Belstaff was founded in 1924 by Eli Belovitch and his son-in-law Harry Grosberg in Staffordshire. The brand is known for producing all-weather jackets for motorcyclists and if there’s one garment that defines Belstaff, it’s their waxed-cotton Trialmaster Jacket featuring four pockets and mandarin collar. Designed to survive the harsh weather and riding conditions of the Scottish Six Days Trial, it’s durable and comfortable design allows easy movement and manages to look stylishly sharp. This jacket was introduced in 1948 and is still sold today. Belstaff celebrated the 70th anniversary of the iconic Trialmaster jacket in 2018. The release was accompanied by a series of events to celebrate the enduring appeal of a timeless silhouette.
During World War II, Belstaff supplied everything from parachutes to aviator suits, showing that the brand is capable of creating survival suits that would save the lives of many airmen and sailors. Belstaff not only supplies the troops with essential high-tech gear, and motorcyclists with all-weather jackets, but has also been worn by several celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Hilary Swank, Johnny Depp, and Brad Pitt.
In 2012 the company opened stores in Via della Spiga Milan, in New Bond Street London and on Madison Avenue, New York where the interiors were designed by Bill Sofield. In the same year, Belstaff presented their first autumn/winter collection for men and women at London Fashion Week. In 2016, there was a collaboration between Belstaff and brand ambassador, actress Liv Tyler. This was composed of a 12-piece capsule collection including outerwear and leather pieces shot through with strong femininity. Using history to tell the story of the modern Belstaff woman. In 2018, there was another collaboration between Belstaff and engineering pioneers McLaren. This saw the launch of a driver-inspired capsule collection that blends precision performance and innovative design. This collection had a focus on timeless elegance and rigorous precision, the capsule features clean lines and simple silhouettes, as well as forward-thinking function.