Lewis Leathers
British heritage motorcycle-clothing brand known for hand-produced leather jackets, aviation garments and its long association with British motorcycle and music culture.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Lewis Leathers is the best-known modern brand name of D. Lewis Ltd., a British clothing company established in London in 1892. It began as a gentlemen’s outfitter making suits and raincoats in London’s East End, then expanded into specialist clothing for aviation and motoring during the early twentieth century. The company’s specialist aviation range was marketed under the Aviakit name from 1930, and its garments were supplied to civilian pilots, government contractors and the Royal Air Force. This aviation heritage remains visible in the Aviakit labels and design references used across Lewis Leathers products. After the Second World War, D. Lewis adapted surplus and aviation clothing for demobilised motorcyclists and developed a broader range of motorcycle apparel. The company’s location on Great Portland Street, then part of London’s Motor Row, placed it near automobile and motorcycle businesses and helped establish its reputation as a specialist supplier. By the early 1950s it claimed a substantial domestic and international motorcycle-clothing business, serving ordinary riders, racing competitors and police motorcyclists. It also supplied replacement riding boots and other equipment for circuit racers. The decisive change came in the 1950s, when the company targeted the expanding youth and motorcycle market. In 1956 it introduced the Bronx jacket, an updated flying-jacket design adapted for British motorcycling. Its cut reflected the crouched riding position used by British racers, with features such as back expansion pleats and protected hardware. The Bronx became closely associated with the Ton-up Boys, Rockers and the 59 Club, and helped establish the brand as a symbol of post-war youth rebellion. The name Lewis Leathers was registered in 1960 and used for a new range of youth-oriented leather jackets. During the Mods-and-Rockers era, the garments appeared on both sides of the cultural conflict and became part of the visual language of British motorcycle culture. The company’s designs later acquired a second life through rock and punk. Models including the Dominator, Lightning and Cyclone became associated with musicians and subcultures, while the company’s jackets were customized by designers, performers and stylists. Lewis Leathers also sponsored or outfitted motorcycle racers and teams, including British and United States International Six Days Trials participants, and collaborated with motorcycle manufacturers. The brand’s cultural reputation rests on the overlap between protective function, British manufacturing, racing history and countercultural fashion. Ownership and production arrangements changed during the late twentieth century. D. Lewis was sold to the Newbold brothers in 1982 and to Richard Lyon in 1986. Derek Harris researched and recreated classic designs from 1991 onward, helping restore historical patterns, labels and hardware. A retro range introduced in 1993 coincided with growing Japanese interest in vintage British motorcycle clothing. Harris later took control of the company after Lyon’s retirement announcement in 2003. A Japan office was established, and the London operation returned to a location near its former Great Portland Street base in Fitzrovia. Lewis Leathers has retained an English production identity. Manufacturing moved between Watford, St Albans, East London and Northampton during different periods, before returning to London in 1993. The present range centers on leather motorcycle jackets while also including motorcycle clothing and accessories such as boots, gloves, goggles, helmets, scarves, face coverings, T-shirts and waxed-cotton waterproof garments. Its strongest international following is in Japan, where original and vintage Lewis Leathers pieces have been collected, customized and worn as authentic links to British rocker, punk and rock history. The company continues to sell through its London operation, international retailers and its official website.
