Schott

Schott NYC (originally Schott Bros.) was founded in 1913 by Irving and Jack Schott, sons of a Russian immigrant, who opened a small cutting-and-sewing operation in the basement of a Lower East Side Manhattan tenement, initially making raincoats sold door-to-door by street peddlers. In 1928, Irving Schott designed what's widely credited as the first leather motorcycle jacket: a horsehide, double-breasted, belted design with a zippered front he named the 'Perfecto' after his favorite cigar brand. The asymmetric front zip created a windproof seal for riders and became the template still recognized today. The jacket's cultural profile grew through mid-century film, later cemented by Marlon Brando wearing one in 'The Wild One.' Schott is now in its third and fourth generation of family ownership, run by descendants including Jason Schott and David Colin. The company continues to manufacture in the United States and sells through schottnyc.com.