Here's the Cold War era standard jet pilot leather jacket. I can't recall the name of it, tho... I think it's just refered to as лётная куртка or Flight Jacket.
Pretty sweet jacket and one of few original Russian designs (sorta like a Luftwaffe and a G-1 jacket). Saw many variations and modifications.
I was just looking at the thread on "Vintage Finnish Leather Jackets." It's curious how different the styles are from those made by their neighbors in the USSR. The Finnish show more of a German influence (especially the shorter, form-fitting Luftwaffe design), but there also seems to be something distinctly their own.
If anyone's interested, here you can get a repro of the Russian flight jacket. Looks cool.
http://www.courtage.com.ua/product/kurtka-formennaja-lyotnaja-kozhanaja/
True. In the part of Europe where I am, leather jacket design has always been traditionally heavily influenced with German styles, with a lot of original vintage German pieces floating around. Turn east though, first neighboring country and you'd have a hard time finding anything like it.
I mainly agree, but you have to keep in mind that from the 1920's onward in western Europe and the US leather jackets more often reflected stylistic developments in fashion, one industry that had pretty much disappeared in the Soviet Union after WWI. Many of the leather jacket designs in the West reflect the Art Deco movement, especially in the 1930's and '40's, as well as reflecting the more fitted designs of the time. While I was looking at those beautiful Finnish jackets I couldn't help thinking of the Helsinki train station I had the opportunity of visiting a few years ago: it's one of the most beautiful Art Deco structures in the world. It's not surprising that such ideas were carried over to clothing designs.Before the war, aviation in each country developed in different ways. Look at the main aircraft of the 30s from Russia, USA, Germany, Britain, Italy - they are different in their ideas : open-closed cockpit, biplane-monoplane, and more.
Therefore, the main leather jacket all country was different. In the USA it is A-1 and A-2 G-1, in Britain "Irwin", in Germany a short bicycling jacket, in Russia raincoat "Reglan". Then during the war, Russia got a lot of Lend-Lisa outfits, so Russian jackets after the war are more similar to "Aero" motorcycle jackets from the USA and Canadian "Alpaca jacket" - plus mixed and changed with other ideas and designs.
I thought the same as Eastwood stated above when I saw these pics. Ive got no knowledge about Russian jackets but the 'paper clip' zipper pull seemed to date it late 50's rather than mid 40's.This thread may have hope. Thanks all for the info!
Here's a neat half belt one, with "Lightning" zips...any connection to the Lightning zips we know about or mere coincidence? Also, what is this Klara Tetskin Garment Factory? I've seen it mentioned in several listings. Truth to copying the A-2? The collar looks like a Lost Worlds Dubow...
https://www.collectrussia.com/DISPITEMWINDOW.HTM?ITEM=28915
This thread may have hope. Thanks all for the info!
Here's a neat half belt one, with "Lightning" zips...any connection to the Lightning zips we know about or mere coincidence? Also, what is this Klara Tetskin Garment Factory? I've seen it mentioned in several listings. Truth to copying the A-2? The collar looks like a Lost Worlds Dubow...
https://www.collectrussia.com/DISPITEMWINDOW.HTM?ITEM=28915
I thought the same as Eastwood stated above when I saw these pics. Ive got no knowledge about Russian jackets but the 'paper clip' zipper pull seemed to date it late 50's rather than mid 40's.