Leather jackets are very popular today and give off a cool chic look whether men wear them or women. But they have an interesting history of becoming stylish and widely popular for their rebellious look. In fact, they weren’t worn by the public but by military personnel before they became famous among civilians.
Read on to discover the interesting leather jacket history, how they were once military attire, and how people started wearing them as part of the rebellion and cool outfits.
The Invention of Leather
Early humans discovered that animal hides could be transformed into a durable material using simple stone tools and natural substances like tannins. By around 5000 BC, civilizations in regions such as Mehrgarh and Sumer had developed basic tanning techniques that prevented decay, allowing hides to be used for clothing, shelter, and protection.
Over time, methods improved in ancient Egypt and Rome, where tanners used chemicals such as alum and salt to create softer, dyeable leather for footwear, armor, and everyday goods. In the 19th century, innovations like chrome tanning further streamlined the leather manufacturing process that’s still used today to turn animal hides into flexible, soft, and durable leather materials.
1900s: The Beginning Of The Leather Jacket
Leather jackets were worn during the early 1900s and can be dated back to the period of aviation in World War 1. The airplanes required pilots to wear strong, protective, and warm garments due to the open cockpits owing to the invention of flight jackets by the US Army Aviation Clothing Board in 1917.
These early flight suits were made of brown leather to keep the pilots warm in cockpits and were subsequently called bomber jackets.
1920s: The Invention Of The Motorcycle Leather Jacket
In 1928, Irving Schott invented a leather motorcycle jacket with zippers instead of buttons, he named it “Perfecto” after his favorite cigarette brand, which is also called the original biker jacket.
The 1950s, 1960s: Leather Jackets Increase In Popularity
After the 1950s, leather jackets gained significant popularity as they were worn by film stars in movies, starting from Marlon Brando who wore a biker leather jacket in his classic movie The Wild One in 1953. Another popular American film star, James Dean wore a leather jacket in his 1955 movie “Rabel without a Cause.”
Many stars followed suit. Elvis Presley used leather jackets to highlight his rebellious spirit, most notably in Jailhouse Rock (1957). Steve McQueen showcased its rugged appeal in films like The Great Escape (1963) and Bullitt (1968).
1970s: The Music Industry Embraced The Leather Jacket
Rock bands, including The Ramones, wore leather jackets in their concert. They looked unique and rebellious, increasing the popularity of leather jackets.
The 1980s: Leather Jackets’ Popularity Among Women
Leather jackets hugely gained popularity in the women’s fashion world, starting from Joan Jett and Blondie who rocked the Perfecto jacket that transitioned the leather jacket into women’s wardrobes.
From The 1990s To 2000s
While the rebellion culture faded in the 1990s, the leather jacket still continuously reinvented itself while remaining an enduring symbol of rebellious cool and refined style.
Designers began experimenting with diverse cuts, finishes, and embellishments to create modern versions of leather jackets. It was worn in movies like Fight Club by Brad Pitt in 1999, in the Matrix series, and in X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009.
From The 2010s To Today
From Ryan Gosling’s satin color leather jacket in “Drive 2010” movie, Scarlett Johansson’s black leather jacket as Black Widow in 2012’s Avenger, Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s famous leather jacket as Negan in The Walking Dead series in 2016 to Dakota Johnson wearing a red leather jacket in Madame Web in 2024, leather jackets are everywhere today.
There’s a huge variety of leather jacket styles and colors today from oversized style, and cropped style for women, leather blazers, suede leather jackets to leather coats. It’s still a timeless, popular, and durable clothing piece that looks best with every outfit.
