Leather Motorcycle Jacket Manufacturer in India: What Riding-Gear Brands Must Specify
Updated: 23 hours ago
An Indian riding-gear brand can have leather motorcycle jackets made by a leather motorcycle jacket manufacturer in India, but the brief must go further than a fashion jacket's. Name the EN 17092 class you will test to, the CE armour level, the leather type and thickness, seam construction and armour pockets, then freeze the lab-tested sample before bulk production.
Key Takeaways
Updated October 2026: EN 17092:2020 rates motorcycle garments in five classes (AAA, AA, A, B and C) and replaced EN 13595, which was withdrawn by March 2023 at the latest.
Classes AAA and AA require elbow, shoulder, knee and hip impact protectors; Class A requires them at the elbow, shoulder and knee, with hip optional.
CE limb armour to EN 1621-1 Level 2 must average under 20 kN of transmitted force, against 35 kN for Level 1 (summary of the standard).
India's ride gear market was valued at USD 265.6 million in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 365.2 million by 2034, according to IMARC Group.
Sanwas International works with MOQs under 500 units per style, sampling from 72 hours.
How is a motorcycle jacket different from a fashion leather jacket?
A motorcycle jacket is protective clothing: it has to resist abrasion, keep its seams closed and hold armour in place while the rider slides. A fashion jacket brief covers look and fit; a riding jacket brief also has to cover how the garment behaves in a crash.
In practice that changes almost every line of the spec. Riding jackets usually use heavier cowhide than fashion outerwear, reinforced seams in the shoulders, elbows and back, pockets that hold armour at the joints, pre-curved sleeves and stretch panels so the rider can reach the bars. Under EN 17092, sleeve restraints are tested with a 50 N cone force for 30 seconds, and two-piece suits are tested with a 100 N force for 60 seconds at the connecting zip, according to SATRA's overview of the standard.
If you are new to leather outerwear production, read our pillar guide on launching a leather jacket brand in India first; this post covers what changes when the jacket becomes riding gear.
Which EN 17092 class should an Indian riding-gear brand target?
Choose the class before you design the jacket, because it decides the armour you must fit and the abrasion performance the leather and seams must reach. The table summarises the classes as SATRA describes them.
Class | Impact protectors | Abrasion protection | Where brands usually position it |
|---|---|---|---|
AAA | Mandatory at elbow, shoulder, knee and hip | Highest of the five classes | Premium touring and sport jackets |
AA | Mandatory at elbow, shoulder, knee and hip | High, below AAA | Touring and all-round riding |
A | Mandatory at elbow, shoulder and knee; hip optional | Baseline level | Urban and commuter riding |
B | None | Equivalent to Class A | Abrasion-only garments |
C | Protectors only | No minimum abrasion requirement | Armoured base layers worn with A, AA, AAA or B garments |
The class applies to the construction the laboratory tested. Agree with your test lab, before bulk, which changes (leather, thread, seam type, armour model) would need retesting, and write those items into the purchase order as locked.
What CE armour level should you specify?
Specify the armour standard and level for every pocket: EN 1621-1 for shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, and EN 1621-2 for the back. Level 2 transmits less force to the body than Level 1.
EN 1621-1 limb armour: Level 1 must average below 35 kN with no single value over 50 kN; Level 2 must average below 20 kN (SATRA).
EN 1621-2 back protectors: Level 1 must average below 18 kN with no single value over 24 kN; Level 2 below 9 kN with no single value over 12 kN.
Optional hot (+40 °C) and cold (-10 °C) impact tests exist for both parts, which matters for brands selling into hot Indian summers and high-altitude riding.
Most brands buy certified armour from a specialist supplier and ask the jacket factory to build pockets that hold it in the right position. Send the armour (or its exact dimensions) with the tech pack so pockets are cut to fit, not adjusted after sampling.
What should go into the tech pack for a leather riding jacket?
A riding-jacket tech pack needs every item below, in writing, before the first sample is cut. Our general guide to writing a leather tech pack for an Indian factory covers the basics; these are the additions for protective gear.
