Schott NYC: Europe Meets The American Dream

We all love leather jackets; have you ever wondered where the world’s first leather jacket came from? In 1913, Irving and Jack Schott, went after the American dream. As the sons of a Russian immigrant, they had no choice but to make it in America. European gloomy and rainy weather was no stranger to the city of New York. Irving and Jack started designing raincoats in a basement, in Lower Eastside Manhattan, the jackets were later sold door to door by outside sales workers. The jackets were branded the “Perfecto” and by the mid twenties the brothers revolutionise the way Americans wore jackets as they were the first to ever put a zipper on a jacket. Casualising ready wear and putting a whole new meaning to the “gentlemen”. The roaring twenties brought to life another American classic- motorcycles and that’s when Irving-Jack sought to complement this new era. The brothers designed the first ever motorcycle leather jacket. Little did they know leather jackets would be a never ending worldwide trend to never go out of style.

As eye, ears and troops turned overseas during WWII so did Schott, enter the first “bomber” jacket. The design was made to protect our boys fighting for liberty in the air over Europe and the Pacific. Fast forward to today famous fashion houses including Givenchy and Chanel make high sales with their replica of these historical pieces. On shore service men were kept warm by Schotts wool navel peacoat, current fashion favorite. Rugged and warm military wear turned to fashion iconic and staple pieces, in everyone’s closet.

Over the years Schott evolved during every key decade of lifestyle of fashion. In the 1950’s America fell in love with fast cars and rock n roll IE “The Wild Ones” which used actor Marlon Brando as a model in 1954. In the 1970’s and 80’s it was all about hard punk rock, sex, rock n’ roll and rebellion. The underground scene in the streets of New York city highly influence a new look of leather. The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Joan Jett and Blondie all wore Schott’s leather. Leather jackets are timeless and re-occurring, no matter if it’s in a lower end store such as Primark or in a high end brand such as Tom Ford, everyone around the world can appreciate a good leather jacket. Irving and Jack had no idea they would create a worldwide revolution all from a dream.

Ellana Bland

Click here to visit the Schott NYC website.