Is the Schott Perfecto jacket worth it?+
If you want the definitive American motorcycle jacket, the Perfecto is hard to beat, because it is the original. Schott designed the first ever leather motorcycle jacket back in 1928, and the modern jacket still descends directly from it. Treated well, a heavy leather Perfecto is the kind of piece that develops character over decades rather than seasons.
Why is Schott NYC so expensive?+
Schott NYC is still owned by the Schott family and still manufactures much of its clothing in the United States, which keeps costs higher than mass-produced alternatives. The Perfecto's heritage runs deep too, from its 1928 origins through films like The Wild One. You are paying for American making and a piece of motorcycle-jacket history, not just leather.
What is the difference between the Schott 613 'One Star' and the 618 Perfecto?+
The 613 arrived in the late 1940s nicknamed the One Star because it had metal nailhead star studs on each shoulder epaulette. The 618 followed in the early 1950s with no stars on the epaulettes. The starless 618 actually became more commercially viable because stores carrying the 613 kept having the stars stolen.
Why is the Schott Perfecto called 'Perfecto'?+
Irving Schott named the jacket the Perfecto after his favorite cigar when he designed the first leather motorcycle jacket in 1928. The original was made out of horsehide and featured a belted front, a D-pocket, a flap change pocket, zippered sleeve cuffs and shoulder epaulettes. The name has stuck for nearly a century.
Who founded Schott NYC and when?+
Schott NYC, also known as Schott Bros, is an American clothing manufacturer founded in 1913 by brothers Irving and Jack Schott, the sons of a Russian immigrant. They opened their store on East Broadway, on the Lower East Side of New York City. The company is still owned by the Schott family today.
Was Schott really the first to put a zipper on a jacket?+
Yes. Schott NYC was the first company to put a zipper on a jacket, a detail that became central to the Perfecto. The Perfecto's double-breasted design has the left front panel overlap the right, which creates a windproof seal while riding when the jacket is zipped up. That practical engineering is part of why the jacket endured.
Did Marlon Brando really wear a Schott Perfecto?+
He did. Marlon Brando wore a 618 in the 1953 film The Wild One, though the stars on his jacket were not original and were added for the film. Because that was the first outlaw biker movie, the black motorcycle jacket became synonymous with a bad attitude and was even banned from many American schools during the 1950s. It is one of the most famous wardrobe moments in motorcycle-jacket history.
Which bands made the Schott Perfecto iconic?+
The Ramones wore Schott Perfecto leather jackets as part of their distinctive uniform look, helping cement the jacket in punk culture. Japanese rock band Guitar Wolf even have their own version of the 613 Perfecto, called the 613GW. From bikers to punk rock, the Perfecto has long been a uniform of rebellion.
Does Schott NYC make anything other than the Perfecto?+
Yes. During World War II, Schott NYC was one of several contractors that manufactured the wool naval pea coat for the US Navy, and that classic design is still made by the company today. Schott also makes the Café racer leather motorcycle jacket, a single-rider style with a stand-up Mandarin collar. Peter Fonda wore a Café racer style jacket in the 1969 film Easy Rider.
Where are Schott NYC jackets made?+
Schott NYC still manufactures much of its clothing in the United States, which is unusual for the leather-jacket world and a point of pride for the family-owned company. That American making is closely tied to the brand's heritage, which began on the Lower East Side of New York in 1913. It is a large part of what buyers are paying for.
What kind of leather is a classic Perfecto made from?+
The original 1928 Perfecto was made out of horsehide, a tough hide prized for durability. The jacket's belted front, zippered sleeve cuffs and shoulder epaulettes were all part of that first design. Heavy leather like this is meant to break in and last, which is why well-kept Schott jackets endure for decades.
How should I care for a Schott leather jacket?+
A heavy leather jacket built in the Perfecto tradition rewards patience and the occasional conditioning rather than heavy intervention. Let it break in to your body, keep it out of prolonged damp, and clean and condition the leather sparingly so it ages into a patina rather than drying out. Looked after this way, the jacket is the kind of buy you keep for the long haul.