Target EN 17092 class and the laboratory that will test the jacket.
Leather: animal, tannage, finish and thickness range in millimetres, separately for impact zones and comfort panels.
Seams: stitch type, thread specification and number of stitch rows in impact zones (EN 17092 tests seam strength to EN 13594).
Armour: supplier, model, standard and level for each pocket, plus pocket position, opening and closure.
Fit for the riding position: pre-curved sleeves, stretch panels, sleeve and waist adjusters, and any trouser connection zip.
Liners, ventilation, reflective trims and labels, including the class marking exactly as your lab will issue it.
Size set: a graded size run for sampling (see our guide to leather jacket size grading).
How long do sampling and bulk production take?
Factory time is the shorter part: Sanwas International samples from 72 hours and runs bulk orders from 30 days. For riding gear, add the time your laboratory needs to test the approved sample, plus a correction round if the jacket fails a zone.
A realistic sequence for an Indian brand is: proto sample, fit and armour check, size set, lab submission of the approved construction, then bulk with the tested materials locked. Pre-shipment AQL inspection before dispatch catches stitching and finishing defects across the whole lot.
How Sanwas International works with riding-gear brands
Sanwas International is an LWG-certified OEM and private label leather manufacturer based in Jalandhar, Punjab, India, producing footwear, outerwear, furniture leather and hides for brands in India and worldwide. We build leather jackets to your specification under your label and can produce samples for the test laboratory you choose; certification to EN 17092 is issued by that laboratory, not by the factory.
Brands get MOQs under 500 units per style and AQL inspection before dispatch. See our private label leather manufacturing service, or request a riding-jacket sample quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order 300 private label leather riding jackets from a factory in Punjab for my Indian D2C brand?
Yes. Sanwas International's MOQ is under 500 units per style, so 300 jackets in one style is a workable first order, split across your size run. Budget for a sample round and lab testing before bulk if you plan to sell the jacket with a protection class.
Do I need EN 17092 certification to sell leather motorcycle jackets in India?
BIS certification is compulsory for two-wheeler helmets under IS 4151; for riding jackets, check BIS's current list of quality control orders before launch. Whatever the legal position, only market a jacket as Class AAA, AA or A if a third-party laboratory has tested and certified that exact model to EN 17092.
Will my riding jackets come with a GST invoice and be delivered to my warehouse anywhere in India?
Yes. Bulk orders are billed on a GST tax invoice with the HSN code for leather apparel, so a GST-registered brand can normally claim input tax credit. Jackets are dispatched by road from Jalandhar, Punjab, to your warehouse or 3PL in any Indian city, with the delivery timeline confirmed in the quote.
Can a factory use the same pattern for a fashion leather jacket and a riding version?
The silhouette can be shared, but the riding version needs armour pockets, reinforced seams, heavier leather in impact zones and its own lab test. Treat it as a separate style with its own tech pack, sample approval and style number.
What is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 armour in a motorcycle jacket?
Level 2 lets less impact force through to the rider. For limb armour under EN 1621-1, Level 1 must average below 35 kN of transmitted force and Level 2 below 20 kN; for back protectors under EN 1621-2, the averages are below 18 kN and 9 kN respectively.
Launching a Riding-Gear Line in India? Request a Leather Jacket Quote
Riding-gear founders, D2C brands, retailers and distributors can share the product category, leather type, target EN 17092 class, quantity per style, delivery city and target launch date. Sanwas International supplies brands across India and exports worldwide, and your
Include these details in your enquiry:
Product category and style (footwear, jacket, upholstery leather, hides or crust)
Leather type, finish and colour
Target quantity per style and colour
Delivery city in India or destination country, plus preferred Incoterm
Target delivery date and whether you need a sample before bulk
Contact Sanwas International
Mob: +91 8728858686
Address: 308 Leather Complex, Kapurthala Road, Jalandhar, Punjab 144002, India
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