Schott NYC Perfecto

 

You know, I've been lusting over getting a nice sheepskin bomber jacket before the winter comes, but looking over sellers in Canada, I keep coming across this style of biker jacket. It's been ubiquitous as long as I've been alive, but where did it come from...? I didn't know, so I had to waste some time and do a little research.

Here's what I found...

The black leather biker jacket — the one with wide lapels, an asymmetric front zipper, and a belt — originated in New York City in 1928, created by Irving Schott of the company Schott NYC.

He designed it for Harley-Davidson and called it the Perfecto, after his favorite cigar brand. It was the first motorcycle jacket made from horsehide leather with a zippered front, which was a big innovation at the time (most jackets still used buttons).

The design had practical reasons: the asymmetric zipper kept the wind out while riding, the wide lapels could be snapped down or folded over to protect the chest, the belted waist kept the jacket tight so it wouldn’t flap at high speed, and the epaulettes were originally meant for holding gloves or small riding gear.

It became an icon after Marlon Brando wore it in The Wild One (1953) — the film that made the Perfecto the uniform of rebellious youth. Later, it was adopted by rockers, punks, and metalheads alike.

So while it’s now a symbol of cool, it started as purely functional motorcycle gear designed for wind protection and durability.

Hmm, makes me wish I was fifteen again....almost.