When browsing some of the different styles of leather jackets, you may notice that many of them have shoulder straps. Shoulder straps are commonly found on leather jackets. Whether it’s a bomber jacket, a biker jacket or any other type of leather jacket, it may feature two shoulder straps. Why do leather jackets have shoulder straps exactly?
The Basics of Shoulder Straps
The shoulder straps found on leather jackets are relatively simple. They consist of small bands of leather material. One end is permanently connected to the shoulder. The other end is temporarily connected to the shoulder via a button. You can fasten or unfasten the button, resulting in a flap-like style. There are other types of shoulder straps available, but most leather jackets feature the same flap-like style.
Military Use
The origins of shoulder straps can be traced back to the early to mid-1800s, during which they were used in military uniforms. To improve the utility of their uniforms, the United States military added shoulder straps to their uniforms. This otherwise simple feature allowed service members to secure bags, pouches and other gear on their shoulders. Rather than draping a bag directly over their shoulder, for instance, service members could fasten their jacket’s shoulder strap over the bag.
For over a century, military uniforms have continued to feature shoulder straps. You can find a single strap on each shoulder of a typical military uniform. Some people assume that these shoulder straps are purely aesthetic, but this isn’t the case. They allow service members to secure bags, pouches and other gear to their shoulders.
Leather Jacket Use
While they were originally used in military uniforms, shoulder straps are now found on leather jackets. Dozens of leather jackets feature shoulder straps. The Charles Burnt Red Leather Jacket sold here at LeatherCult features shoulder straps. Of course, this is just one of many leather jackets with shoulder straps. When shopping for a leather jacket, you’ll probably discover that many of them have shoulder straps. What’s the purpose of shoulder straps on leather jackets exactly?
Shoulder straps serve several purposes on leather jackets. For starters, they can be used to secure accessories — just like the shoulder straps on military uniforms. If you have a messenger bag, you may want to secure it by using the shoulder straps. You can unfasten a shoulder strap, followed by placing the messenger bag over your shoulder and then refastening the shoulder strap.
Motorcycle riders often use shoulder straps to secure their gloves. Gloves are a common accessory worn by motorcycle riders. They allow riders to grip their motorcycle’s handles more easily while also lowering the risk of hand injuries. Upon stepping off their motorcycle, though, many riders will secure their gloves to a shoulder strap.
Along with gloves, many motorcycle riders wear goggles. Both gloves and goggles can be secured to a shoulder strap. If you wear any of these accessories while riding a motorcycle, you may want to take advantage of the shoulder straps. You can secure your gloves and goggles to a shoulder strap on your leather jacket. It’s a quick and easy way to hold these accessories in place. And by doing so, you won’t have to worry about losing them.
Different Types of Shoulder Straps
There are different types of shoulder straps. If you’re thinking about buying a leather jacket, you should familiarize yourself with the different types of shoulder straps. The most common strap type for leather jackets is a basic band of leather material. As previously mentioned, this band is permanently secured with a button on one end. The other end of the band is sewn directly into the jacket itself, meaning you can’t remove it.
Some shoulder straps have a snap button, whereas others have a traditional button. Snap buttons are those that you can press and pull. They consist of two parts that are designed to interlock when pressed. You can press the top part into the bottom part to secure a snap button. Pulling a snap button, on the other hand, will remove the top part from the bottom part.
Shoulder straps are available in different sizes. Most of them are roughly the same length. With that said, some of them are wider than others. Narrow shoulder straps are more discreet. They essentially blend into the rest of the leather jacket. Wide shoulder straps, conversely, offer a bolder appearance. And when compared to narrow shoulder straps, they are able to accommodate more weight.
How to Care for Shoulder Straps on a Leather Jacket
Because they are made of leather, shoulder straps require conditioning. You should condition the shoulder straps on your leather jacket once every few months so that they don’t dry out.
Conditioning refers to the use of a leather conditioning product. There are creams, lotions and other conditioning products that are designed specifically for leather. When applied, they’ll restore the moisture content of leather. Leather can dry out when not conditioned. As it loses its moisture content, it may then begin to crack or experience other forms of damage.
To protect the shoulder straps on your leather jacket from damage, you’ll need to condition them. Applying a conditioning product to the shoulder straps will make them last longer. The shoulder straps won’t dry out, nor will they experience dryness-related damage.
Try to get into the habit of fastening the shoulder straps when storing your leather jacket for long periods. Why is this important exactly? When the shoulder straps are fastened, your leather jacket will be able to retain its original shape more easily. Leaving the shoulder straps open and unfastened, conversely, may cause your leather jacket to sag in the shoulders.
In Conclusion
Shoulder straps are commonly found on leather jackets. They were originally used on military uniforms for utility purposes. In the years to follow, manufacturers began adding them to leather jackets.