motorcycle jacket history

A short history of biker jackets

The archetypal rugged leather biker jacket may seem to have always existed, but this is not – of course – the case. Only in the late 1920s was the first leather zipped motorcycle jacket as we now recognise it truly invented, and it took several decades after that to settle into its present status as an icon of effortless cool – a key moment being Marlon Brando’s appearance in one for his 1953 debut, The Wild One.

The biker jacket has come a long way

Since then, biker jackets similar to the one worn by Brando have gained considerable cultural currency, with The Ramones helping to make it a staple of punk and rock subcultures. It would be little surprise, then, that the ‘biker image’ would subsequently be adopted by such central pop figures as The Beatles, Elvis and Steve McQueen.

It seemed that the ‘70s were all about roughness, rawness and rebellion, as surely no better demonstrated than by Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious, with his instantly recognisable combination of a personalised biker jacket and signature spiked hair.

Tom Cruise’s appearance in a biker jacket in 1986’s Top Gun was just one example of its continued aesthetic appeal in the following decade – and it has never gone out of fashion since. Today, when bikers require a suitable jacket, they continue to adore the combination of a provocative aesthetic and unpretentious durability offered by the traditional biker jacket.

Airvest helps to bring the biker jacket into the 21st century

The leather motorcycle jacket may have retained its popularity over the years for good reasons, but even this timeless wardrobe essential can still benefit from updates to suit 21st-century expectations and requirements. That’s why, here at Airvest, we stock biker jackets that incorporate the very latest safety technology.

It’s why you can purchase a leather jacket or touring jacket from us incorporating a protective airbag system that will help to guard against serious injury if you suffer an accident on your bike. The unique air bag design provides the best possible coverage of your vital organs and skeletal structures, with enhanced protection given to specific areas including the neck, thorax, spine, abdomen and pelvic region. The air bag also has a large surface area for better impact absorption and energy dispersal.

Such elements help to bring our biker jackets into line with the safety standards that many riders expect in the 2010s – and you may also be surprised by just how affordable such jackets can be, relative to their exceptional quality.

Shop at Airvest now for the biker jackets that carve out a new chapter in the distinguished history of this venerable garment.

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