Einstein was a fan of this outerwear. But you do not need to be a genius to appreciate the beauty and functionality of this piece. Usually, this item has two front pockets with sheepskin lining, and of course, a front-zip closure. The pockets are hand pockets, placed a little lower for convenience. But its most distinguishing quality is that the cuffs and waist are ribbed and usually made of elasticized material. The entire jacket is roomy and sizeable but the elastic hem and cuffs help give a classic and unique shape and form to the piece. It was in the 1920s that they were made.

We are of course, talking about the leather bomber jackets for men. In 1926, Leslie Irving made the first outerwear pieces in this design and style. Originally, they were made as heavy weight outerwear for pilots in the First World War as they had to fly in open cockpits in airplanes. Leather was more capable of handling rough use and was sturdy enough to provide them with ample warmth and protection. These pilots were the ones who carried out the bombing raids. At that time, these outerwear pieces were only created for the military personnel. This became an absolute phenomenon. The men started sewing patches onto their jackets to represent their adventure- the places they had been, the experiences they had accumulated and et cetera. Then, as they ran out of spaces, they would take off the patches and sew on new ones. Since these were military men and not tailors, the work was not neat or tidy. You could see the seams and the marks of the stitches. But this gave the jackets a character and this ended up being a fashion trend after the Second World War.

When Irvin designed and manufactured these pieces for the army, it was for the England Royal Air force. The Americans saw these designs, liked them, and produced them themselves. And it was them that really created the hype and demand for this outerwear. Leather bomber jackets for men are now very popular and widely bought, often with silk linings. The pilots who wore these jackets in the 1920s wore them during their service and many passed them on to their sons. The daughters, wives and sisters of these men would ‘borrow’ them. Those up do’s, oversized jackets on petite women, pushed up sleeves- this look was a typical and popular image then and has conveyed to today.

Those jackets were named A-2 and that style created such a demand that it is still produced today and various interpretations of those pieces continue to exist. When this style was produced for women, it was produced in smaller sizes and brighter colours. The original bombers don’t exist commonly now. In fact, finding one is a very rare occurrence as many were destroyed or torn up during the war and in the subsequent years. You can find it in a thrift store or some there quaint place. But while the original pieces are hard to find, the style is still produced widely.