Flight Jackets

Flight jackets offer a distinctive look. What started as a piece of aviation attire has fast become a must-have item for showcasing style.

Why is it called a bomber jacket?

Bomber jackets likely got their name from the WWI bomber plane pilots they were designed for. Bomber jackets - also known as flight jackets or pilot jackets - were created by the US Aviation Clothing Board in 1917. Made for use in early fighter planes during the First World War, pilots wore flight jackets to keep them warm in open-air cockpits. Designed in a zip-up style with knitted waistbands and sleeve cuffs, some bomber jackets were also lined with fur for added warmth and comfort.

Where are Irvin flying jackets made?

Classic Irvin flying jackets were created in the United Kingdom in 1926 by Leslie Irvin and are still manufactured in the UK today. As technology improved, aircraft began to reach higher altitudes, and thick jackets were essential for keeping pilots warm as cabins remained uninsulated. 

Are pilot jackets in fashion?

Since their creation in 1917, aviation jackets have permeated the fashion scene. First trickling into subcultures on the punk scene, bomber jackets have subsequently made their way into mainstream markets. From appearing in Top Gun in the late eighties, to collaborations between Kanye West and Alpha Industries, flying jackets will be flying high in fashion for a long time.