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Brando wore it. So did James Dean. So do the major players in rap & hip-hop and the multitude of street-wise kids who emulate their every look and move. While fashion trends seem to change almost weekly, Schott's distinctively American spin on style has always been there, at the top, ever since the Schott brothers founded the company on New York's Lower East Side nearly nine decades ago.
In 1913 two brothers, Irving and Jack Schott, began making leather clothing by hand in a small store on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York. Since the beginning they planned to have the best product possible maintaining a high quality of manufacturing with innovative design and always HAND MADE.
In 1928 Schott created the unequalled "Perfecto"®, authentic "biker" jacket used by Marlon Brando, James Dean and Steve McQueen in their famous movies.
During the Second World War, Schott became one of the largest providers to the American Military, manufacturing their famous nylon flyers, bomber jackets and pea coats for the Navy. Today, many of these coats that are seen in the collection are street "versions" of the models that are produced for the American Military.
In 1998, Schott celebrated their 85th anniversary. Through the years the philosophy of this brand has not changed; they continue trusting in their modern designs and in their tested high quality.
Schott has become an American Classic, capable of competing with the largest companies in the world. When you buy a Schott product you are acquiring a piece of clothing with four generations of experience, and also an exclusive article with an unique and specific identification number that coincides with its tag.
Today Schott invents, designs and produces a collection of all kinds of clothing paying meticulous attention to detail, guaranteed by 86 years of experience made by hand in the United States.
| 1892 | Irving Schott born in New York City |
| 1913 | Irving Schott founded Schott Bros., Inc. with his brother Jack. The sons of Russian immigrants, the Schott brothers' first "factory" was a basement on East Broadway in Manhattan's Lower East Side where they cut raincoats. The Schott's first sales force was a string of street peddlers who sold the raincoats door-to-door. |
| 1915 | Schott Bros. opened a manufacturing facility in Staten Island, NY. Schott jackets given the "Perfecto" brand name - after Irving's favorite cigar. |
| 1925 | Irving Schott revolutionized the way in which we dress for the outdoors when he put a zipper in a jacket. |
| 1928 | Irving Schott designed the first motorcycle jacket. It retailed for
$5.50 and was sold through Beck Distributors, a Harley-Davidson distributor, on Long
Island. Schott Bros. moved it manufacturing facility to South Amboy, NJ. |
| 1930 | Irving Schott supplied "bomber jackets", blouse jackets made in leather, to the US Air Force for WWII pilots. |
| 1940 | Schott Bros. moved to it's first Perth Amboy, NJ facility where all design, production and storage took place. |
| 1947 | Irving's son Mel, entered the business |
| 1950's | Only the top-of-the-line motorcycle jackets carried the Perfecto ® name. |
| 1954 | Schott motorcycle jackets were featured in the cult classic, "The Wild Ones", starring Maron Brando. The increased visibility of the jacket and its subsequent popularity actually resulted in decreased sales. The jackets were banned by many school systems around the country because they symbolized a burgeoning teen demographic, the "hood". |
| 1955 | James Dean, the quintessential "hood", died in an automobile
crash. His tragic death catapulted the motorcycle jacket back in vogue and
rejuvenated Schott sales. The Perfecto® jacket retailed for $49. Milton Perlman joined Schott Bros. |
| 1960 | Mel Schott and Milt Perlman expanded sales of Schott outerwear in the United States and abroad. |
| 1962 | In keeping pace with the trends of the '60s, Schott Bros. introduced leather and fringe vests. |
| 1963 | Sales of the Perfecto® jacket began in Europe. |
| 1965 | Against Mel's directive, Milton and Irving introduced the original western fringe jacket, #316, to the line. Fringe had to be cut by hand. |
| 1966 | Irving paid $1,000 for an automated fringe machine. |
| 1973 | Mel's son, Michael, joined the family business |
| 1984 | Mel's daughter, Roz, entered the business |
| 1985 | Schott Bros. moved to it's current Perth Amboy facility at 358 Lehigh Ave. The building is 250,000 square feet - the size of four city blocks. |
| 1986 | Mel Schott named President of Schott Bros, Irving Schott retains the title of Chairman and CEO. |
| 1989 | Steve Colin, Mel's son-in-law, joined Schott Bros. as CFO. |
| 1991 | Michael's son, Oren, joined the family business heralding management by
four generations of the Schott family. Irving Schott died in December, just three months shy of his 100th birthday. |
| 1993 | Schott Bros. celebrated it's 80th anniversary with $60 million in sales
worldwide. More than 500 Schott employees produce 350,000 jackets. The Perfecto® retails for approximately $300. Schott introduced it's first line of handbags under the Schott Accessories label. Schott's introduction of the traditional naval peacoat in an array of colors catapults the classic jacket into the forefront. The peacoat became the #1 jacket to own. |
| 1994 | Mel Schott named Chairman & CEO of Schott Bros. Michael Schott
named President. Schott Accessories expands to include the company's first line of belts. Schott reintroduces classic motorcycle jackets in horsehide. The classic melton wool navel peacoat (style #740) is Schott Bros. #1 seller, prompting the addition of a leather peacoat (style #140) to the line. Schott Bros. awarded a contract from the Department of Defense of the United States government to manufacture regulation ECWN3B jackets for the US Air Force. |
| 1995 | Schott Bros. offers a wide array of outerwear in lighter weight leathers
and new finishes. A full line of Schott and Perfecto® branded school supplies are offered throughout Europe. Schott NYC Accessories offers a full line of canvas travel bags designed to replicate bags circa 1913. |
| 1996 | Schott continues it's dominance in the peacoat market. Schott expands it's distribution network worldwide. Schott launches a new consumer advertising campaign. Schott offers a new line of urban, contemporary outerwear. |
| 1997 | Schott introduces it's first women line, The Rose Schott Collection, named for founder Irving Schott's wife. |
| 1998 | Schott features new fabrications including kings wool, fleece, wearnyl and
ripcord. Schott celebrates it's 85th year of manufacturing quality, made in the USA outerwear. |
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