Leather jackets in the fashion industry are marketed to men and women who want to dress cool and edgy. Many of the jackets are actually designed for men’s wear, but there are several stores that will sell the jacket to women, and make women’s designs. The leather jacket is designed to be “long a staple of off-duty-model style, those are pieces backed up by decades’ worth of ineffable cool,” (Anderson). Leather jackets are normally worn in the spring and fall. This paper will look into leather jackets in the fashion industry.
In reality, many of the fashion name brands that are sold in higher-end department stores, like Macy’s, sell faux leather. Names like Michael Kors, Kenneth Cole, and Calvin Klein will sell the leather jacket within the 75-90 dollar price range. Faux leather pieces are made of lambskin with polyester. The majority of faux leather jackets are manufactured in China, and then sold in the US in mid-range and high-end retailer stores. Calvin Klein specifically will sell both faux and real leather jackets, and will have them manufactured in Argentina. There are no examples of faux leather jackets being manufactured and sold within the US.
The leather jacket has a long history. The jacket trend started with Schott, a fashion company, in 1913. This brand started the Perfecto and the bomber jacket trends that are present in men’s jacket designs. This company will also manufacture its jackets within the United States. They market their brand as the “true American Original,” (“The Classic American Success Story”). Hollywood celebrities in the 1940s like Marlon Brando have worn Schott. This made the leather jacket very popular with people who want to dress cool (Anderson). Brando also made the leather jacket very popular among men, and it became necessary for men to own a leather jacket in order to be stylish.
Harley Davidson is also a company that marketed the leather jacket during the 1940s and created styles of their own. They are all about biker culture, and created styles such as the “Cycle Champ for men, and the Cycle Queen for the ladies,” (“Brooks Leather Sportswear”). Harley Davidson also manufactures its jackets within the United States. They use this fact to market their products as an American product. There are also several independent American companies that manufacture and sell leather jackets within the United States, such as Brooks Sportswear and Aero Jackets. They use their American-made products to market and sell their merchandise as something that is very American to have.
Price ranges for these authentic American leather jackets will start with at least 400 dollars, and can cost as much as 1,500 dollars. Saks Fifth Avenue will sell several European brands that on the runway (Anderson). These brands include BOSS, Mackage, and Alexander McQueen. The vast majority of these pieces is actually designed for women, and will also feature fur in addition to the leather. The designs for these jackets are very feminine. They are very different from the cool, sporty, masculine design of traditional leather jackets. Price ranges for these jackets are higher in comparison to the other American companies. Prices mostly stay in between 700 to 1,200 dollars, but the leather jackets mixed with the fur will reach up to 5,000 dollars in price. This makes the woman’s leather jacket a luxury item. However, there are several women’s retailer stores that will sell jackets to women for a lower price from different designers.
The Leather Jacket in the Fashion Industry, Part 2
Depending on the brand, leather jackets are either easily available or very exclusive. Schott will sell its leather jackets on its own website. It does have its own exclusive retail store in New York City. If anyone else wants to have a Schott jacket, they will have to go online and order it. Some Urban Outfitters stores and its online store will sell Schott jackets in order to attract the younger generation. Using Urban Outfitters as a separate retailer keeps the Schott brand as something that is cool. This is the whole point of why Schott exists in the first place – to be cool (“The Classic American Success Story”). Schott also offers custom sizes and designs for its customers, which makes it very different from Harley Davidson.
Harley Davidson also sells its jackets at their own stores. However, Harley Davidson stores are more available throughout the United States in comparison to Schott. Harley Davidson, since it is a biker brand, uses the masculine sport and design for its jackets. Its women’s category also uses the biker theme. They advertise their work as though it features “styles and sizes to make men who ride look their best,” (“Leather Jackets”). There is also an emphasis on the concept of “hardcore” with their brand. Harley Davidson also has an online store to sell their leather products. By contrast, the majority of independent leather jacket manufacturers, like Brooks and Aero, have to rely on the Internet in order to sell their merchandise to a larger customer base. These designers do not have retail stores. They do have women’s jackets, but they primarily advertise their men’s products on their websites.
Wilson’s Leather is another retailer that attracts mainly female customers, with products such as leather jackets and leather handbags. It also will sell men’s leatherwear as well. The company manufactures its own leather, but it also sells fashion brands, such as Kenneth Cole and Black Rivet. This retailer has select stores and will also sell their products online. High-end department stores like Saks Fifth Ave will also sell to women and men. They have department stores in malls throughout the United States, as well as their own website. Mid-range to high-end department stores such as Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Lord and Taylor will sell real and faux leather jackets from well-known designer brands, such as Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. Each of these department stores has their own websites to sell leather jackets. Also, each of these designer brands have websites too. This makes faux and designer leather jackets very accessible to customers.
Customers wanting catalogs for leather jackets can have catalogs from department stores mailed to their home. Schott and Harley Davidson also mail out their own catalogs. Their catalogs will feature leather products. This makes them different from department store catalogs, which are mainly for woman and will have many things. The men’s section will be small in those catalogs, which means that leather jackets will not have a strong focus. A catalog from Schott will be much more specific to men looking for a leather jacket.
Leather jackets are so popular with men that the NFL will sell leather jackets with team logos on the NFL Shop. Customers will go to the NFL’s to buy these jackets. They are not made in complete leather, though. Only parts of the jacket are in leather, and it is faux. NFL leather jackets will be made mostly in polyester, and they are imported from China.
It seems that a customer can buy any kind of leather jacket they are looking for online. It doesn’t matter if it is faux and imported, or if it is manufactured in the United States and is made of authentic leather. There will be a website that will be able to sell that leather jacket. Leather jackets are sold in a variety of styles. They can be feminine, or they can be masculine. There is something for everyone.
Works Cited
Anderson, Kristin. “How the Street Style Set is Doing Leather Jackets – And Where You’ll Find Your New Favorite.” Vogue. Vogue, 15 September 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2016.
“Brooks Leather Sportswear.” Brooksleather.com. n.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2016.
“Leather Jackets.” House of Harley Davidson. n.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2016.
“The Classic American Success Story.” Schott NYC. n.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2016.
Appendix
“New and Featured Menu Photo.” Schott NYC. n.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
“Bill Goldberg Harley Davidson Black Biker Leather Jacket.” Slim Leather Jackets. n.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
“Alexander McQueen Women’s Love-Sleeve Capelet.” Polyvore. n.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
“Mackage Hania Moto Jacket.” Saks Fifth Ave. n.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
“Men’s Denver Broncos G-III Sports by Carl Banks Black Defense Pleather Varsity Jacket.” NFL Shop. n.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
