The Leather Motorcycle Jacket History

Always made in the USA and 100% patriotic every Schott NYC leather or wool jacket comes with a history, a story spanning 90 years and four generations of Schotts in America. As well, the time frame spans 22 presidents, two world wars, one King not to mention the love affair of Americans and the open road. How many have left their cares behind and hit the open road in Schott leather ... impossible to tell.

Two brothers, Irving and Jack Schott, took aim at their desire for the American dream and started making raincoats on the lower east side of Manhattan and sold them door to door all over New York City. The setting is 1913 New York with the Model T beginning to crowd the bustling and busy streets of New York City.

In the 1920s when Al Capone and The Yankees famous Babe Ruth were filling the news with their antics and records, the Schott brothers were changing fashion and defining a new American style. It was at this time that the first zipper was put onto a jacket. It was the Schott brothers who brought us the zipper jacket that we all know so well today.

With innovation at his heart and a burgeoning desire to succeed Irving then set his sights on leather, leather motorcycle jackets to be specific. Our society was changing, we were looking at the open road and the motorcycle with romantic dreams. In 1928 the Schott Brothers produced the first leather motorcycle jacket. The original price was $5.50! Wow, how times have changed! They named it the "Perfecto" and it is still made today. This durable and rugged jacket was quickly made into a cult fashion statement that exists to this day. A new generation of "bikers" were making a statement and the Schott leather motorcycle jacket was the lead spokesman.

Soon the country would be thrust into a World War and the Schott brother would be commissioned by the US Air Force to produce what became the "bomber jacket" out of leather. The leather was an asset to keep the wind away from our soldiers bodies, and kept them warm at the high altitudes they flew at. Below, on the decks of the ships, servicemen utilized the Schott leather pea coats, and wool pea coats, to keep the chill of the open sea from reaching down to their bones.

With WWII over and the threat of communism put in check by MacArthur in Korea, this country was witnessing the rise of a new rebellion - one that would be fought with fast cars and Rock and Roll. In 1954, the now cult classic "The Wild Ones" featured the hot young actor, Marlon Brando, perched on his motorcycle wearing his Schott Perfecto. The subsequent spike in popularity of the Perfecto surprisingly resulted in decreased sales. The jackets were actually banned by school systems around the country because they symbolized a burgeoning teen demographic, the "hood".

Over the past 50 years Schott NYC has seen new leadership and continues to grow. Styles and products have changed, and some stayed the same, as materials are modernized, changed and fashion styles have come and gone. Schott accessories abound and are now found worldwide.

Schott NYC is dedicated to the ideas of quality, individuality and the American spirit. We will remain in our hearts the American dream and want every person who buys a Schott leather jacket to realize and enjoy the quality we promote.

Four generations of our family thank you for appreciating our passion.

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SchottNYC.com has made leather motorcycle attire since 1928.
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