Object: Man's jacket
Brand:
Harley-Davidson
Date: 1983
Medium: Leather and metal
Country: USA
Credit Line: Gift of Pepper Hemingway
Object number: 2013.30.1
DescriptionMan's set; motorcycle jacket and belt; motorcycle jacket in black pebble grain leather with silver metal zippers and snaps; coordinating black leather belt in smooth grain leather with large silver metal oval shaped buckle closure
Label Text:The “biker” jacket was originally designed by Irving Schott in 1928. Dubbed the Perfecto, it was distinctive for its asymmetrical, cross-body design, durable black leather, and exposed metal hardware. After World War II, motorcycle gangs adopted the jacket as a uniform, often emblazoned with gang signs. Marlon Brando made this “biker” look famous in the Wild One, which helped cement the leather jacket as a symbol of outlaw rebellion.
Exhibitions:
- Beyond Rebellion: Fashioning the Biker Jacket
- Power Mode