Leather Driving Gloves

When you see a cool motorcycle or race car swoosh by, you can’t help but drool in envy. Especially if the driver is dressed to kill in his dark shades, black leather jacket, black leather boots, black leather gloves, and a sleek, cool hairstyle to match? There’s nothing in the world you would wish for at that moment than to be in his shoes…or in his gloves, so to speak, to drive that beautiful machine and look dangerously cool yourself. And speaking of gloves, we all notice that drivers, motorcycle or race car, always wear those black leather gloves to protect their hands from gripping on the steering wheel for a long time…and well yes, to look just damn cool.

But what are driving gloves in the first place and how did they come to be so popular nowadays not only as a protective gear but also as a fashion accessory? History has it that driving gloves were really “riding gloves.” People in the old times rode only on horses and coaches and they used gloves to protect their hands from calluses from holding the reins. When cars were first built, the steering wheels were made of either wood or uncovered metal. They had little insulation and there were no controls for the heat or air conditioning. During the winter, hands could become cold and stiff for driving. And when the weather was hot, it was difficult to grip on the steering wheel as hands could become sweaty and slippery. Gloves became a “natural extension” for drivers to protect their hands from calluses from gripping on those wood and metal steering wheels for a long time and for protection from the heat and cold. Moreover, not only do they improve a driver’s grip on the wheel, driving gloves also improve blood circulation on the hands.

Nowadays, driving gloves are used more as a fashion statement than protection. Many cars today, especially race cars used by professional drivers, have non-slip steering wheels or grooves for better grip. Yet drivers still use gloves, black leather gloves especially, as an “affectation,” necessity and accessory. Leather driving gloves today come in different styles and fabrics to match all driving needs or fashion sense. They are either made of elegant Italian or French leather and exotic fabrics such as lambskin, cabretta, kidskin, deerskin and nappa leather. Some even have heating elements for people who have arthritis. They come in a range of styles from fingerless to elbow length. Sizes fit from the extra small to especially large hands. They can be hand sewn or machine sewn. They can even be lined with silk, cashmere or rabbit fur. Manufacturers come from North America and around the world which design the best quality leather driving gloves of the finest detail.

Black leather gloves especially are the drivers’ favorite, or anyone’s for that matter. There’s something classic yet dangerously sexy about black leather that makes it irresistible and attractive to drivers and non-drivers alike. So whether you’ll use it to protect your hands when driving or create a fashion statement, get a grip on those black leather gloves!

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 7th, 2010 at 9:13 pm and is filed under Black Gloves. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.