Leather Jacket

St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture, Jan 29, 2002 by Geri Speace

Few pieces of clothing carry the rich connotations of the leather jacket, especially when it is the personality-laden black motorcycle style. Since the prehistoric era, people have worn leather, but in the twentieth century, the black leather jacket became the symbol of the outlaw when it was used as protective outerwear for motorcycle enthusiasts. Marlon Brando exemplified the style in the film The Wild One, and the coat became a necessity for Hell's Angels and other bikers who emblazoned their club's name on the back. Rock stars and punks later latched on to this "bad boy" image of black leather, but leather jackets eventually found mainstream favor when manufacturers began creating leather in a variety of styles and colors, such as the brown bomber jacket and haute couture skirts and blazers. The mystique of the original biker style, however, endures.