The history of the Trucker jacket

In its many guises, the Trucker jacket is one of the most enduring garments ever created, with a level of appeal and cultural significance that’s largely unrivalled. Cherished by the original laypersons and renegade cowboys, plus post-war greasers, hippies, rock legends, stars of the silver screen and the average Joe, the humble jacket has transcended its workwear roots into an emblem that embodies America's (and, resultingly, the world’s) fashion history.

Otherwise known as the jean jacket, it was first created in 1880 by the esteemed American company Levi Strauss and conceived to sit alongside (or rather on top) of its close relative, the denim five-pocket jean, for hard-working, blue-collar labourers who worked diligently in tough, demanding conditions. Therefore, they required clothing capable of enduring the challenges of their work routine, resulting in heavy-duty, un-sanforized denim, a durable material steeped in indigo dye that would develop unique signs of wear and could stand up to abrasion.

Thanks to the economic boom that the West benefited from in the post-war period, garment production and textile manufacturing flourished, and denim was no longer reserved for the war effort and became more widely accessible. Like many great articles of clothing, the denim jacket's popularity exploded with verve, with the likes of Elvis, The Beatles, and Steve McQueen, to name a few, becoming patrons of the garment. With a generation of boomers engaged in popular culture like never before, the denim jacket was relentlessly on the ascent, becoming a signifier of counter-culture, rebellion and easy cool.

As aforementioned, the denim jacket has many guises. However, three styles are the most known. These are the Type I, Type II and Type III. Whilst they all have their merits, cultural significance and differing design language, it’s the Type III variant, which was introduced in the early 1960s, that’s most relevant to Valstar as a company.

The Type III is recognisable via two ‘V’ seams which ran over the two chest pockets and toward the hem. Additionally, the pockets were altered to sit higher up the chest rather than the midriff and were cut smaller, longer and with a pointed patch. It also had a slightly slimmer fit compared to its predecessor, aligned with the prevailing trend of slimmer clothing during the swinging sixties. The handwarmer pockets were added years later, but regardless of the future update, Type III is the jacket we all think of when picturing a Trucker jacket. It’s also the jacket we primarily look to when creating our range of suede Trucker jackets.

It should come as no surprise that the Trucker jacket enamours us, and, season after season, we’ve sought to reproduce it using butter-soft lamb suede. We’re not in the business of creating like-for-like recreations, and so we have each time tweaked details and fits to align with our design ethos and love for suede.

We offer three styles of Trucker jackets, each with slightly differing design details yet still offering the same modernised look.

The first is the Zip Trucker, which is a new design for the SS23 season. Made using the finest lamb suede we can get our hands on in Italy, there’s a natural silkiness to the jacket that denim couldn’t ever provide. The two-way zipper gives the jacket an increased sense of ease and a casual nature. Like the Type III, it features four pockets on the front: two pointed chest pockets with metal rivet button closure and two hand-warming jetted pockets angled on the hips. Available unlined in easy-going tones of Intense Blue, Sandal, Saffron and Fawn.

The Pleated Trucker references the Type II denim jacket, which featured two pleats running alongside the button placket. As a result, there’s a touch more roominess when worn. The two chest pockets have mitred corners and straight jetted pockets on the hips. With a more classic look similar to styles from the post-war period, it’s available unlined in Ficus, Moro and Pale Blue.

Last but by no means least is our classic Trucker jacket. Designed with a clean silhouette akin to the Type III, it’s a simple and versatile piece that can be called upon repeatedly. The collar shape is slightly larger than the previous two styles for a more old-school look and feel, whilst the chest pockets feature soft corners. The hip pockets are cut straight, and there’s a lightly padded lining – perfect for the colder months of the year. Available in Sandal suede.

Overall, the Trucker jacket is an icon of fashion and an endless source of inspiration for us at Valstar. Whilst originals in denim are the most ubiquitous, there’s no denying the allure of one crafted from luxurious suede: it’s an elevated classic for the discerning man.

Shop our Trucker jackets