Teaming up to produce a range of Limited Edition clothing, the Anglo-American partnership of Ace Cafe London and Schott NYC includes the seminal Schott Perfecto leather jacket, famously worn by Marlon Brando's "Johnny" in the 1953 film "The Wild One".  The increased visibility of the Perfecto jacket in this ground-breaking film and its subsequent popularity at the time, initially resulted in a decrease in sales!  Like the film, which was banned in the UK for fourteen years by the British Board of Film Censors, these jackets were also banned by many schools in the USA because they were considered to symbolise a burgeoning, and what was regarded as an increasingly dangerous teenage demographic.

In 1955, the Perfecto was catapulted to the height of its popularity when a love of speed ended the life of teen idol James Dean.  It was said at the time that he was hardly ever seen in any other jacket, and that they seemed to be made for each other.

Ace Cafe London's Mark Wilsmore, who has owned one of these jackets for years said, "Being a motorcyclist and enthusiastic collector of iconography relating to motorcycles, a Schott jacket was a must.  We are very excited to be working with a company with such heritage".

In 1928, Irving Schott crafted his first motorcycle jacket for Beck distributors in Long Island, New York.  Durable and rugged, it was immediately embraced by the new generation of "bikers" as a symbol of the excitement, adventure and danger that fuelled their fascination with motorcycles. It retailed for $5.50!  Soon after, Irving introduced a line of jackets under the Perfecto brand, named after his favourite cigar.  Since the early fifties, only the top of the line Schott motorcycle jackets carry the Perfecto label. Quality, innovation and individuality were the ideals of Irving Schott, and four generations on, the tradition continues from the core one hundred year old factory in Staten Island, New York.

Made from deluxe heavy steerhide, the Perfecto is 24" long and features a belted front, bi-swing back, underarm ventilation, zippered pockets and sleeves and an insulated nylon quilted lining. The standard classic Schott Perfecto at £480 and the special Limited Edition Ace/Schott Custom Perfecto (the only Schott jacket with a half-zippered lining making it easier to sew on patches without damaging the leather) jacket at £550; which comes with a set of Ace Cafe London badges, are both available from the Ace Cafe London web shop.

Julian Ritchie of Schott said, "We at Schott are very pleased to be working jointly on exclusive products with Ace Cafe London, the first of which is the Perfecto Custom - a collaboration between two great names in motorcycling history.  Both companies have their roots in a culture in which the Perfecto jacket has become an icon in its own right and Schott are proud to be part of the Ace Cafe and its culture."

Check them out on the webshop's Featured Brands Section