From biker jackets to bomber jackets , Women Leather Jackets tell us how fast fashion is changing, as the fashion industry sets new styles every now and then. Currently, the industry has influenced people to adopt the bomber jacket trend like never before.
Dating back to World War I, when the bomber jackets came into being, till today, the essence of the bomber jacket remains the same.
Men first wore bomber jackets, but now there is this hype of Leather Bomber Jacket for Women, and they have taken over women’s fashion by storm too.
We see Bomber jackets as one of the military clothing that has been a successful piece of outerwear in the ranks of civilians. Let’s head back to World War I when these bomber jackets were designed.
From World War I to Bomber Jackets Today
The US Army Aviation Clothing Board designed the first bomber jackets, which then was known as the “Flight Jacket” for the pilots of WWI. These were designed in a way that protected the pilots from icy conditions due to open cockpits. The original jacket was made out of sealskin or horse leather and had a fur lining.
The A-1
Later, with the evolution in technology, the cockpits started having less space, so to dress up in bulky coats was not an option; hence, Type A-1 was introduced. It came out in 1927 and had a more modernized shape than the early flight jackets. It was an insulated jacket with knit cuffs, waistband, and collar and it could be buttoned up. Horsehide, sheepskin and goatskin were usually used in making A-1.
The A-2
A-1 jackets evolved to A-2 in the 1930s. A-2 flight jackets have many similarities to A-1, but the significant change was that the button-up was changed to zip with a flap and a collar. A-2 turned out to be one of the most highlighted flight jackets as WWII’s Air Corp wore it in 1943.
The G-1
Soon the A-2 was replaced by G-1, and the Air Corps pilots started wearing that. In the G-1, there was a mouton fur collar and a bi-swing back.
The B-3
B-3, or the very first real bomber jacket, was designed in the mid of 1930s. The B jackets were for the bombers who went on high altitudes. It was made up of sheepskin and had heavy-duty sheep fur as the lining. It had two straps made up of leather which let the pilots close the collar. It was designed in a way that was able to keep the bombers warm even 25,000 feet up.
The B-6
B-6 came out by 1943; it was in a slimmer cut as the cockpits were not extremely cold by then due to improvement in technology. It was made of sheepskin and sheep fur, too, but with less quantity, and the collar had a single fastener.
The B-10
With more improvements came the B-10, that too in 1943. This time it was a jacket lined with alpaca fur. It was styled as G-1, but the fur and zip without a flap was something new. However, the B-10 was not the one that everyone remembered over time.
The B-15
The popular B-15 bomber jackets came into being by 1944. It was designed differently with knit cuffs and waist, mouton collar, and the shell was made up of different materials that included cotton and nylon. Pilots could find a pen pocket; there were leather straps that could be used to hold oxygen masks, and slash pockets could be seen on the front. These were the details that were relatively small but were noticeable.
The MA-1
MA-1 soon took over all the bomber jackets in 1949 and is known to be replicated all over the world, even today. Due to more technological advancements, designers removed the fur collar, and a knit elastic took its place. For the warmth, the designers drew the fur, and they used parachute cloth. In short, MA-1 was easy to clean, price friendly, was made up of nylon, and kept pilots dry and warm. MA-1 was seen in Europe in the 1950s and 60s; civilians started to like them, and soon it made its way to all closets around the world.
Evolution of the quirky bomber jacket
Fashion does not leave anything uninfluenced. A piece of clothing like the bomber jacket was picked from work, and it is now known to be a part of functional fashion. Some trends are adapted as they are comfortable while they get their popularity due to aestheticism.
Talking about the bomber jacket evolution. In the late 1980s, the jacket was worn by people in Australia and Europe during mild winters. It then became a part of punk fashion. People paired it with skinny jeans, t-shirts, and Doc Martens. The jackets were found to be in exotic colors, which pulled the jacket out from the military uniform phase.
The popularity of bomber jackets reached its peak when actors were seen wearing them in movies in the ’80s. Harrison Ford starring in Indiana Jones, Steve McQueen starring in The Hunter, and Tom Cruise starring in Top Gun made the jacket as popular fashion and clothing of the decade.
Introduction of bomber jackets in the fashion industry
Bomber jackets are today’s fashion, and we can see fashion icons, public figures, and even local people wearing them daily. Brands have taken their own twist on the bomber jacket and have released different collections of it. These jackets are more sophisticated and made with perfection.
You can see brands stirring people’s excitement as they launch their collections of bomber jackets. The hottest trend of these jackets does not seem to fade away any time soon.
Conclusion
With the alternating fashion vibe, you can wear your bomber jacket with anything you like however it should not compromise your attire. These jackets will stay attractive, timely, and youthful; nothing can drag bomber jackets out of the fashion league.
