What Most Riders Don't Know About AllSaints Leather

jamesjordan
3 hours ago
4 min read

AllSaints is a London-based fashion brand whose leather jackets are cut for street and fashion use, not motorcycle riding. The leather quality is reasonable, but the patterns are slimmed for fashion silhouettes, hardware is decorative rather than functional, and the construction is not graded for riding posture or road abrasion. Riders looking for a real motorcycle jacket should buy purpose-built gear.

Key takeaways

AllSaints is a fashion brand, not a motorcycle gear brand
Pattern grading is for fashion silhouettes, not riding posture
Hardware is decorative — light-gauge zippers and snaps
Leather grade is reasonable but not motorcycle-spec
Real riders should buy from purpose-built motorcycle apparel makers

What is AllSaints actually selling?

AllSaints is a UK-based fashion brand that's been producing leather jackets in biker-inspired cuts since the 1990s. The jackets are real leather and the build quality is consistent with mid-tier fashion outerwear. But the design priority is street style, not riding. The cuts are slimmed for fashion proportions, the hardware is decorative, and there's no consideration of riding posture or road abrasion in the pattern work.

Compare that to purpose-built motorcycle gear from Legendary USA's motorcycle jacket catalog, where the patterns are graded for riders, the hardware is functional, and the leather grade is disclosed on the product page. Different jackets for different purposes.

What's wrong with the cut for riding?

AllSaints jackets are pattern-graded for standing posture and fashion silhouette. The sleeves are slimmed to follow current trends. The shoulders are narrowed. The back panel is cut short to sit on the hip. None of that works on a motorcycle. When you reach for the bars, the sleeves come up short. The back rides up. The shoulders pull and twist.

Real motorcycle jacket patterns from Legendary USA, Cockpit USA, and similar American makers are graded for riding posture. Sleeves longer. Armholes deeper. Back panel graded longer. That work is invisible in a fashion photo and obvious on a bike.

What about the hardware?

AllSaints hardware is fashion-grade. The zippers are light-gauge and prioritize aesthetic over function. Some models use exposed zippers as a design element with minimal load rating. The snaps are decorative, often light brass or chrome-plated, and frequently fail under real wear stress.

Compare that to YKK metal motorcycle zippers, forged brass snaps, and reinforced D-rings on Legendary USA's Made in USA motorcycle gear. The hardware is rated for the load it carries, locks under pressure, and lasts as long as the leather. That's the standard for motorcycle gear.

Is the leather grade good?

AllSaints leather is generally mid-tier — better than corrected-grain genuine leather but not at the full-grain horsehide or premium full-grain cowhide level you'd find on quality American-made motorcycle jackets. The leather will wear acceptably for fashion use. For road abrasion or multi-decade ownership, it's not specced for that purpose.

If you want fashion-cut leather for everyday wear off the bike, AllSaints is fine. If you want motorcycle leather that holds up to riding, the Legendary USA horsehide leather jacket or BECK Northeaster lineup will serve you better. Different products for different purposes.

What should a rider actually buy?

Buy purpose-built motorcycle gear from a transparent maker. Look for full-grain leather, real hardware, and patterns cut for riding posture. American makers like Legendary USA, Cockpit USA, BECK Northeaster, Vanson, and Schott NYC all qualify. The Legendary USA motorcycle jacket and Made in USA gear catalogs cover the full range.

Save AllSaints for the bar, the office, or the weekend dinner. Buy motorcycle gear for the bike. The two aren't interchangeable, even though fashion brands sometimes market biker-inspired cuts as if they were.

Quick comparison

Property	AllSaints leather jacket	Real motorcycle jacket
Primary purpose	Fashion / street style	Motorcycle riding
Pattern grading	Fashion silhouette	Riding posture
Hardware	Decorative, light-gauge	Functional, real metal
Leather grade	Mid-tier, not always disclosed	Full-grain, grade disclosed
Road abrasion rating	Not designed for it	Built for road conditions
Best use	Off the bike	On the bike

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear an AllSaints jacket on my motorcycle?

You can wear anything you want, but AllSaints jackets aren't built for motorcycle use. The pattern is fashion-cut and the hardware is decorative. For real riding gear, look at purpose-built motorcycle jackets from transparent makers like Legendary USA, Cockpit USA, or Vanson.

Is AllSaints leather real?

Yes, AllSaints uses real leather in their jackets. But the grade isn't specified at the level of a serious motorcycle apparel brand, and the leather isn't selected for abrasion resistance. For motorcycle use you want disclosed full-grain leather from a maker like Legendary USA, where grade and origin are stated on the product page.

Why don't fashion leather jackets work on motorcycles?

Three reasons: pattern grading is for standing posture (not riding posture), hardware is decorative (not functional), and leather grade is selected for aesthetic (not abrasion resistance). All three matter on a motorcycle. Real motorcycle gear from Legendary USA addresses all three.

What's a fashion-leaning motorcycle jacket option?

Legendary USA's cafe racer jackets and vintage motorcycle jackets cover the slimmer, more fashion-forward end of real motorcycle apparel. The cuts have classic style but the materials and construction are motorcycle-grade. That's the right way to get a leaner aesthetic without giving up real motorcycle build quality.

Where to go from here

For real, transparently-sourced motorcycle apparel built around real rider use, the Legendary USA shop carries the full lineup of motorcycle jackets, Made in USA vests, deerskin gloves, A-2 and G-1 flight jackets, and BECK Northeaster horsehide pieces. Material grade and origin disclosed on every product page.