Thursday, May 21, 2009

Leather Jackets in Fashion & Utility

LEATHER JACKETS IN FASHION AND UTILITY

Leather Jacket is a type of clothing a jacket made of leather. They are generally gray, black or brown in color, Leather jacket can be styled in variety of ways. Today the leather jacket is not only outwear which protection during winter, It becomes the style the leather jacket have often been associated with bicker, cyclist, police.

Leather jackets irrespective of their color, style and material used for manufacturing is surely provides you protection against seasonal conditions. Apart from its utility as protective tool leather jacket also add to you personality and display your attitude, lifestyle and considered as a symbol of status.

In the 20th century leather achieve iconic status, in a major part through film. A leather jacket can be styled in many different ways and associated with various lifestyle, professions and people.

Leather jackets are made up of animal skins. The most used animal skin in manufacturing leather jackets is that of cow. However, skins of other animals like ostrich, pigs, bucks, lizards can also be used for manufacturing leather jackets.

Leather jackets come in a number of designs and go through various processes to add a distinct taste to the rugged leather. The leather is sometimes distressed, waxed or embossed to imitate crocodile, alligator or snakeskin. Some leather jackets are fur-trimmed or fringed. Leather jackets are also available in single, double-breasted and simple styles.

A proper motorcycle leather jacket will have more usable pocket space, better weather protection and adjustability. The leather used in motorcycle jackets should be at least a millimeter thick. The thickness of a jacket decides what kind of protection it allows to the rider. Some of the other features of a motorcycle leather jacket are the slightly dropped back to keep the wind out when the driver leans ahead, and articulated or pre-curved sleeves.

The leather jacket comes in many form and style like classic, motorcycle bomber, leather blazer, and bomber jacket. Leather jacket worn by aviator and member of the military were brown in color called Bomber jacket. Leather jacket are generally buttoned or zippered .The number of button available may differ sometime it is five button jacket. Also it comes in different length, design and color. Leather jacket are available in hip length and waist length size Collarless leather jacket are also available.
There are two types of leather jackets.

1: FASHIONABLE LEATHER JACKETS

The leather jackets which men and women used to wear to look attractive and beautiful are called fashionable leather jacket. Leather fashion has emerged with great vigor especially among the teens. Though leather jackets were worn occasionally a few times back but since everybody is involved in the run to select something in leather which is in vogue leather jackets today are a pleasure to wear and the ultimate in comfort. There is something for everyone out there reaching out to men, women, children and teens

2: UTILITY LEATHER JACKETS
The leather jackets which men and women used to wear to protect their bodies from injuries and in extreme cold weather are called utility leather jackets. Every year thousands of people lose their lives in motorcycle accidents while hundreds are severely injured. The good news is that research has shown that wearing leather motorcycle jackets can considerably reduce the severity of injuries. That is why these jackets are considered by many to be a necessity for all motorbike riders.



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Motorcycle safety clothing and why this is important

Motorcycle safety clothing and why this is important

To improve motorcycle safety many countries order the wearing of protective clothing by motorcyclists, especially a helmet. Other protective equipment may include certain types of jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Jackets meant for motorcyclists are typically made of nylon, leather, or Kevlar. These jackets usually include heavy padding on the elbow, spine, and shoulder regions. Gloves are generally made of leather or Kevlar and some include carbon fiber knuckle protection. Boots, especially those for sport riding, include reinforcement and plastic caps on the ankle and toe areas. A well-protected motorcyclist will wear boots with heels that fit on motorcycle foot rests (pegs) and provide good ankle support. Pants are usually leather, nylon, or Kevlar. Except for helmets, none of these items are required by law in any state in the U.S. but are recommended by many of those who ride.
Types of clothing

