Road Ready

Ever since George Clooney dropped by Belstaff's Rome showroom in 2001, the company, known for its rough-and-tumble motorcycle jackets, has experienced quite a renaissance. Featured in dozens of big-budget movies—Tom Cruise had more than 80 Belstaff jackets on set while filming Mission: Impossible III, and Leonardo DiCaprio said his helped him prepare for The Aviator—the brand has developed a clientele that includes everyone from Hollywood A listers to the Dalai Lama. A true leader of the pack, Belstaff has been in business since 1924, when the British company broke new ground with its use of breathable, waterproof waxed cotton. Steve McQueen wore Belstaff in The Great Escape, Che Guevara wore it on his famous ride through South America, and racing champions like Sammy Miller were staunch supporters. In the '90s, under the threat of financial demise, Belstaff was saved by Italian racer, motorcycle designer and fan of the brand Franco Malenotti. Economic concerns eventually forced the company to relocate to Italy, but loyalist Malenotti, by transplanting the factory boss from Britain and continuing to use English materials, has ensured that the label's craftsmanship and quality continue to ride.