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Fringe on an adult leather jacket

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17,536
Edward,

You might still be able to pickup the Showtime mock trial on the web, I’m not sure. Thanks for your reply, we could talk about this for days but I guess this is not the place.
 

Edward

Bartender
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24,736
Location
London, UK
was it inspired by the mane of a horse, bird's wing or something like that?

If my belief that the concept originated with the First Nation people prior to adoption by white settlers is correct, it seems likely that it would have a practical purpose inspired by nature, perhaps a specific animal that had strong links to a spiritual tradition.
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
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9,160
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
The three main reasons for the original purposes of fringe I have always heard are:

1. water dispersal
2. fashion. It existed even before Europeans got here (U.S.)
3. can create a menacing appearance during conflict/battle
 

tmitchell59

I'll Lock Up
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7,464
Location
Illinois
Forgot I had these two with fringe. They're adult jackets. The light colored one is size 16 ladies. The brown one doesn't have a size.

Light color jacket is Cape skin and marked on the label. The brown one isn't marked, but I would say cape skin probably.

Love that Los Angeles Sport Togs label.

Both jackets are probably 50s
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Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk
 
Messages
10,343
Location
vancouver, canada
I just picked up a fringed jacket in a natural tanned coloured deer leather from a vintage shop in Butte Montana . The $50 price tag was enough to break my reticence. May never wear it in public but a cool souvenir from mountain man territory
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
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9,160
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
View attachment 149757 Neil Young and Hendrix are wearing iconic jackets. I couldn’t wear those but maybe something like this:


That’s probably the exact jacket I have, purchased in the ’80s, except I think mine has an Excelled label. And yes, it still fits me now. :)


I don't know. The only guy in history who could pull this off:

View attachment 118839


I had tried this soon after I got the jacket. Let’s just say that could be the worst possible leather/suede jacket to wear while riding a motorcycle. I never ride with my jacket hanging open. No neck, wrist or waist closures, no zipper so it billowed like sail at speed as the wind got in through the spaces between the snaps, and up the arms. And those fringes flapping around? That attempt was a one-and-done. haha
 
Messages
17,106
Location
Chicago
That’s probably the exact jacket I have, purchased in the ’80s, except I think mine has an Excelled label. And yes, it still fits me now. :)





I had tried this soon after I got the jacket. Let’s just say that could be the worst possible leather/suede jacket to wear while riding a motorcycle. I never ride with my jacket hanging open. No neck, wrist or waist closures, no zipper so it billowed like sail at speed as the wind got in through the spaces between the snaps, and up the arms. And those fringes flapping around? That attempt was a one-and-done. haha
But did you drop acid and smoke ten tons of weed first? If not...you're doing it wrong. LOL.
 

Just Jim

A-List Customer
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307
Location
The wrong end of Nebraska . . . .
The three main reasons for the original purposes of fringe I have always heard are:

1. water dispersal
2. fashion. It existed even before Europeans got here (U.S.)
3. can create a menacing appearance during conflict/battle

Having spent a fair amount of time in lousy weather wearing buckskins, I can say for sure that (1) is wrong: fringe or no fringe, you're cold and wet for about the same amount of time. Assuming equal tanning, the weight of the leather is a much bigger determining factor (except for moose, which is like a sponge).

As for (2), who knows? Depending on the era, fringe shows up in places that suggest the primary purpose is decoration. Create a menacing appearance (3)? Gotta say, I've never heard or read that. One thing that fringe does--or at least can--do, is break up a person's silhouette.

As for those fringed brown suede jackets, you can usually cut up a couple of them and sew up a nice welding apron.
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,160
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
Having spent a fair amount of time in lousy weather wearing buckskins, I can say for sure that (1) is wrong: fringe or no fringe, you're cold and wet for about the same amount of time. Assuming equal tanning, the weight of the leather is a much bigger determining factor (except for moose, which is like a sponge).

As for (2), who knows? Depending on the era, fringe shows up in places that suggest the primary purpose is decoration. Create a menacing appearance (3)? Gotta say, I've never heard or read that. One thing that fringe does--or at least can--do, is break up a person's silhouette.

As for those fringed brown suede jackets, you can usually cut up a couple of them and sew up a nice welding apron.

Keeping in mind that 'originally' means 'at the beginning,' when there was less knowledge and technology than there is today (no Gore-tex back then), all three of those reasons, as well as others, were all quite possible and even likely. Have a look-see:

https://www.google.com/search?q=reasons+for+fringes+on+jackets&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1
 

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