Leather Clothing:
Leathers are 1-piece suits, or 2-piece jackets and trousers worn by motorcyclists mainly for protection in a crash. The leather used is not fashion leather but protective leather which is stronger, rather flexible and much tougher. Both leathers and joins (seams and zips) should be officially tested for ergonomics and impact scrape, cut, tear and burst resistance. They do not have to be too heavy and there is no such thing as rivalry leather - just safe and unsafe leather and joins.
Typically, an accident at a race track will result in the racers sliding, rolling and tumbling for reasonably long distances and long times compared to an accident on the public road. This is because of the large safety run-off areas found on most race tracks; hence racers have a much lower probability of hitting hard vertical solid objects during a crash. Some racing leathers have additional protection properties to increase sliding and decrease bouncing and rotation. To decrease or prevent such injuries, most modern racing suits have an area that helps sliding at the knees, shoulders and elbows – often made of titanium or high-density plastic, so the rider slides more along the track environment and so decreases the bouncing and rotation through the air, which may cause inferior injuries from angular accelerations and rotational forces
Currently there are two major styles of motorcycle leathers: the tight fitting and sometimes colorful one or two piece suits based on motorcycle racing leathers; and the somewhat looser fitting leather trousers and jackets, usually black and often decorated with metal studs and tassels.

Textile Clothing:

Increasingly, motorcyclists are choosing protective equipment make up of man-made textiles rather than leather due to their improved weather protection from heat, cold, and water, and the increased value these garments tend to provide in terms of pockets and vents. Common materials include high density (600–1000 Denier) ballistic nylon (e.g., Cordura) and Kevlar (or blends of Kevlar, Cordura, and Lycra) and often include waterproof liners made from materials such as Goretex.

Motorcycling Boots:

Boots are worn by motorcycle riders and passengers to prevent or diminish harm to their feet and ankles while riding and in the incident of a crash. Tough, strong, moderately flexible boots with rigid soles provide the rider protection from a number of risks. Boots with oil-resistant, rubber-based merged soles give a grip on the concrete and help keep the rider's feet on the foot rests. If the boots have heels, they should be low and wide to provide a firm base when standing with the bike. In a crash, boots may avoid or reduce foot and ankle injuries.

Helmets:

A motorcycle helmet is protective head covering used by motorcycle riders. The primary target of a motorcycle helmet is to protect the rider's head during impact, although many helmets provide additional protection such as a face shield. In some countries the wearing of motorcycle helmets is compulsory.
Helmets are made in 2 main layers: hard and energy-absorbing. The hard shell spreads an impact over a larger area, while the liner (often polystyrene foam) absorbs energy so less is transferred to the skull & brain

Gloves:

Motorcycling racing glove
Motorcycling gloves are typically gloves made of leather. They may have gauntlets to protect the rider's wrists from injury, and help shrink drafts while riding in colder climates. Motorcycling gloves typically have reinforced palms anticipated to protect the rider from scratch injuries in case of an accident.
Optional characteristics include additional protection or weatherproofing. For touring gloves, such additional features may include advanced insulating materials and waterproof/breathable fabric, although touring gloves may still lack advanced armouring features used in motorcycle racing gloves.

Gloves intended for motorcycle racing typically feature precurved finger sections and the best available protection, obtained through additional armour incorporated within the glove. Although maximum tacility is an noticeable starting point for racing gloves, additional protection should not be discarded. Additional protection may involve titanium or carbon panels for knuckles and the joints of the fingers. Furthermore, racing gloves may and often do add in additional wrist and other protection panels to protect the heel of the hand, back of the hand and other easily injured parts of the hand.

The Art to make Leather from Raw

Many consumers own a variety of leather products, ranging from belts to jackets, and the resourceful material has been used for thousands of years in a variety of products. The process for making leather includes a complex set of steps from skin to finished product. These steps are often referred to as “tanning” due to the most typical part of the process, which uses the tannic acids present in plant matter to chemically modify the leather so that it will not decompose or rot.

If used without any treatment, animal hides would quickly break down and begin to stink. For this reason, the hide needs to be treated to form leather. The process can be broken down into two

basic stages: wet blue processing and finishing, both of which are adept in large commercial spaces known as tanneries. While it is possible to make leather at home, it is an aromatic and complicated process, and most people prefer to send out their hides for tanning.

Skin has three layers beginning with the epidermis, proceeding to the derma, and ending in the adipose, which is also known as flesh. When making leather, only the strong and flexible derma, which is a layer of collagen fibers, is preferred. The collagen is exuded by cells, and forms a network of useful strings. When leather is processed, these fibers are retained while everything else is stripped away.

