Belstaff

Belstaff was founded in Stoke-on-Trent in 1924 by Eli Belovitch and Harry Grosberg. The British company developed protective clothing for people travelling by motorcycle and in open cars, using fabric treatments to keep the weather at bay. Its name combined Belovitch with Staffordshire, placing its origins inside the label.

Waxed cotton and leather became the foundations of its identity. A jacket had to work while its wearer was moving, with pockets and fastenings serving a purpose beyond decoration. The belted, four-pocket Trialmaster became the best-known expression of that thinking, turning practical riding equipment into a recognizable silhouette.

Belstaff’s appeal broadened as those clothes moved away from the road. A worn leather jacket or weathered waxed coat could suggest experience even in a city wardrobe, giving the brand a connection to adventure that outlasted individual trends. Knitwear and casual separates developed around the outerwear, keeping the jacket central to the way an outfit was assembled.

Designers including Martin Cooper and Delphine Ninous helped expand that wardrobe, with Sean Lehnhardt-Moore taking over creative direction in 2018. Based in London, Belstaff continues to draw on its archive of protective clothing. The most persuasive part of its heritage remains visible in the garments themselves, where useful construction also supplies their character.