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Leather jacket worn by Bootsy Collins

Object Details

Description
A yellow and black long-sleeved leather jacket (.a) with fringe worn by Bootsy Collins. The jacket is part of a costume ensemble designed by Tom the Leatherman (Tom Wojciechowski). The yellow jacket is decorated with black leather stars and other designs appliqued with topstitch onto the collar, lapel, sleeves and upper back. The jacket is single-breasted with a notched, wide lapel and a two (2) snap closure with metal snaps. The collar is decorated with five (5) black stars. Each lapel is decorated with three (3) stars and a strip of black leather on the outer edge. On the front of the jacket there are two (2) besom pockets surrounded by a black star trim. The long sleeves taper into a slight flare, and are decorated with five (5) black stars with circular silver metal buttons to which long yellow strips of fringe are knotted. Each sleeve cuff has a yoke style trim and three (3) black stars. There is a strip of stiffener sewn into the collar.
On the back of the jacket, both shoulders are decorated with strips of black leather from which three (3) stars are cut out, showing the yellow leather underneath. In the center of the back are two (2) large black stars with large circular silver metal buttons and long yellow strips of fringe, like the stars on the sleeves. Across the back is a yoke seam with long strips of yellow leather stitched along the seam, descending into a "v", with the longest strips at the center extending to below the bottom seam of the jacket.
On the interior, the jacket has a black lining in a synthetic fabric. There is a brown leather tag at the inside of collar reading: [TCW].
There are two (2) chain link fastener pieces (.bc) that attach to the interior of the jacket's front snaps. Each chain link fastener is made from two (2) pieces of thick metal chain attached to yellow leather tabs on each end. Each yellow leather tab has a snap, allowing the chain link fasteners to fasten to the snaps on the jacket and serve as extenders. When the chain link fasteners are snapped into place, the jacket can be worn in an open style, and if they are removed the jacket can snap closed.
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Designed by
Tom the Leatherman, American
Worn by
Bootsy Collins, American, born 1951
Date
ca. 1990
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Bootsy Collins
Medium
leather, metal, and synthetic fiber
Dimensions
H x W (flat): 32 3/4 × 20 1/2 in. (83.2 × 52.1 cm)
Type
jackets

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