History
D. Lewis began in London in 1892 as a family gentlemen’s outfitter producing suits and raincoats. During the 1910s it entered specialist clothing for aviation and motoring, with production associated with Watford. In 1929 the company became D. Lewis Ltd.; the same year, Aviakit was introduced as the name for its aviation clothing. The company supplied garments to pilots and government contractors in several countries and produced made-to-measure clothing for Royal Air Force officers during the Second World War. Aviakit products expanded beyond clothing to boots, goggles and crash helmets, and the name remains part of the Lewis Leathers identity. The company’s Great Portland Street premises were located in London’s Motor Row, a concentration of automobile and motorcycle businesses. Following the war, D. Lewis sold ex-RAF clothing to demobilised motorcyclists and developed more casual motorcycle garments as petrol rationing ended. It expanded through shops in cities including Birmingham, Sheffield and St Albans, while also supplying police riders, racers and motorcycle clubs. The brand occupied the premium end of the market and provided specialized equipment, including replacement boots for racing riders. In May 1956 D. Lewis released the Bronx jacket. Although derived from a 1930s flying jacket, it was designed for the post-war teenage market and adapted to the needs of British riders. Its construction accommodated a forward-leaning racing posture, while protected buckles reduced the risk of scratching a motorcycle’s fuel tank. The jacket became a defining garment for the Ton-up Boys and Rockers. In 1960 the company registered Lewis Leathers as a brand name, and in 1962 it associated itself with the 59 Club in London. The company’s jackets appeared in the wider Mods-and-Rockers era and gained visibility through motorcycle advertising and music publications. The range grew to include the Dominator, Lightning, Cyclone, Corsair and variants of the Bronx. Lewis Leathers also produced colored racing leathers, women’s aviation and motorcycle clothing, boots, gloves, helmets, goggles, waterproof garments and other accessories. Motorcycle sponsorship and outfitting connected the brand with International Six Days Trials teams and riders including Steve McQueen, while racers such as Derek Minter, Giacomo Agostini, John Cooper, Mike Hailwood, Colin Seeley and Bill Ivy were associated with the company’s garments. Lewis Leathers later collaborated with Royal Enfield and Triumph on jacket ranges. Ownership changed in 1982, when the company was sold to the Newbold brothers, and again in November 1986, when Richard Lyon acquired it. Derek Harris began researching classic designs in 1991. The original Great Portland Street shop closed in 1993 after 101 years at the same location, but a London operation was restored near the original site. A retro range released that year reproduced historical details and benefited from rising collector interest in Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom. Production had moved among Watford, St Albans, East London and Northampton; it returned to London in 1993. Lewis Leathers’ cultural significance expanded through British punk, rock and fashion. Jackets were worn or used by performers and fashion figures associated with the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, Clash, Damned, Motörhead, Arctic Monkeys, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Lou Reed, Johnny Thunders and other acts. Designers including Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren customized or incorporated similar garments into fashion contexts, while Lewis Leathers pieces appeared in films, theater, music videos and fashion photography. The company also produced custom jackets for a Rolling Stones tour. After Lyon announced his retirement in 2003, Harris took over the company. A Japan office, opened with the involvement of 59 Club Japan, supported the brand’s strongest overseas market. Lewis Leathers now operates as a specialist heritage label centered on historically researched motorcycle jackets made in England. Its international appeal comes from the combination of practical riding design, archival continuity, English manufacture and associations with racing, rockers, punk and motorcycle-oriented fashion.
- 2003
Harris takes control and Japan office opens
[1]Derek Harris assumes control after Lyon’s retirement announcement, while the company establishes a Japan office.
- 2002
Comme des Garçons collaboration
[1]The brand collaborates with Comme des Garçons.
- 1993
London operation returns and retro range launches
[1]The former shop closes after 101 years, a nearby London branch is restored, and a historically detailed retro range is introduced.
- 1991
Classic designs researched
[1]Derek Harris begins systematic research and recreation of historic Lewis Leathers designs.
- 1986
Richard Lyon becomes owner
[1]Richard Lyon acquires the company in November.
- 1982
Ownership and production change
[1]The company is sold to the Newbold brothers and production moves to Northampton.
- 1965
Super Bronx Twin Track appears
[1]The 440TT version is presented at the Brighton motorcycle show, adding expansion capacity for winter riding clothing.
- 1962
59 Club association begins
[1]The brand aligns itself with the 59 Club, strengthening its motorcycle-culture profile.
- 1960
Lewis Leathers name registered
[1]The name Lewis Leathers is registered for the company’s youth-market leather range.
- 1956
Bronx jacket launched
[1]The Bronx translates an aviation-derived design into a youth-focused British motorcycle jacket.
Products and positioning
Premium heritage motorcycle and lifestyle apparel emphasizing English production, historical authenticity, protective function, repairability and links to British racing, rocker, punk and rock culture.
Motorcycle leather jacket · 1956
Bronx
Introduced in 1956, the Bronx was derived from a 1930s flying jacket but designed for the post-war teenage motorcycle market. Its British cut accommodated the forward-leaning posture used by contemporary racers, and it became closely associated with Rockers, Ton-up Boys and the 59 Club. The standard Bronx and the later Super Bronx Twin Track remain central references in the brand’s historical range.
Motorcycle leather jacket
Dominator
The Dominator is one of Lewis Leathers’ established classic motorcycle-jacket patterns. It belongs to the group of designs that helped define the company’s post-war identity and later became visible in punk and rock styling, including association with Sid Vicious. Its appeal combines a compact riding-oriented silhouette with the brand’s archival construction and English-made positioning.
Motorcycle leather jacket
Lightning
The Lightning is a classic Lewis Leathers motorcycle jacket recognized for its association with British and international rock culture. It has been linked with performers including Steve Jones and Iggy Pop, helping move the design beyond protective riding equipment into a durable music and fashion symbol. The model remains part of the brand’s core leather-jacket vocabulary.
