A vest is a sleeveless garment worn underneath a coat. The vest later evolved to be worn with a coat, worn outside with a t-shirt and even worn by women. Apart from being made for various other clothing materials, vests were also made from leather. These leather vests soon became a rage among men. Most men wore leather because it was fashionable to do so; others wore leather to symbolize a rugged masculine image. Therefore leather vests were mostly associated with bikers and cowboys. Today, leather vests are a favorite among movie artists, rock stars and popular sports icons.

Types of leather include Full-Grain which is made of premium raw leather, Corrected-Grain Leather which is fuzzy on one side and smooth on the flip side, Suede which is a cheaper leather that's fuzzy on both sides, Patent is a leather that's given a high gloss finish, Buckskin leather goes through a tawing process, Nappa leather that's extremely soft and Shagreen which is a rough, un-tanned leather. Leather vests are made from animal leathers such as cow hides, crocodile skin, snake skin, and kangaroo hide.

Vests made from faux leather are also increasing popular, since they are significantly cheaper than genuine leather vests. Ideally worn for protection from cold temperatures, leather vests also make a great style statement.