The Best Vintage Leather Jacket Brands to Know
What made each of these makers distinct, and what to actually expect to pay for the real thing.
Schott NYC
The name most people reach for first, and for good reason — Schott has been making leather jackets in the US since 1913 and originated the Perfecto motorcycle jacket in the 1920s. Vintage Schott pieces from the 1950s-80s in horsehide or steerhide are dense, heavy, and built to outlast the wearer. Expect to pay $200-500 for a genuine vintage piece in good condition, more for well-documented early runs.
Vanson Leathers
A Massachusetts maker known for motorcycle-specific construction — reinforced stress points, purpose-built for riding rather than fashion first. Vanson pieces from the 1970s-90s show up less often than Schott on the resale market but tend to be priced more reasonably for the build quality, often $150-350.
Avirex
Originally Cooper Sportswear, rebranded Avirex in 1975, known for military-style flight jackets (A-2, G-1 reproductions and original-adjacent designs) that leaned into 90s and 2000s streetwear culture as much as workwear authenticity. Vintage Avirex from the 90s hip-hop era specifically has become collectible in its own right, separate from the military-authenticity conversation — expect $100-300 depending on era and condition.
Aero Leather Clothing
A Scottish maker specializing in painstaking reproductions of WWII-era flight and military jackets, using horsehide and construction methods matched closely to original spec. Less common on general resale marketplaces since much of their output is made-to-order rather than mass-produced; when vintage pieces do surface, they're priced closer to $400-700 reflecting the construction quality.
Lewis Leathers
A British maker (est. 1892) closely associated with the 1950s-60s British motorcycle and rocker subculture — their "Bronx" and "Aviakit" models are the pieces to look for. Genuine vintage Lewis Leathers pieces are harder to find outside the UK/Europe and command a premium among collectors who know the brand, often $300-600.
Military issue (unbranded)
Genuine government-issue A-2 and G-1 flight jackets aren't a "brand" in the traditional sense — they were produced under military contract by multiple manufacturers (Rough Wear, Perry Sportswear, Cooper, and others) to strict specifications. What matters for these isn't the maker name but the contract label and spec markings inside the collar. Documented, verifiable pieces with intact labels regularly clear $400-800+.
Whichever name is on the label, run it against the construction tells in our authentication guide before paying a name-brand premium.
Read the authentication guide →