Motorcycle leather jacket
Cyclone
The Cyclone is a signature Lewis Leathers jacket associated with the company’s vintage motorcycle range and with Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders. Like the other core patterns, it reflects the brand’s use of historically researched cuts, motorcycle functionality and recognizable British styling. It is sold as part of the continuing classic range.
Motorcycle leather jacket
Corsair
The Corsair is another established leather motorcycle-jacket design in the Lewis Leathers range. It extends the brand’s catalog beyond the better-known Bronx, Dominator, Lightning and Cyclone while retaining the emphasis on English manufacture, durable leather and period-informed motorcycle styling.
Aviation clothing and equipment · 1930
Aviakit aviation clothing
Aviakit is the aviation identity developed by D. Lewis from the early twentieth century and formalized as a brand in 1930. The range included flight clothing, boots, goggles and crash helmets, and was supplied to pilots, government contractors and the RAF. Aviakit branding and design references continue to appear on Lewis Leathers garments and accessories.
Motorcycle equipment
Motorcycle accessories
Beyond jackets, Lewis Leathers has produced or sold boots, gloves, goggles, helmets, scarves, face masks and other motorcycle equipment. The company also developed waxed-cotton waterproof garments, T-shirts and related apparel, allowing it to serve riders seeking a complete period-oriented wardrobe rather than a single leather jacket.
Marketing campaigns
- 2002Comme des Garçons collaboration
Japan · United Kingdom · International
Lewis Leathers collaborated with Comme des Garçons, bringing its motorcycle heritage into dialogue with a major contemporary fashion house.
Outcome. The collaboration reinforced the brand’s relevance beyond motorcycle equipment and into designer fashion.
- 1993Retro range international promotion
United Kingdom · Japan · United States
The company introduced a small retro range using period labels, linings and hardware, then promoted it internationally as interest in authentic vintage Lewis Leathers increased.
Outcome. Japan became a particularly important market for vintage-inspired and customized Lewis Leathers clothing.
- 196259 Club association
United Kingdom
Lewis Leathers aligned itself with London’s 59 Club and attended the club during its period of influence. The relationship connected the brand with organized motorcycle culture and helped turn its clothing into a visible marker of the British rocker scene.
Outcome. The association became a lasting part of the brand’s heritage and later supported the development of 59 Club activity in Japan.
- 1960Motorcycle and music-publication advertising
United Kingdom · United States
From the late 1950s onward, Lewis Leathers advertised in motorcycle media and popular music publications including the NME and Melody Maker, presenting its products to both riders and the emerging youth culture.
Outcome. The strategy broadened the brand from specialist equipment supplier to a recognizable cultural and fashion label.
- Royal Enfield and Triumph jacket collaborations
United Kingdom · International
Lewis Leathers produced jacket ranges in collaboration with Royal Enfield Motors and Triumph Motorcycles, connecting its archival clothing expertise with established motorcycle manufacturers.
Brand decisions
2003
Strengthen Japanese operations while restoring a London presenceStrategyBackground
Japan had become a major market for authentic British motorcycle clothing, while the company sought continuity with its London history.
Action taken
After Richard Lyon announced his retirement, Derek Harris took over; the company opened a Japan office and reopened a London branch near its original premises.
Aftermath
The structure supported international retail while preserving the brand’s London and English-manufacturing identity.
1993
Recreate historical jackets through a retro rangeGeneration changeBackground
Vintage Lewis Leathers garments were becoming increasingly sought after, particularly in Japan, for their links to British rocker and punk history.
Action taken
The company released jackets with historically researched linings, labels and hardware, drawing on surviving garments and documentation.
Aftermath
The retro strategy helped establish the modern heritage positioning of Lewis Leathers and supported overseas collector demand.
1960
Adopt Lewis Leathers as the principal youth-facing brandStrategyBackground
The company was expanding beyond its earlier D. Lewis and Aviakit identities as motorcycle clothing became increasingly connected with youth culture.
Action taken
It registered the Lewis Leathers name and used it for a new range of leather jackets.
Aftermath
The name became the company’s most recognizable public identity and was carried into later motorcycle, music and fashion markets.
1956
Target the post-war teenage motorcycle marketProduct launchBackground
D. Lewis recognized the rapid growth of youth motorcycle culture and the appeal of protective clothing as fashion. Its existing aviation and motorcycling expertise provided a design base for a new audience.
Action taken
The company launched the Bronx, an aviation-derived leather jacket adapted for British riding and teenage consumers.
Aftermath
The Bronx became one of the defining garments of the Rocker era and remains a central Lewis Leathers design.
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