60 Years of the MA-1

October 29, 2023

Since Alpha Industries first began producing their MA-1 bomber jacket in 1958 for flight pilots, the familiar and ubiquitous silhouette has found itself reappropriated by iconoclastic communities from ravers and skinheads in Europe to gay subcultures in 1980s New York. Reinterpreted in collections by designers like Helmut Lang, Raf Simons, and Issey Miyake, the influence of the MA-1 bomber blueprint would eventually become indelible in the fashion world.

As hip hop began to proliferate in the 1970s and 80s and the popularity of streetwear rose, the MA-1 bomber jacket would emerge once again as a classic staple, worn by artists including Nas, The Notorious BIG, More contemporary fashion icons like Rihanna and Kanye West would cement the status of the instantly recognizable garment in the 2010s.

Photos courtesy of Alpha Industries

As Alpha celebrates the 60-year anniversary of the MA-1 bomber, office chatted with Didi Richards, Dao-Yi Chao, Joekenneth, and King Marie who starred in their ‘Icons’ campaign to find out what makes the jacket iconic to them.

Didi Richards

“The bomber jacket is iconic to me because it can be styled so many different ways! Casual, business, business-casual, it’s a very versatile piece. I’m also pretty biased to olive green – I love a good earth tone!”

Dao-Yi Chow

“The MA-1 has remained a staple in my wardrobe throughout my life. I identify so much with its functional aesthetic and the idea that it can mean so many things to so many different folks but still stay consistent and unwavering. It’s democratic yet very special, and very few brands and products can mean that to someone. That’s the definition of an icon to me.”

Joekenneth

“The nostalgia of seeing the jacket throughout my upbringing in Brooklyn, makes it a memorable piece of apparel, but it’s also the timeless design and versatility of the jacket that makes it iconic to me; the wearer can style it in so many different ways.

The opportunity to collaborate with a heritage brand that has had such an influence on style and culture for decades, is not lost on me. It’s an honor to be a part of that, and to lend my spoken word talent to the campaign made it all the more special.”

King Marie

“Being from Chicago, a blue collared city, work wear is a huge part of our culture. Alpha’s utilitarian design with military roots speaks to that for me; it’s like wearing a uniform you want to wear everyday. To be recognized for who you are is always an honor, but to be labeled iconic by an iconic brand hits different.”

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Escaping the Glass Cage

November 19, 2024

For years, she stood still, watching life rush past her, a quiet observer behind the glass. Now, the glass is broken, and she steps out into the unknown. She walks through the city, caught between two worlds—part of it, yet apart from it.

Her journey is quiet but bold, searching for something she’s never understood, something just out of reach. On church steps and under glowing city lights, she questions everything: the rules, the past, and where she truly belongs. Each step feels both freeing and uncertain.

A curious soul in a borrowed life, she keeps moving forward, leaving behind only whispers of her escape, like a fleeting shadow in the night.