First, the skin is fleshed, the flesh being cleaned off of the hide, and the surplus adipose, or animal fat, is removed. Then the hides are washed and soaked, which regain moisture to dried hides while loosening blood and dirt. Chemicals are added to turn the water alkaline, which will eat away at the hair and epidermis. The collagen fibers begin to swell, while excess proteins rushed out.

When this process is complete, the water is brought to a stable pH and the swelling goes down, so that enzymatic cleaners can be added to remove any remaining organic waste. Then the hide is pickled in a highly acidic solution, which prepares it for tanning. Tanning agents form bonds with the collagen in the hide, causing it to resist bacterial attack, and the hides are removed from the wet blue processing tank for finishing, after being run through rollers to remove excess water.

When the hides emerge from the wet blue stage, they are split to the preferred thickness. Depending on the planned use of the leather, this thickness may vary. Then the leather is re-tanned, with different materials depending on whether it needs to be firm or soft, and dyed. After dyeing, the leather is oiled so that it will remain flexible and soft. Then the leather is dried, mechanically treated to soften it, and buffed so that it will have a smooth and attractive surface. Some leathers are marked with patterns before the final stage, which is the function of a finishing coat of polymer or wax to protect the surface of the leather.

Leather treatment used to be a highly polluting industry, but tanneries responded to public protest about odor and pollution issues. Tanneries now recycle the liquids used in the leather making process and desist from chemical dumping. Tanning still carries a strong stink, but is no longer accompanied by environmentally unfriendly business practices in most parts of the world.

What is a Fashionable leather jacket

A jacket is a type of sleeved hip- or waist-length garment for the upper body. For clothing older than the mid-nineteenth century, a distinction is often maintained with a coat, but in many instances the terms are now interchangeable. A jacket is generally shorter, ending just below the waist and often lighter. Some jackets are fashionable, while others serve as protective clothing.

Difference between fashionable and protective leather jackets

There is a considerable difference between leather jackets made for fashionable purposes and those worn for protection (in activities such as motorcycle riding). Leather jackets designed for protective use are safety gear and are heavier, thicker, and often outfitted with armor, thus becoming a very realistic item of clothing regardless of the imagery invested in them by popular culture. A leather jacket mainly designed for fashion purposes is not likely to be of much use in a motorcycle accident

Fashionable leather jackets

The leather jackets which men and women used to wear to look attractive and beautiful is called fashionable leather jackets.

It’s time for you to make a strong fashion statement with leather jackets that can suit your style. New Leather fashion has emerged with great vitality especially among the teens. Though leather jackets were worn occasionally a few times back but since everybody is involved in the run to select something in leather which is in trend leather jackets today are a delight to wear and the vital in comfort. There is something for everyone out there reaching out to men, women, children and teens.

Colors for the leather jackets have also captured the season’s trend depending more on the looks you want to accomplish. A more prescribed feel can come out with black leather jackets complimented by cool blue denims or jeans with foggy Currently there are two major styles of motorcycle leathers: the tight fitting and sometimes colorful one or two piece suits based on motorcycle racing leathers; and the somewhat looser fitting leather trousers and jackets, usually black and often decorated with metal studs and tassels.

Shades of colors and faded textures in them. Brown colors exemplify vintage and a cow boy look as well along with other light color options like white and grey. You can then match it with Denim jeans or casual trousers. Women can have other vibrant color options as well.

The hides say a different story this season with more of the lamb skin and cowhide and fur in use this year and one that is approaching. The most common in menswear is lambskin leather considered better than its cowhide counterpart. Lambskin leather showcases a more elegant, smooth and refined look.

Women leather jackets have definite show stealers with women’s black blazer made from Napa leather ultra soft black New Zealand lamb skin leather jackets, comfortable and soft Napa leather coat with fake fur collar, robust yet chic women’s motorcycle leather jacket, light weight classic braided women’s motorcycle leather jackets and bolder fashion of Black leather ladies vest with braids and lace sides. The kiddies range include warm kids bomber leather jacket or flight jacket with a military style for smart kids going with the trend. The leather jackets have eagle patch in them.



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