Motorcycle Jackets: A Century of Leather Design

by Rin Tanaka, Tomohito Yamanishi (Photographer)

The leather motorcycle jacket is more than a coat; it's a mentality. Beginning in the early twentieth century, airplanes, automobiles, and motorcycles redefined freedom, idealized speed, and captured the hearts of men and women alike. The leather jackets developed to protect pilots, racers, and motorists from the elements came to symbolize a romantic sense of rugged adventure. In particular, motorcycle jackets maintained this ideal for decades to come. The first of its kind, this beautiful classic book traces the evolution of the motorcycle jacket over the past century. Hundreds of jackets and accessories from dozens of leather companies past and present are featured in over 1,000 rich color photos--with careful attention to details, original catalog pages, and full pricing information. Surrounding the jackets is a fascinating array of historical photos that capture the motorcycle culture and will make any enthusiast swoon.

Genres: History

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

See also 田中 琳

Reviews

[Cat. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The library bought this book because someone called us and asked if we had any books on the subject. No one in the area did, and this looked so interesting that I reserved it for myself once the original patron was finished.

It is fascinating. Even for someone who couldn't care less about fashion or fabric design, it's fun to see the evolution of what seems to be pretty much an archetype. My only fairly nit-picky quarrel is that there aren't many women's jackets included.