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History of the Schott Leather Motorcycle Jacket

Made in the USA, each Schott NYC jacket comes with a story that has been written over the course of 90 years, four generations of Schotts, two world wars, 22 presidents, one King, and an American love affair with hitting the open road with the wind in your face and your troubles behind you.

Two brothers, Irving and Jack Schott, took aim at their desire for the American dream and started making raincoats on the lower east side of Manhattan and sold them door to door all over New York City. The setting is 1913 New York with the Model T beginning to crowd the bustling and busy streets of New York City.

In the 1920s when Al Capone and The Yankees famous Babe Ruth were filling the news with their antics and records, the Schott brothers were changing fashion and defining a new American style. It was at this time that the first zipper was put onto a jacket. It was the Schott brothers who brought us the zipper jacket that we all know so well today.

With innovation at his heart and a burgeoning desire to succeed Irving then set his sights on leather, leather motorcycle jackets to be specific. Our society was changing, we were looking at the open road and the motorcycle with romantic dreams. In 1928 the Schott Brothers produced the first leather motorcycle jacket. The original price was $5.50! Wow, how times have changed! They named it the "Perfecto" and it is still made today. This durable and rugged jacket was quickly made into a cult fashion statement that exists to this day. A new generation of "bikers" were making a statement and the Schott leather motorcycle jacket was the lead spokesman.

American life was again interrupted with the start of WWII. The US Air Force commissioned Schott to produce a "bomber jacket" for the flyers in the air over enemy territories. The air is cold at the flying altitudes over Europe and the Pacific as well. The leather jacket fought of the chill and blocked the wind. Schott's naval pea coat provided servicemen with a warm rugged coat to keep them away from the weather and conditions at sea. Schott went on to produce these leather and wool pea coats for the US Military for 60 years.

By 1954 the war was over, Korea was the focus, and America was back in full swing. "The Wild One" premiered and became a cult classic. Fast cars, rock 'n roll and the new America combined with leaders such as Marlon Brando and James Dean. The "Schott Perfecto" leather jacket was at the core of fashion for the "hood" and the motorcycle centered segment of society. Although the jackets became banned in school systems across the country they inevitably won out and are still a mainstay in motorcycle garb to this day.

In the past 50 years, Schott NYC has continued to grow under the leadership of new generations of our family. Product lines and styles have expanded, nylons and wools have grown in popularity, accessories from bags to sunglasses can be found worldwide. But at the core of our business still lies the 100 year old factory right of outside of NYC.

In an old brick building we design and produce the styles that have - and will continue to - connect with the American spirit. More importantly, we are still dedicated to the ideals of quality, innovation, and individuality that were so important to Irving Schott - and that remain important to every person who buys one of our jackets.

For four generations the Schott family has produced quality leather products. We thank you for helping us keep a bit of American history alive and well.

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SchottNYC.com has made leather attire since 1928.
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