Motorcycle Jacket

The years immediately after WW2 saw the rise of the leather motorcycle jacket and its change from merely a functional piece of riding gear into an iconic symbol of rebellion and counterculture. As the years went on, the leather motorcycle jacket continued to evolve and take on new styles and designs, but classic features typically included a cross zip, studded shoulder epaulettes and lapels, a functional waist belt and an eclectic pocket set up.

Aero offer a range of these classic 1950s vintage-style leather motorcycle jackets – both faithful original recreations like our revered Indian Ranger replica, and our very own stunning designs which cherry pick the best elements of the era like our ‘King of the Road’.

This vintage 1950’s style leather 'motorcycle jacket' is inspired by the iconic style originally made famous by Marlon Brando in “The Wild One”. This heavy Horsehide Jacket features two deep zip closing hand-warmer pockets with heavy linings, a deep breast pocket with zip and a small stud-down ticket pocket, studded epaulettes and swing gussets in the back for extra movement. The sleeves have adjustable zip cuffs and the jacket is fastened by a cross zip. Waist adjustment is by an attached belt. 

For many riders, the aesthetic appeal and sense of history and nostalgia that these jackets provide outweighs the more advanced safety features/armour of modern motorcycle gear. Wearing one of our vintage motorcycle jacket designs is like taking a step back in time, to an era when motorcycles and leather jackets were synonymous with rebellion, freedom, and adventure. There's a certain romance to that idea for riders/non-riders alike, and it's a magic that modern jackets simply can't replicate.

Design Etymology

Returning U.S. WW2 soldiers brought their love for motorcycles and the rugged leather jackets worn during the war back home with them, and the jackets quickly became a staple of biker culture and became a symbol of the rebellion and nonconformity. In the 1950s, Hollywood further popularized the leather motorcycle jacket, with actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean wearing them onscreen in movies like "The Wild One" and "Rebel Without a Cause." In the mid-1980s, Aero Leather Clothing was commissioned to re-create the jacket worn by the Marlon Brando waxwork at London’s Madame Tussauds. We were inundated with customer requests ordering their own replica and so the first of many Aero Leather vintage motorcycle jacket recreations was born.