Profiles

New York, yes; Milan, yes; Paris, definitely; Stoke-on-Trent?!

Hang on a minute I hear you say, but hear me out...

Staffordshire's one major contribution to the fashion world does come from Stoke-on-Trent, and that's Belstaff.

So who are they?

The name Belstaff will mean something different to many people. When founder Harry Grosberg started out in Longton in 1924, they made waterproof jackets - the sort of thing you might go walking in or even just to keep you dry while you're out.

So they started out in Stoke-on-Trent?

Yes, they had 2 factories in Longton and Silverdale but during the so-called textile crisis of the nineties and early noughties they both closed. The company is now owned by the Malenotti family and based in Northern Italy.

Anyway, back to the history. After they'd been making these waterproofs, they decided to branch out into making all kinds of outdoor gear (like gloves, boots and goggles), using different fabrics such as waxed cotton and later (and most importantly) leather!

Longton - the birthplace of Belstaff

So why was leather important?

Well, part of the Belstaff appeal was in its 'iconic' status. The leather jackets they started to develop in the 1930's attracted motorcyclists. A bit like modern day footballers and their boots, the combination of successful riders in motorsport and a Belstaff leather developed the label's 'cool' factor.

Many of the pilots in the Second World War were issued with a leather flying jacket (some of which would be Belstaff), not to mention goggles, flying helmet etc which Belstaff also manufactured.

It was the best publicity the brand could ever imagine - these good looking, young, heroic fighter aces were wearing the jackets. And not a David Beckham in sight!

After the war, cool cats like James Dean really pushed the style of the leather jacket further. It became a symbol of rebellion.

Figures like Che Guevara actually wore Belstaff jackets, Guevara himself wore one all the away across South America on his motorcycle tour.

Even today, the likes of Britney Spears, George Clooney and Kate Moss proudly boast a Belstaff in their vast wardrobes - while motorbike riders like Sete Gibernau (think the Manchester United of motorbike racing) have endorsed the label in recent years...

Wow, that's impressive.

Yep, and it doesn't stop there. Plenty of film makers have used their gear.

Like 'Oceans Twelve', where the bag they nick the loot in is a Belstaff; Martin Scorscese's 'The Aviator' pitches Leonardo Di Caprio as a Belstaff-bedecked Howard Hughes, and countless others have used the brand in their films.Even Gucci have used Belstaff styles when designing their ranges!

So next time you see that film star wearing a Belstaff, just remember that a little bit of Staffordshire history went into the making of it!