Skip to main content

Ball and Buck reimagines Schott’s iconic leather motorcycle jacket

The Schott motorcycle jacket remained unchanged since 1928, until now

A man standing facing the camera with his hands in the pockets of a Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket.
Ball and Buck

The Ball and Buck premium sporting apparel brand collaborated with century-old Schott outerwear manufacturer to create a 150-piece limited edition leather jacket. The Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket reimagines the original Perfecto motorcycle jacket, which the Schott brothers designed in 1928 and the company has produced since 1928.

The special edition is still suitable for motorcycling, but Ball and Buck reinterpreted the iconic design for a broader audience “through a sporting lens,” according to the company. The companies collaborated previously on special versions of the Schott Perfecto jacket.

Recommended Videos

“We’ve taken Schott’s legendary leather jacket, a true American icon, and incorporated our sporting heritage through thoughtful details that our customers will appreciate for generations to come,” said Mark Bollman IV, Founder of Ball and Buck.

The Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket backstory

A man leaning on a post fence facing away from the camer wearing a Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket.
Schott started business in New York City in 1913, making raincoats sold by street sellers. According to Schott’s history, the company’s outerwear line grew to include leather jackets, and Schott jackets were the first to use zippers.

When motorcycles became popular in the 1920s, the Schott brothers created the Perfecto leather jacket, named after one of their preferred cigars. The original motorcycle jacket sold for $5.50 at a Long Island Harley-Davidson dealership.

The jacket remained unchanged through the 1950s, when Brando wore one in The Wild Ones. During the 1970s and 1980s, punk rockers and musicians such as The Ramones, Blondie, Joan Jett, and The Sex Pistols wore the Schott Perfecto.

Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket features

Zipper detail of a Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket.
Ball and Buck

Constructed from pebbled waxed cowhide, the Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket is handmade in Schott’s Union, New Jersey factory. It features custom antique brass Ball and Buck hardware, blaze orange contrast stitching details, signature plaid tartan lining, and Ball and Buck interior labelling. The inner zipper placket has die-punched “B&B” perforations.

Inside collar detail of a Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket.
Ball and Buck

The Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket honors Schott’s design traditions and Ball and Buck’s sporting roots. The limited run of just 150 jackets retails for $1,298.

A man standing next to a post fence wearing a Ball and Buck x Schott NYC Leather Jacket.
Ball and Buck
Bruce Brown
A Digital Trends Contributing Editor and Contributor for TheManual.com, Bruce Brown writes e-mobility reviews and covers…
Indian Motorcycle launches new SportChief and PowerPlus models for 2025
Indian launched eight 2025 Indian Chiefs and ten 2025 PowerPlus models
2025 Indian Pursuit Dark Horse.

Indian Motorcycle introduced two lines of new and refreshed models for 2025. The Indian Chief family now includes the Sport Chief performance cruiser variant. Indian announced new models, new tech, and a rich assembly of accessories for riders to personalize their bikes.

IMC also announced an expanded PowerPlus family that includes Chieftain and Roadmaster models with fork-mounted fairings and unique rider-assist technologies. Indian also launched Chieftain and Roadmaster models with a new, enhanced PowerPlus 112 engine that first powered the Indian Motorcyle factory race team and helped the team win the 2024 King of the Baggers championship.

Read more
Livewire launches the 2025 LiveWire S2 Alpinista electric motorcycle
The LiveWire S2 Alpinista accelerates to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds
2025 LiveWire S2 Alpinista electric motorcycle parked roadside, right profile view, with saddlebags.

LiveWire launched the S2 Alpinista, its third electric motorcycle on the S2 platform. The new e-motorcycle is now available at dealers and is positioned as LiveWire's sport standard bike.
Why another LiveWire S2 model?

The S2 Alpinista is the third LiveWire electric motorcycle variant built on the S2 platform. This model's 17-inch wheels and tires distinguish it from the Se Del Mar, which has 19-inch wheels and tires, is LiveWire's street tracker model. The S2 Mulholland has 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels and a six-inch handlebar riser, which allows riders on the cruiser model to ride with a more upright posture.

Read more
Benda launches motorcycle line of cruisers fusing soul and style
The Benda cruiser design focus is low and wide for a cool, laid-back look, with forward foot controls.
Two people on 2025 Benda Chinchilla 300s parked talking in fron to f the Arch de Triumph in Paris.

Keeway America, which established a dealership network for Benelli motorcycles and Keeway scooters, announced a new partnership with Benda Motorcycles. Beginning in spring 2025, Keeway dealers will carry three 2025 Benda V-twin cruiser motorcycles. The first Benda motorcycles in the U.S. will be the Chinchilla 300, the Chinchilla 500, and the Napoleonbob 500.
The Benda brand story

According to Keeway, Benda Motorcycles blends "radical aesthetics with state-of-the-art engineering." The Benda bikes have liquid-cooled engines with carbon fiber drive belts, LED lighting, and standard ABS braking. The gas motors are smaller and less potent than Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles V-twins. They are intended for entry-level riders who primarily ride in small towns and back roads.
The 2025 Benda cruisers
The initial Benda cruiser models are the Chinchilla 300, Chinchilla 500, and Napoleonbob 500.
2025 Benda Chinchilla 300

Read more