Racers and automobile lovers are a niche group. For those who love to wear the spirit of motoring, this can be termed the ‘golden age’.
Casual wear beaming images and design sketches of motorsports and vintage vehicles are available to motorists today.
The growing craze for motorwear has even driven some well-known clothing brands to bring out a line on both classic and contemporary motoring, mainly T-shirts and denims inspired by legendary Hollywood stars and their road flicks — Marlon Brando’s The Wild One and Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider .
Often available for grabs with fat price tags, the fashion variety spelling out messages of on-road passion has not left the clientele complaining much.
But today, basic fashion merchandise — not just affordable clothes but accessories too — on the theme of motoring is available too.
However, motorcycle clubs and riding groups often print their logos and own images or designs on their riding attire, much to the envy of fellow roadies.
Over a decade ago, forget a T-shirt on motoring, even a riding jacket was hard to source for a Chennaiite. Ardent souls trotted the country to find riding leathers, boots and clothes that were available in small pockets of Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and parts of the Northeast.
Some would get specialised tailors in Periamet and Chromepet to make custom leathers.
But over the past few years, the scene has flipped with a few Indian motorcycle-makers too releasing their line of clothing and riding gear to inspire riders.
