent throughout the clothing piece. Real leather has a mottled appearance that occurs naturally. While some people enjoy this feature of real leather, the consistency offered by faux-leather makes it easier to match the color of a faux-leather jacket to an outfit.

Faux-Leather Materials

The materials used in faux-leather jackets are made up of poly urethane (PU), a plastic-like material. Wilsons Leather works hard to offer real leather products to customers, but PU pieces allow us to expand our offerings without moving away from our leather roots. Faux-leather jackets that are made of PU are less expensive, and the reduced price of this material means that more customers are able to afford the look of leather for less.

As a PU-based product, faux-leather is a vegan-friendly option. People who would like to complement their wardrobe by adding the look of leather can do so without compromising their vegan lifestyle by opting for faux-leather jackets.

While PU products may have had a fake look in the past, technology has allowed these products to look more like the real thing. High-quality materials help to create a look that closely matches real leather, and Wilsons Leather sources materials from trusted suppliers to ensure that the final product does not have the plastic-like look and feel that some competitors’ faux-leather jackets have. The finished product not only looks more like real leather, but it is also easy to clean and keep in top shape.

As an expert in the world of leather, Wilsons Leather is dedicated to using high-quality craftsmanship in every leather piece that is produced by the company. This craftsmanship is also applied to faux-leather pieces. Materials are the most important part of the garment, and Wilsons Leather tumbles, distresses and washes the faux-leather garments to make sure that the final product that is offered to customers has the same look as leather.

Picking the Right Jacket

Faux-leather jackets offer a perfect pairing of form and function for nearly any use. The lightest faux-leather jackets can be pulled on over a light outfit in the heat of summer to draw interest without causing discomfort, while winter-weather jackets offer function by providing wearers with comfort and warmth throughout the colder months. Whether faux-leather jackets are being worn on a motorcycle ride or during a night on the town, these jackets offer a versatile and stylish option. The lower price point makes it affordable for customers to purchase several different jackets to complement their outfits in any season. As a PU-based product, faux-leather jackets come in a wide variety of colors to offer even more style options.

Faux-leather is a lightweight material that is easy to pack away for travel or wear every day. It is a comfortable material that adds a style option for warm or cool weather. There are even jackets available that have a faux-fur liner added for a cozy, warm option when the temperatures start to drop.

Faux-Leather Jacket Styles

Achieving the perfect look with a faux-leather jacket is a matter of choosing the style that complements a particular outfit.

Motorcycle jackets often utilize an asymmetrical cut for a stylish addition to a motorcycle outfit. These jackets offer protection from the wind that whips by as wearers enjoy a ride through the city or mountains.

Faux-leather blazers have a professional look that can add a leather accent to an outfit that is worn to the office. The cut is specifically designed to contour to the body in the same way as a more traditional blazer.

Faux-leather trenches offer the additional length needed to create a put-together look during a commute or a day on the town.

Collarless styles offer a more streamlined look for everyday wear.

Faux-leather vests offer the look of leather without the sleeves for a lightweight option that can be worn on warmer days.

With a more affordable price point, customers can choose several of these style options to be sure that they will have a faux-leather jacket ready for any occasion.

Caring for Your Jacket

As mentioned above, faux-leather is easier to maintain than real leather. However, it is still important to regularly care for faux-leather jackets to keep them looking their best over the years.

Stains can generally be removed with a combination of warm water and a mild detergent. The jacket should be allowed to air dry in a well-ventilated space after it has been cleaned.

PU-based jackets have a breathable quality that makes it essential to wipe off spills as quickly as possible to avoid long-term staining or discoloration. If a stain sets into the material, it is recommended that the piece be taken to a dry cleaner to ensure that the jacket is not damaged during the cleaning process.

If a faux-leather jacket is exposed to smells like cigarette smoke, the piece should be allowed to air out. For smells that are more persistent, it may be necessary to wipe down the entire jacket with a mixture of two parts warm water to one part vinegar. Be sure to air dry the garment after wiping it down to protect the material and allow the smell to dissipate.

While faux-leather is easier to care for than leather and offers built-in protection, wearers can also add a layer of protection to these pieces by choosing a spray, such as our Leather Care Spray that is specifically made to keep faux-leather in top shape.

Tips on Choosing a Leather Motorcycle Jacket

With so many styles available, how do you know which leather motorcycle jacket to choose exactly? When choosing a leather motorcycle jacket, take a moment to inspect the material from it’s made. Not all leather motorcycle jackets are made of the same material. Some of them are made of high-quality leather, whereas others are made of cheaper and lower-quality leather. There are even some leather motorcycle jackets that are made of faux leather, which isn’t actually real leather.

Like with all leather jackets, leather motorcycle jackets are available in different sizes. Since you’ll probably be wearing it while riding a motorcycle, you should choose one in the right size. You can’t expect a leather motorcycle jacket to provide a high level of comfort unless it fits. If it’s too small, it may prevent you from bending or moving your body. If it’s too big, conversely, it may fit loosely while creating excess and baggy material.

You can avoid these problems by choosing a custom-sized leather motorcycle jackets. Custom sizing means that it will be personalized according to your body measurements. When you order a custom-sized leather motorcycle jacket, you can submit your body measurements. These measurements will be used to personalize your leather motorcycle jacket so that it fits perfectly and without being too small or too big.

What material should a motorcycle jacket be?

Leather is generally considered to be the gold standard for motorcycle gear, and the price often reflects that. A good jacket will use leather thicker than 1mm, 1.2-1.4mm in thickness is usually the sweet spot. It’ll be thin enough to move around in but will allow for road protection and durability.

What leather is best for motorcycle jacket?

Cowhides,Better the quality of leather better the jacket is. Animal hide leather is the best and among them, kangaroo, deer, and cowhides are on top. The quality of the leather is important but there are other features to look for as well. Quality of zippers, stitching, and the color quality of the jacket also matter.

How long does a leather motorcycle jacket last?

Leather is known as the longest-lasting motorcycle jacket material, but with proper maintenance, others can last for 10+ years too. If you purchase a high-quality coat and take good care of it, it will last for years.

Why do bikers wear black leather jackets?

The main reason motorcycle riders wear leather is for protection. … Motorcyclists wear leather jackets, vests, and chaps to protect the vital parts of their body in the case of an accident or crash. So while wearing leather during a motorcycle ride can make you look cool, the basis is for safety.