The MA-1 was created for the pilots of the American army's after World War II. Inspired by previous models, its design was marked by functionality; it eliminated the collar to facilitate the placement of the pilots' helmet, had zippers to place the cables and pullers to open and close them even with gloves, and a was made in a material that was lightweight and allowed easy access to the small cabins (hence the nylon with a slippery finish).
MA-1 Bomber Jacket -a history of aircraft, fashion and subculture
Many of the garments we currently wear have a common origin in the extreme utilitarianism of military needs, garments that usually pass through subcultures until they become fashion tools.
One of its most innovative features was the use of color. It was usually green on the outside for the sake of camouflage, but orange on the inside. The lining allowed downed pilots to be visible in a search situation.
Converted into a cheap product because of military surplus, it was adopted by punks and skins in the 70s, not only because of its price but also for its anti-modern character, and it started to become popular with counter-cultural appearances in the cinema (Steve McQueen in The Hunter). The next step seemed obvious: fashion was approaching anti-fashion, subcultures were becoming trendy and many of their key garments were becoming versions of Helmut Lang, Rick Owens or the greatly sought-after Raf Simons's interpretation to which Kanye West gave a new life.
Today the MA-1 has become one of Nike and John Elliott's basic garments, and appears in brands as diverse as Jordan, BBC, Undercover or Needles.
