From pilots to bikers, rock stars to stunt men, rebellious youth to the fashion-forward, this iconic piece of clothing has long served as an expression of style and story. The black leather jacket sparks a feeling, projects an image, and has evolved and stood the test of time for nearly a century.

This summer, the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee will tell the story of the black leather jacket through its special exhibit, Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket.  Calling the leather jacket ’one  of one of the most enduring and iconic articles of clothing in our popular culture’, the exhibit will celebrate the must have biker accessory and pay tribute to its fascinating history.

Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket runs June 16 through Sept. 3.

“The leather jacket symbolizes different things for each person who wears it, whether they are a motorcyclist, celebrity or a top designer,” said Bill Davidson, Vice President of the Harley-Davidson Museum. “This summer, the Harley-Davidson Museum is excited to introduce all these unique stories in one place through the Worn to Be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket exhibit, and for the first time, showcase how this one garment has become an icon in pop culture and fashion.”

The exhibit will walk visitors through the evolution of the leather jacket, beginning with its role as a solely functional piece of clothing meant to protect pilots and motorcyclists from the elements, through its adoption by Hollywood celebrities, rock stars and counter-culture youth as a symbol of rebellion and cool, to its modern-day designs from fashion houses such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Gianni Versace.

Worn to be Wild is the first exhibit to chronicle the jacket’s many uses, and also the first exhibit created by the Harley-Davidson Museum curatorial staff that will travel to other venues following its run at the Museum. The exhibit will be showcased at the EMP Museum in Seattle October 2012 through February 2013 as well as other additional venues through the end of 2014.

The exhibit is the first that the Harley-Davidson Museum has created that will travel to other venues throughout the country following its debut in Milwaukee.

Throughout the run of this new summer exhibit, more than 100 artifacts will be featured, including dozens of jackets, many boasting intriguing back stories. The items included in the exhibit come from Harley-Davidson’s archives, collectors, and include jackets worn by celebrities and pop culture icons such as Elvis Presley, Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) from Spinal Tap and Taylor Lautner (Jacob) of the Twilight series.

In addition to the eclectic collection of jackets, the exhibit will also use motorcycles, photographs, film footage, printed literature, advertisements and music to explore how a single article of clothing became so ingrained in our popular culture.

Many hope the exhibit appeals to riders and non-riders alike, whether young or old, and whether a fan of history, movies, music, fashion, art, motorcycles, or popular culture.

Unlike many fashion exhibits that focus solely on the designer, this exhibit in many ways showcases the wearer, a vast cross-section of people  dating back to the 1920s, with their own distinctive style, experience and story.