With its sleek leather exterior and smooth, sculpted lines, the biker jacket is a bit rock-and-roll, yet still a classic. There was a time when these coats were perceived as only being worn by tattooed bikers. Now they're a must-have item for fall.Back in the early days of motorcycling (circa 1920′s), some of the very first motorcycle jackets were actually military or aviator style jackets with buttons down the front and a short collar, sometimes referred to as a ‘mandarin collar’ characteristic of the era. Many of the popular styles were constructed of brown goatskin leather and were of a short design with a fitted waist, similar to the pre-WWII Army Air Corps jackets. Another popular material for these early jackets was horsehide. This thick, tough leather was in plentiful supply due to the Army Cavalry and many farmers, who used horses as work animals prior to the widespread availability of tractors, supplying these hides to the clothing industry. The first company to market the was Schott Bros. who began producing the legendary ‘Perfecto’ jacket in 1928.
