Kurtis Blow's Leather Jacket

Description

This black and red leather jacket was worn by Kurtis Blow on the cover of his album "Deuce" (1981). The motorcycle style jacket has full-length sleeves, a stand-up collar, and closes at the center front with a black zipper and five (5) metal snaps painted red. There is a red leather racing strip down each sleeve that extends onto the shoulders, with the collar also faced in red leather. The sleeves taper slightly at the wrist, ending in elastic cuffs. The waistline of the jacket body also has an elastic edge. The elastic on the waist and cuffs is sewn inside the black leather so it does not show. There are two (2) exterior diagonally oriented inset pockets, one at each front hip, that are edged with the red leather and lined with black acetate fabric.

The interior of the jacket body and sleeves are fully lined with the black acetate fabric. There is one (1) interior inset pocket at the proper left breast that is edged in black leather and closes with a black zipper. There is a designer label at the interior center back neck made of white fabric with maroon machine embroidered stitching that reads "M. Julian". A size tag is sewn to the center bottom of the designer label reading "38". There are three (3) additional tags sewn into the proper right side seam with size, fiber content, and care instructions typed onto the cream fabric in brown text. There is a cream fabric hanger loop sewn at the interior center back neck.

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Designed by

M. Julian, American, 1975 - 2000

Owned by

Kurtis Blow, American, born 1959

Date

1981

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kurtis Walker PKA Kurtis Blow

Medium

leather, synthetic fiber, metal, and elastic

Dimensions

H x W (flat): 26 × 23 in. (66 × 58.4 cm)

Type

jackets