Jacket Chaps® are the creation of Julie Hunt, founder of Chap Up, LLC. Julie began riding her own motorcycle in 2002 after spending several years on the back of her husband's Harley. When hot weather came around she was tempted to ditch her full leather jacket and ride in short-sleeves. However, fearing road rash, skin cancer and premature aging, Julie did not want her shoulders and arms exposed. As an alternative, she tried wearing a Levi® long-sleeve denim jacket but it made her feel masculine and unattractive; she's proud to be riding her own bike and she doesn't want to look like a man when she's doing it! So, she began rifling through her closet for riding options. She pulled out a couple of her long-sleeve western shirts. She's always liked the yoke design on women's western shirts; the way the pattern adorns the shoulders and accents the bust-line. This gave her an idea; she thought, what if I made a long-sleeve leather jacket that was cut above the bust-line and incorporated the look of the upper portion of a woman's western shirt? The leather would protect the arms and shoulders in a similar way that chaps protect a rider's legs. The name "Jacket Chaps" came to mind.
Inspired by women's western wear, Julie created a figure-flattering, light-weight jacket that she could quickly slip on over a tank top or halter top to protect her arms and shoulders from sunburn. To keep the jacket in place while riding, she fashioned a chain that clips to the base of the jacket in the front and back. Her first jacket got so much attention at bike rallies that she decided to form a company and produce an entire line of jackets (she has actually sold jackets right off her back to women begging to have the same look). Her company name "Chap Up" was created to signify chapping up to ride and chapping up your upper body. The name Jacket Chaps is a registered trademark. She quickly contacted a patent attorney and in March, 2008, after 5 years of working with the US Patent & Trademark Office, Chap Up, LLC was granted a utility patent for the invention of a new riding jacket.
Jacket Chaps® are not only great protection against sunburn but provide a layer of warmth when worn under a full jacket on cold days. In addition to her original "western" inspired design, Julie created another style that is cut straight across the front and back, over the bust-line. This jacket has two anchoring options. There is no waist-level point in the back to clip a chain to, therefore the straight-cut jacket is anchored by separate chains that clip to opposite sides of the front closure, with each of the chain's end clipping to the rider's belt-loops. These chains can be removed after riding. The other option are clip-on straps that are pulled from the front, crossed at the back and tied at the rider's hip; called body-wrap straps.
Although Julie originally designed these jackets for her figure, she was delighted to discover that larger women loved the look on themselves as well. This is because Jacket Chaps® are cut to emphasize the upper body and have no constricting fabric or leather around the waist. They truly flatter all figures. Jacket Chaps® are fashionable, functional and fun to wear!
Chap Up, LLC incorporated in Wyoming and operates from Star, Idaho just outside of Boise. Look for Julie on her 2008 Copper and Black HD Road King Classic with the license plate "Chap Up." You can't mistake her, she'll be wearing her Jacket Chaps®.
Inspired by women's western wear, Julie created a figure-flattering, light-weight jacket that she could quickly slip on over a tank top or halter top to protect her arms and shoulders from sunburn. To keep the jacket in place while riding, she fashioned a chain that clips to the base of the jacket in the front and back. Her first jacket got so much attention at bike rallies that she decided to form a company and produce an entire line of jackets (she has actually sold jackets right off her back to women begging to have the same look). Her company name "Chap Up" was created to signify chapping up to ride and chapping up your upper body. The name Jacket Chaps is a registered trademark. She quickly contacted a patent attorney and in March, 2008, after 5 years of working with the US Patent & Trademark Office, Chap Up, LLC was granted a utility patent for the invention of a new riding jacket.
Jacket Chaps® are not only great protection against sunburn but provide a layer of warmth when worn under a full jacket on cold days. In addition to her original "western" inspired design, Julie created another style that is cut straight across the front and back, over the bust-line. This jacket has two anchoring options. There is no waist-level point in the back to clip a chain to, therefore the straight-cut jacket is anchored by separate chains that clip to opposite sides of the front closure, with each of the chain's end clipping to the rider's belt-loops. These chains can be removed after riding. The other option are clip-on straps that are pulled from the front, crossed at the back and tied at the rider's hip; called body-wrap straps.
Although Julie originally designed these jackets for her figure, she was delighted to discover that larger women loved the look on themselves as well. This is because Jacket Chaps® are cut to emphasize the upper body and have no constricting fabric or leather around the waist. They truly flatter all figures. Jacket Chaps® are fashionable, functional and fun to wear!
Chap Up, LLC incorporated in Wyoming and operates from Star, Idaho just outside of Boise. Look for Julie on her 2008 Copper and Black HD Road King Classic with the license plate "Chap Up." You can't mistake her, she'll be wearing her Jacket Chaps®.
