The ALPHA INDUSTRIES MA-1 PATCH JACKET is a banger of a bomber

The ALPHA INDUSTRIES MA-1 PATCH JACKET is a fresh take on a bona fide apparel icon.

A quick history lesson (I know, tl;dr)… Alpha Industries are basically the OGs of the MA-1, having produced the bomber jacket for over 50 years. Back in the 1960s, the brand became one of the biggest manufacturers for the U.S. armed forces, supplying Air Force and Navy pilots with bomber jackets to help them stay warm without cramping their movements in their cold cockpits. The sage green outer shell offered camouflage, the contrasting ‘Indian Orange’ lining on the inside made stranded air crews more visible to rescuers, and the famous utility pencil pocket at the sleeve added extra functionality (but quickly became known as the ‘cigarette pocket’ for obvious reasons).

It wasn’t long before civilians clocked on to the fact that the MA-1 was an absolute banger of a jacket. It was picked up heavily by punks, skinheads and mods, who liked its looks and the idea of subverting military garments (note to the youngsters, back then people wore their clothes for slightly deeper reasons than Instagram stunting). Alpha Industries noticed, started selling to civilians, and that brings us back to the present with the brand’s latest drop that includes this patch-heavy bomber beauty in sage or black. The new take on the icon comes dotted with an assortment of military and civilian patches, literally wearing its history on its sleeve with a mix of military insignia, biker club badges, and of course the brand’s famous ‘remove before flight’ keychain at the pocket. Meanwhile, the back of the jacket is left plain and simple so you can walk up to your mates backwards then jump round with jazz hands to show off all the patches.

The ALPHA INDUSTRIES MA-1 PATCH JACKET is AVAILABLE NOW with selected retailers. The weather is still dodgy enough to justify the purchase, so click on the banner below to shop the patch jacket along with the rest of the new MA-1 range (including a very on-trend dusty pink number) now…