Belstaff was founded in Stoke-on-Trent in 1924 by Eli Belovitch and his son-in-law Harry Grosberg. Its early jackets were made from waxed cotton, waterproof yet breathable. They were designed chiefly for motorcyclists, but adventurers and travellers soon discovered how well they stood up to the British weather.
The best-known design is the Trialmaster, introduced in 1959 and built for the punishing conditions of the Scottish Six Days Trial, the legendary motorcycle reliability event. Belstaff has been worn by T.E. Lawrence, Che Guevara and Steve McQueen, whose jacket in The Great Escape (1963) brought the brand to a much wider audience. It was a fixture of the British Rocker scene, too.
In vintage, the classic waxed cotton jackets are the most sought after, with the Trialmaster as the best-known model. When choosing one, check the condition of the wax and the lining, the zips and press studs, and the edges of the collar and cuffs: that's where a jacket wears first. These are pieces made to be used, and they only gain character with age. Every piece is one of a kind and checked by us. That's why our selection is always changing.
Throw a Belstaff over a chunky jumper and vintage jeans, or over a shirt for a rugged city look. Browse our men's vintage jackets and coats and women's vintage jackets and coats. If British classics are your thing, also take a look at Burberry.
Waxed cotton stays water-repellent if you re-proof it now and then with dedicated jacket wax. Never machine-wash it; brush off dirt once it's dry. For every jacket we list the material, any signs of wear and the measurements we took ourselves.
An old Belstaff jacket tells a story. The cotton softens, the wax works deeper into the fabric and small marks show where the jacket has been worn. That kind of character takes years to build on a new jacket. These jackets were also made to be repaired and re-waxed, so they keep going for a long time. You end up wearing a piece of British motorcycling history that becomes a little more yours every day.
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