Motorcycle Jacket History

When motorcycles became popular in the U.S. in the 1920's, riders wore jackets modeled after military styles. The brown goatskin bomber with a button closure was very popular. Also popular were long horsehide coats with a button front.

In 1928 the Schott Brothers Outerwear Company in New York designed and produced the first motorcycle jacket with a zipper. Its asymetric styling allowed the lapels to fold over eachother and snap down, allowing the jacket to be zipped all the way up.

The style was an instant hit, but it took Hollywood to transform it into the iconic symbol of biker culture. As Johnny Strabler in 1953's The Wild Ones, Marlon Brando sported a black Schott Brothers Perfecto jacket that quickly became THE symbol of outlaw motorcycle culture. James Dean cemented the look three years later in Rebel Without A Cause.

Today this enduring style is known as the "Classic" or "Brando" jacket. At Old Dog Leather we have classic jackets by classic manufacturers Exelment and Allstate Leather in sizes extra small to as big as you are! Made of premium top grade cowhide, these jackets are built to last and never go out of style. We even have classic jackets for kids starting at size 4. Get "The Look" at Old Dog Leather.