The Harley-Davidson Museum will unveil its Worn to Be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket exhibit this Saturday, June 16.
The exhibit chronicles the fascinating story and evolution of the most iconic pieces of clothing of the 20th century: the black leather jacket.
The Museum’s special event space, the Garage, has been transformed to house the exhibition that features nearly 60 leather jackets once worn by World War II fighter pilots, film stars, rock legends, rebel youth and runway models.
“Worn to be Wild uses an amazing array of garments with unique stories to depict the role the black leather jacket has played in popular culture,” said Jim Fricke, curatorial director at the Harley-Davidson Museum. “With materials on loan from around the world – including key pieces from EMP, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and Jean Paul Gaultier – the exhibit is the first comprehensive look at the impact of this iconic jacket. The combination of motorcycling, pop culture and fashion will appeal to a wide audience.”
Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket will run until September 3 and is presented in partnership with the EMP Museum in Seattle. This is the first major traveling exhibit created by the curatorial staff at the Harley-Davidson Museum, and it’s the first time the complete history of the black leather jacket is being showcased.
The jackets featured in Worn to be Wild range from the first leather jacket made by Harley-Davidson in 1929 and other early riding jackets to artfully adorned punk jackets and other Hollywood styles. The exhibit will feature jackets worn on the screen and stage by stars like Elvis, Fergie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gene Vincent, Harry Shearer, Hugh Laurie and others.
Worn to be Wild will be showcased at the EMP Museum October 2012 through February 2013 as well as at several other venues through the end of 2014.
