The introduction of the motorized scooter by the Italian company Vespa in the 1960s gave rise to a scooter subculture that spread throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Scooters could be seen taking to the streets and were especially prevalent in the modern and artistic communities of Paris and London, and as far afield as San Francisco.
Scooter culture was best exemplified in Quadrophenia by the Who, released in 1979. The rock opera tells the story of the mod revolution in the UK, the gang wars that broke out in the 1960s between the Rockers and the Mods, and the rise of the scooter culture with all the lifestyle and fashion statements that go with it.
The scooter jacket as a direct derivative of the scooter culture is best defined by its Euro Style collar, a strip of material that goes around the neck and closes with a snap. Jackets can be made from traditional leather or synthetic or natural fabrics as fashion dictates.
In 1985, Vespa left the US market in favor of Europe, and as petrol prices continued their painful rise, the UK and European communities embraced the scooter as a cheaper form of transportation, while Americans relished their love of SUVs.
Re-entering the US market in 2000, Vespa hoped to cater to a new generation of hungry college students and twenty-somethings looking for an inexpensive means of transportation. What they found was a much better market to make in nostalgic Baby Boomers, reliving their younger days of shiny scooters and bikes in general.
With the last gas price hike of 2008 and growing concern for the environment, middle-class Americans are selling their SUVs and looking for alternative modes of transportation, and once again the scooter is being driven. Scooters are increasingly seen in urban settings as people from all walks of life find a cheaper and more fun way to travel. Following the scooter movement is the resurgence of the leather scooter jacket, as scooterers realize the need to protect the body from the weather and the road.
Today’s modern scooter jackets offer an alternative to the traditional biker style. Scooter jackets come in a variety of materials, but just like any type of bike riding, attention should be paid to protection from the elements and the road. For that reason, the scooter jacket that is made of quality leather material is considered an integral part of the scooter safety equipment, and it is recommended to be worn with a full face protective helmet.
As scooter culture merges with the mainstream, not everyone who considers a scooter for transportation has your typical Mod, Rocker, or Biker personality. According to one estimate, up to 40% of new scooter purchases are made by women. Today’s scooter riders span generations and co-exist with a multitude of lifestyles. Scooter clubs, rallies, websites and forums are popping up everywhere, even scooter racing has gotten under way.
An alternative to the traditional biker look, the scooter jacket exudes a respectable, conservative style that has become a signature of scooter culture and is popular with people from all walks of life.
