A British outerwear brand, founded in Stoke-on-Trent in 1924, known for waxed cotton and leather motorcycle jackets, now registered in London.
Belstaff is a British brand of jackets and outerwear that began making clothing for motorcyclists. It is known for waxed cotton and leather jackets such as the Trialmaster and Paracom, and also makes womenswear, footwear, accessories, rainwear and denim. The brand calls itself a "British modern heritage brand". It also made protective clothing, including suits for racing drivers, windproof smocks for Marines and insulating clothes for mountaineers.
Belstaff was founded in 1924 as Belstaff Manufacturing Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent by Eli Belovitch and his son-in-law Harry Grosberg, two Jewish immigrants who were pioneers in waterproof fabric. Early products included capes, leggings, rucksacks and army shirts. Its first motorcycle clothing was made in a converted factory in Longton in 1928, and in the Second World War it made equipment for special forces. The Trialmaster jacket from the 1950s gave the brand its phoenix symbol. The brand says its aim is "moving people forwards", built on Britishness, innovation and adventure, with an independent spirit.
Stoke-on-Trent is described as the brand's hometown; its centenary archive showcase in 2024 was held there. The registered company, Belstaff International Ltd, is based at the Truman Brewery on Brick Lane in London, and a reimagined flagship on Regent Street opened in 2023. In the past the company made clothes at factories in Longton, Silverdale and Hartlepool, but its own page says the 1990s recession forced some factories to close. We could not confirm from the pages we read where Belstaff clothes are made today.
The brand's story is linked with people and communities: the 1960s rockers who customised their jackets, the trials rider Sammy Miller, who wore Belstaff at 17, and the climbers on a 1977 Himalayan expedition who wore a Gore-Tex jacket made by the company. Kate Moss starred in a 2006 campaign, and David Beckham in a 2014 capsule collection. The Princess Royal visited the Silverdale factory in 1986. Customers can arrange repairs online. These are the company's own accounts of its history.
A brand of this type employs designers and technical product developers who work with waterproof and waxed fabrics, pattern cutters, merchandisers and buyers, shop teams in London and elsewhere, brand, social-media and e-commerce staff, and people in finance and supply chain. Because the brand began in Staffordshire and has a London base, jobs may be in either place. The company's website lists current roles.
Website: www.belstaff.com
PURPOSE helps school and university students explore 62 sectors and over 1,000 entry-level careers in the UK, then connects them directly with employers.
Explore PURPOSE