If you’re looking to upgrade your wardrobe with a new jacket, you should consider a leather jacket. Made from the tanned animal hide (usually cow’s hide or sheep hide), leather jackets offer an unmatched level of aesthetics, durability and overall quality that’s simply not found in jackets made of other materials. Perhaps this is why they remain a popular choice of outwear.
About the Leather Bomber Jacket
But there are dozens of leather jacket styles from which to choose, including the traditional bomber style. Also known as a leather flight jacket, a leather bomber jacket is a type of outerwear originally created for military pilots and crewmen. According to Wikipedia, the bomber jacket has origins dating back to World War I, a time during which airplanes lacked enclosed cockpits and internal heating. As such, pilots and their crewmen often battled extreme cold temperatures when flying at high altitudes. So, in order to keep warm and comfortable, the United States Army established the Aviation Clothing Board — an organization designed specifically for creating and distributing leather jackets to pilots and crewmen. Known as bomber jackets, they typically features a fur-lined interior, high-rise collar, zippers with wind flaps, and snug cuffs and waists.
So, what made the leather bomber jacket such a perfect choice of outwear for pilots and crewmen? While there were many other forms of outerwear available at this time, the leather bomber jacket was unique in its ability to provide an exceptional level of warmth and comfort. Cotton, wool, silk and other fabrics lacked the warm and heat-insulation properties of its leather counterpart. Therefore, the Aviation Clothing Board chose the leather bomber jacket for its choice of outerwear for pilots and crewmen.
Sheepskin Leather Bomber Jacket
The first leather bomber jackets were made of cow’s hide — a material that worked well for its purpose (to keep pilots and crewmen warm). However, an innovative designer named Leslie Irvin was responsible for creating the world’s first sheepskin leather jacket. In the mid 1920s, Irvin created a fabric manufacturing company in the U.K., and soon after he scored a contract with the Royal Air Force to produce sheepskin leather jackets for their pilots and crewmen. Due to the strong demand for his jackets, however, Irvin was forced to subcontract much of his work to other companies. This led to many variations of the leather bomber jacket, including design, zipper, colors and more.
The A-2 and G-1 Jackets
Fast forward to World War II, and there were two primary types of the leather bomber jacket worn by pilots and crewmen: the A-2 and G-1 jackets. The latter was actually designed by the United Stated Navy as a parallel design of the Air Corps A-2. It was a popular choice among pilots until the mid-to-late 1970s, during which the United Stated Congress cancelled the design due to its popular appeal. The demand was simply too strong for the A-2 leather bomber jacket; thus, straining the Navy’s resources and manpower.
Leather Bomber Jackets Today
Because of advancements in modern aviation, there’s really no need for pilots and crewmen to wear a leather bomber jacket during flights — not for comfort or safety, at least. All modern aircraft have enclosed cockpits and internal heating to overcome the otherwise cold temperatures of high-altitude flights. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that leather bomber jackets have gone the way of the dinosaur.
While they aren’t used to keep pilots and crewmen warm like in the past, leather bomber jackets are still being worn to this very day. So, what makes the leather bomber jacket such a great choice of outwear, even after all of these years?
Benefits of Leather Bomber Jackets
For starters, the leather bomber jacket is anonymous with quality. Not all jackets are made of the same quality materials and craftsmanship. Some companies use cheap, low-quality materials and equally poor craftsmanship to construct their jackets. Unfortunately, this results in a poor jacket that’s likely to degrade more quickly than its high-quality counterpart. Well, leather bomber jackets are some of the best jackets on the market. In terms of quality, they are practically unmatched in every criteria. This alone is one of the many reasons why the leather bomber jacket is preferred over other styles.
It’s also worth noting that leather comber jackets are incredibly comfortable. Of course, this shouldn’t come as a surprise given the fact that they were originally designed for use by aviation pilots and crewmen. Nonetheless, even the leather bomber jackets designed today offer this same level of comfort and quality.
Here are some tips on choosing the right leather bomber jacket:
- Avoid bomber jackets made of fake/faux leather. Although they typically cost less, they lack the quality of their genuine counterpart. If you’re going to buy a leather bomber jacket, spend the extra money and invest in a genuine jacket.
- Consider the size of the leather bomber jacket. As with most forms of outerwear, it’s important to choose the right; otherwise, it may look awkward. When ordering your leather jacket here at LeatherCult, you can specify your own measurements to ensure the perfect fit.
- Decide what color jacket you want. Leather bomber jackets were traditionally made in brown/tan colors, which remain popular today. However, there are other colors from which to choose, including black, red, green, yellow, etc. You really can’t go wrong with either a black or brown leather bomber jacket, though some people prefer alternative colors to make a fashion statement.
- Check for zippers. If you plan on storing stuff in your pockets, it’s a good idea to choose a leather bomber jacket with zipper.
- Does it have a quilted interior? When shopping for leather bomber jackets, you may notice that some feature a quilted interior. Conventional wisdom should tell you that these quilted leather bomber jackets offer greater warmth and protection from the elements, making them ideal for cold climates.