Y2 Leather

Founded in Osaka in 1998, Y2 Leather is dedicated to one thing only: leather. For them, leather is not just a material, but a living canvas—full of character, imperfection, and beauty. Every hide carries its own history, and no two jackets are ever exactly alike. This belief shapes everything Y2 does: from sourcing and tanning to cutting, sewing, and finishing, each piece is treated as a unique encounter.

Working directly with some of Japan’s most skilled tanners, Y2 Leather has spent decades refining their materials. Horsehide, deerskin, suede, and their signature Steer Oil leather are prepared with techniques that respect the hide’s natural qualities rather than covering them up. Drum-dyed with water and dyes instead of pigments, their leathers retain softness, depth, and individuality. Small scars, color variation, and texture shifts are not flaws—they are proof of authenticity. With every wear, a Y2 jacket begins to tell your story, softening, creasing, and aging into something truly personal.

A Century of Leather Jackets

The story of Y2 Leather continues a legacy more than 100 years old. Leather jackets were born in the early 1900s, first as practical garments for pilots, dispatch riders, and open-top motorists braving the cold. These early “flight” and “bomber” jackets set the tone for leather as protection against the elements.

In the 1920s and 30s, aviation evolved, and so did the jackets. Slimmer fits, button cuffs, and cotton linings gave way to styles like the A-2 and Irvin flying jacket, which became military icons. During WWII, these pieces were symbols of resilience, worn by pilots in freezing skies and remembered long after the war.

By the 1950s, leather jackets stepped off the airfields and into pop culture. Marlon Brando’s rebellious look in The Wild One and James Dean’s brooding style in Rebel Without a Cause transformed the jacket into a symbol of youth, defiance, and freedom. Motorcycle jackets, with heavy horsehide and bold cuts, became staples for police, bikers, and rebels alike.

The 1960s and 70s cemented leather’s place in music and counterculture. Worn by Elvis, The Beatles, and later by punk bands like The Ramones, the leather jacket was no longer just clothing—it was an attitude. By the 80s and 90s, it crossed into women’s fashion, with icons like Joan Jett and Blondie proving its versatility. From Hollywood to stadium stages, leather was everywhere.

Today, the leather jacket stands as a timeless piece, bridging function and style, past and present. Whether as a bomber, motorcycle, or modern reinterpretation, it remains one of the most enduring garments in fashion history.

Carrying the Tradition Forward

In this long journey, Y2 Leather has carved out its own path. By embracing the natural quirks of leather and resisting shortcuts, they ensure every jacket has warmth, individuality, and soul. Like the great designs of the past, Y2’s jackets are built to last for decades, but also to evolve—changing with every scratch, crease, and year of wear.

A Y2 jacket is more than just outerwear. It’s heritage, craftsmanship, and character—woven into leather and passed from one generation to the next.