Schott NYC
Encyclopedia
Schott NYC is an American clothing manufacturing company located in New York City
. The company was founded in 1913 by brothers Irving and Jack Schott. Schott NYC was the first company to put a zipper on a jacket and they created the classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket
, made popular in movies like The Wild One
(1953). The company made clothing for the US Military during World War II
and later also for American law enforcement. Schott NYC is still owned by the Schott family and still manufacture much of their clothing in the United States
.
Schott NYC is perhaps most well known for their Perfecto motorcycle jacket
s. In 1928 Irving Schott designed and produced the first ever leather motorcycle jacket, he named it the Perfecto
after his favorite cigar. The jackets were made out of horsehide, had a belted front, D-pocket, flap change pocket, zippered sleeve cuffs and shoulder epaulette
s. This classic motorcycle jacket was a double riders jacket design which meant that one part of the front zipper was located a couple of inches in. When zipped up this created a seal where no air would pass through when riding a motorcycle
.
In the late 1940s a new design was introduced - the 613. It was nicknamed the One Star because it had a star on each shoulder epaulette
. In the early 1950s another version of the jacket was introduced - the 618. The 618 had no stars on the shoulder epaulette
s. Stores that carried the jackets often had problems with people stealing the stars of the 613 so the 618 became more commercially viable. Marlon Brando
wore a 618 in the movie The Wild One
(1953), the stars on his jacket were not original but added to the jacket. There has been no word on where this jacket is today. Because of the film, which was the first outlaw biker movie, the black motorcycle jacket became synonymous with bad attitude and was banned from many American schools during the 1950s.
U.S. seminal punk rock band The Ramones wore Schott Perfecto
leather jackets as part of their distinctive uniform look. Japanese Jett rock'n'roll band Guitar Wolf
have their own 613 Perfecto
design called 613GW.
Schott NYC (being one of several contractors) manufactured the wool naval pea coat
for the US Navy. These classic designs are still manufactured by Schott NYC today. Another classic jacket design manufactured by the company is the Café racer
leather motorcycle jacket. Café racer jackets are single rider jackets that have a stand-up collar. Peter Fonda
wore a Café racer style jacket in the movie Easy Rider
(1969).
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The company was founded in 1913 by brothers Irving and Jack Schott. Schott NYC was the first company to put a zipper on a jacket and they created the classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket
Perfecto motorcycle jacket
Perfecto is a brand of double style leather motorcycle jackets manufactured by American clothing company Schott NYC. The first jacket was introduced in 1928, making it the first ever double style leather motorcycle jacket. Marlon Brando wore a Perfecto #613 in the 1953 movie The Wild One...
, made popular in movies like The Wild One
The Wild One
The Wild One is a 1953 outlaw biker film directed by László Benedek and produced by Stanley Kramer. It is famed for Marlon Brando's iconic portrayal of the gang leader Johnny Strabler.-Basis:...
(1953). The company made clothing for the US Military during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and later also for American law enforcement. Schott NYC is still owned by the Schott family and still manufacture much of their clothing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The Perfecto motorcycle jacket
Perfecto motorcycle jacket
Perfecto is a brand of double style leather motorcycle jackets manufactured by American clothing company Schott NYC. The first jacket was introduced in 1928, making it the first ever double style leather motorcycle jacket. Marlon Brando wore a Perfecto #613 in the 1953 movie The Wild One...
s. In 1928 Irving Schott designed and produced the first ever leather motorcycle jacket, he named it the Perfecto
Perfecto motorcycle jacket
Perfecto is a brand of double style leather motorcycle jackets manufactured by American clothing company Schott NYC. The first jacket was introduced in 1928, making it the first ever double style leather motorcycle jacket. Marlon Brando wore a Perfecto #613 in the 1953 movie The Wild One...
after his favorite cigar. The jackets were made out of horsehide, had a belted front, D-pocket, flap change pocket, zippered sleeve cuffs and shoulder epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s. This classic motorcycle jacket was a double riders jacket design which meant that one part of the front zipper was located a couple of inches in. When zipped up this created a seal where no air would pass through when riding a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
.
In the late 1940s a new design was introduced - the 613. It was nicknamed the One Star because it had a star on each shoulder epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
. In the early 1950s another version of the jacket was introduced - the 618. The 618 had no stars on the shoulder epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s. Stores that carried the jackets often had problems with people stealing the stars of the 613 so the 618 became more commercially viable. Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
wore a 618 in the movie The Wild One
The Wild One
The Wild One is a 1953 outlaw biker film directed by László Benedek and produced by Stanley Kramer. It is famed for Marlon Brando's iconic portrayal of the gang leader Johnny Strabler.-Basis:...
(1953), the stars on his jacket were not original but added to the jacket. There has been no word on where this jacket is today. Because of the film, which was the first outlaw biker movie, the black motorcycle jacket became synonymous with bad attitude and was banned from many American schools during the 1950s.
U.S. seminal punk rock band The Ramones wore Schott Perfecto
Perfecto motorcycle jacket
Perfecto is a brand of double style leather motorcycle jackets manufactured by American clothing company Schott NYC. The first jacket was introduced in 1928, making it the first ever double style leather motorcycle jacket. Marlon Brando wore a Perfecto #613 in the 1953 movie The Wild One...
leather jackets as part of their distinctive uniform look. Japanese Jett rock'n'roll band Guitar Wolf
Guitar Wolf
Guitar Wolf is a Japanese garage punk power trio founded in Nagasaki, Nagasaki in 1987. The band is known for songs with piercing vocals and an extremely loud style of noise-influenced punk which emphasizes heavy distortion and feedback...
have their own 613 Perfecto
Perfecto motorcycle jacket
Perfecto is a brand of double style leather motorcycle jackets manufactured by American clothing company Schott NYC. The first jacket was introduced in 1928, making it the first ever double style leather motorcycle jacket. Marlon Brando wore a Perfecto #613 in the 1953 movie The Wild One...
design called 613GW.
Other classic jacket designs
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Schott NYC (being one of several contractors) manufactured the wool naval pea coat
Pea coat
A pea coat is an outer coat, generally of a navy-colored heavy wool, originally worn by sailors of American and European navies. Pea coats are characterized by broad lapels, double-breasted fronts, often large wooden or metal buttons, and vertical or slash pockets...
for the US Navy. These classic designs are still manufactured by Schott NYC today. Another classic jacket design manufactured by the company is the Café racer
Café racer
A café racer is a type of motorcycle as well as a type of motorcyclist. Both meanings have their roots in the 1960s British counterculture group the Rockers, or the Ton-up boys, although they were also common in Italy, Germany, and other European countries...
leather motorcycle jacket. Café racer jackets are single rider jackets that have a stand-up collar. Peter Fonda
Peter Fonda
Peter Henry Fonda is an American actor. He is the son of Henry Fonda, brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget and Justin Fonda...
wore a Café racer style jacket in the movie Easy Rider
Easy Rider
Easy Rider is a 1969 American road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper. It tells the story of two bikers who travel through the American Southwest and South with the aim of achieving freedom...
(1969).