The History of Leather Jackets

The definition of Leather jacket pertains to a jacket made from leather. Typically it features a dark appearance, Brown, Grey, Dark brown are common colours for a leather jacket although now jackets can be found in lighter colours: Red, Blue etc through history leather jackets have served many different purposes from fashion to the military, and motorcycling.

Wearing animal hides is not modern; it goes as far back as the palaeolithic times. Investigations have discovered paintings in caves showing mankind wearing animal skins. These are far from what we wear nowadays however. Skins previously were addressed with ingredients present in nature.

When ancient Egyptian tombs were excavated paintings and artifacts put together showing that leather jacket was heavily used through out the time. The Egyptian military used animal skin for any variety of things: shields, harnesses, sandles, clothing, and other objects crucial for survival. The traditional Greeks, and Romans also used leather for the similar reason. It was the Romans who introduced leather to Europe. British monks become experts in making leather, they sometimes used animal skins for writing on and they were often utilized on boats. We were holding called Coracles.

Over the next few centuries leather manufacturing rapidly expanded and leather jackets started to be produced. Through the medieval period the majority of towns included a tannery. Though still standing the majority of these tanneries are actually not used for their original purpose. If you look at a street name you can sometimes see proof of what once was “Leather Lane” or “Tanner Road” etc.

The twentieth century arrived as well as to be used in both World Wars known as leather bomber jackets they became cool and because of the cinema became iconic. The most obvious evidence of this really is in the film The Wild One; Marlon Brandos character wore a leather biker jacket through out and is also now commonplace image of the film itself. Films like this popularised leather jackets especially between the American & British youth. A Leather jacket what food was in every-body’s wardrobe like the “greaser” subculture, Can you think about the Fonz without thinking of his equally iconic jacket?

Many more examples of iconic leather jackets followed especially towards the end of the century. From the T-800 Character from the Terminator movies, towards longer 3/4 length trench coat style worn by Keanu Reeves in the Matrix.

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