Leather jacket

One of the most iconic garments of clothing, the leather jacket is most commonly idealised in black leather. More recently the leather jacker has been produced in a wide variety of colours - modern biker jackets often come with yellow, red, green or blue dyed patterns in the leather.

Orginally, the leather jacket was worn by air force and military personal in the 1940's, usually in the style of a bomber jacket. The leather jacket was associated with returning veterans in the US - some of whom formed biker gangs, due to the widespread availability of military issue Harley Davidson motorcycles.

It was during this era that Marlon Brando played the most iconic biker ever shown on screen; Johnny Strabler in 'The Wild One', in 1953. The movie also established the leather jacket as a symbol of rebellion against authority, and became an 'outsider' garment to the wider society.

Films and TV shows depicting the 1950's highlight this; 'The Fonz' from Happy Days; the youth gang from Grease; the participants wearing a leather jacket were the more 'edgy' characters. During this period it was the black leather jacket which was the rebellious garment, the brown leather jacket was linked with the 'adventurer' type.