6 Best Leather Jackets UK 2024 | AllSaints, Schott NYC and More

Biker jackets, also known as motorcycle jackets, have been popular since the first leather motorcycle jacket, the Perfecto, was produced in 1928 by American clothing company Schott NYC. They are the first such styled jacket to feature a zipper and were initially designed for motorcycle riders.

Biker jackets usually feature elaborate designs with great detailing. They're asymmetrical, often double-breasted, sometimes with two zips instead of one. These often zip off-center at an angle, and over a placket – a brilliant design element that keeps the wind from getting in.

They also have step lapels, some of which come with buttons, as well as epaulets and belts which, though they may seem like mere ornamental pieces today, initially served useful purposes for the riders. With all this in mind, it can be said that the biker is more of a statement pick. 

Sometimes people may also refer to a racer jacket as a motorcycle jacket, but they're actually quite distinct from the classic biker jacket. Racing jackets are more plain and simple in their design, so they're easier to wear as they have a lot less going on.

They are the middle-zipped cousins of the biker, so with this jacket, you simply zip up the centre of the front. Racing jackets are characterised by the iconic mandarin collar. These rounded band collars commonly have button snaps that stand out in a subtle way, and can look quite smart in comparison to a biker. 

Bomber jackets are also called flight, pilot, or aviator jackets. As you can probably guess, they get their name from the military. The original version was developed for the US air force in 1917, eventually appearing in Europe in the late 1950s, and it has formed part of our culture since then.

Some variations of this style have two large front flap pockets, while others have split pockets that may or may not be zipped. Also, most are cropped at the hips to make them easier to wear when sitting, and some have faux fur or Borg (faux sheepskin) collars which add a bit of interest. 

One of the good things about bomber jackets is their resilience in modern fashion. They're always in style and these jackets are engrained into everyday pop culture. This is a wardrobe staple you can rely on that's got a cool history to it, too!

Cowhide comes from the processing and tanning of raw cow skin. It is the natural, unbleached skin of the cow and it usually retains all of the blemishes of the animal that it's obtained from. This results in a noticeably tough and extremely durable jacket texture.

It is the most common kind of leather, as the cow is widely used in the food industry and its skin is a waste material that has a relatively low price. It's also generally one of the cheapest of real leather types, although there are several finishes and grades that could significantly affect the price of the jacket.

Lamb leather tends to be naturally thin and is known for its very soft texture, as well as for being more elastic and therefore not as stiff as some leathers. Also, because a lamb is so much smaller than a cow, lambskin isn't as easily available and thus more valuable than cowhide.

Consequently, it tends to be much more expensive. Lambskin does also have the tendency to absorb a lot of stains, which you may have some trouble getting some out, so a bit of care is required to maintain it.

While sheepskin is very similar to lambskin, there is a subtle difference between the two. Due to its maturity, you'll find sheepskin to be slightly thicker than lambskin, although not as thick as cowhide. However, leather jackets made from sheepskin traditionally weigh less than cowhide jackets and they have a finer grain. 

Further, not only age, but also the breed of sheep and its environment has an impact on the softness, smoothness, and general quality of the sheepskin. This is a great option if you want a jacket that is soft but at the same time relatively stiff and resilient.

Goat leather has a smooth, fine grain and a high lanolin content, which makes it quite supple, too. It is softer than cowhide but has a strength that slightly exceeds lambskin and sheepskin. Goat hide is also water-resistant and easy to clean.

Known for its insulating properties, goatskin keeps you warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather. It's also reasonably strong and resistant to wear and tear, so you'll notice that the highest stress areas of your goat leather jacket will wear only minimally as the years go by.