The
following was a two page article written about Leather Waves:
About
a year ago as I was paging through one of those large Los Angeles
type fashion/entertainment magazines something caught my eye...
an ad forcustomized leather fashions, but this ad seemed to
stick out from the other leather fashion ads, it appeared to me
that whoever was creating the fashions for this ad must also
be a motorcycle rider! I called the number liste4 in the ad to
inquire about one of the fashions... and that is how I met Jackie
Robbins, owner of Leather Waves in Malibu, California, and yes
she is a rider--better yet, Jackie Robbins is a Harley rider!
Recently I had the opportunity to interview Jackie for Harley Women
...
HW:TeII me about your bike!
Jackie: It's wonderful! It's a 1983 Sportster XLH 1000, with custom fat bob
tanks, high rise handlebars, a solo seat, it also has a custom paint job,
two tone cream and black...myversion of a mini Heritage with lots of chrome...
HW: How long have you been riding?
Jackie: Since 1986.
HW: How did you get into riding?
Jackie: This is how we got "Harley-ized", I have to say we, because
it happened to my husband, Randy, and I at the same time... A really good
friend, Richard, bought a Harley in 1984, I remember him riding up the driveway,
the minute I laid my eyes on his bike, a white FLH Police Special... I fell
in love. My husband and I started salivating. From that day until my husband
bought his first bike, all we did was talk about buying a Harley. My husband
got his first bike about a year and a half later, within two months we went
from Malibuto Vancouver, with five other friends on a two week trip. I was
the only passenger and the only girl! My mission on this trip was to decide
about riding whether I liked being a passenger or if I wanted my own bike.
My immediate conclusion was that the riders were having a lot more fun than
me. That trip was in July of 1986, I had my bike by October ofthat year.
HW: Where did you learn to ride?
Jackie: I went to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course, however,
I really give credit to Bob Laidlaw - Laidlaw's HarleyDavidson in Los Angeles
(Rosemead). I was at Bob's shop to looking for a bike, I found the bike that
I now own. I told Bob that I wasn't really sure if I was ready to ride yet
that I had just grad uated from the safety course and that I didn't really
have much confidence. Bob immediately said, "Get on we're going for
a ride!" So off we went, it kind of freaked me out to have a full-grown
man riding behind me as a passenger, but we got out there and rode around
for about an hour. Bob gave me a lot of riding tips and just sat behind me
and talked to me as we were riding--I think that experience was even more
important to me than the course.
HW: Do you wear a helmet?
Jacki£: I wear a helmet about fifty percent of the time.
My personal philosophy on wearing my helmet is that ifI am riding
in Malibu with not
much traffic, I don't wear it; if I go into Los Angeles, or anywhere out
of Malibu, I put the helmet on. I don't think there is any feeling to compare
with riding a motorcycle without a helmet. I think new riders should definitely
wear helmets, however, I am totally against the mandatory helmet law. I feel
one of the biggest things about riding a bike is that it is an act of freedom,
having to wear a helmet means that you are not really free. I think that
it is really important that it be the individual rider's choice.
HW: What's your favorite organized run?
Jackie: The "Love Ride", it starts in Glendale and
goes to Malibu where we all meet at Calamigo's Ranch for a giant
picnic, there are
about 4,000 bikes, mostly Harleys, it takes place each November.
HW: Do you ride with other women biker's in the area?
Jackie: Not really. I don't know a lot of other women with their
own bikes, but the longer I ride the more women I meet. I think
that it would be wonderful
riding with other women, as most of us have the same thing in common. We
all tend to be free-spirited women who are adventurous, and are willing
to try things that traditionally would seem unfeminine, but really aren't,
such as riding a motorcycle. HW: Do you have any thoughts to share about
owning your own bike?
Jackie: The most important thing about having my own is that it really gives
me a chance to express my free-spirit and a sense of true freedom.
HW: Let's talk about your shop...where are you located?
Jackie: In the heart of Malibu, in the civic center
area right off the Pacific Coast Highway.
HW: How did you get started working with leather?
Jackie: In 1970 I moved to Laguna Beach from West Hollywood where I grew
up. My goal was to be an artist, I had trained and studied art all through
school. I opened up a tiny studio where I slept in a tent on the porch. I
tried to do the starving artist routine, it got old real fast. I had sewn
all my life and I always loved fashion, so I applied for a sewing job in
a leather shop... that was my start. I left Laguna two years later and went
back to L.A. where,I was able to get a job in a saddle shop. About a year
later I moved to Malibu. Soon I was looking around for a little shop to do
my leather work in. In June of 1975 I spotted my location and that's where
I've been ever since.
HW: What are some of your favorite pieces that you
have created?
Jackie: That's a hard question! Everything I create is one
of a kind, they are all exciting and interesting. I guess
my favorite pieces are for
clients who are really open minded, someone who has a lot of confidence in
my ability, and who gives me the go ahead with not much of an outline, and
lets it be open to me. .
HW: Being in Malibu have you ever done work for any
stars?
Jackie: I've done work for many stars, I have movie star pictures on my walls.
I don't like to play that end of my business up for a couple of reasons...
one of them is that Malibu is a really casual community and people that are
well known really like the fact that they can hang out here and be really
natural, and not be hassled. The other reason is because most of the people
I work for are not stars.
HW: What percentage of your customers are riders?
Jackie: I've been in business for fifteen years, the bike thing has gotten
really big within the last five years. Naturally since I have started riding,
I have a lot more to offer. Anyone that comes in my shop who is a biker,
I can really relate to. I know what is needed for riding. I understand what
a rider is looking for in a custom jacket, chaps, saddlebags;,orwhatever.
HW: How has riding effected your business?
Jackie: Since I started riding, it has really enhanced my business. People
really notice me on my bike, I make all the leathers that I wear and all
my husband's leathers. When we are riding it is like a loudspeaker advertising
my shop. Riding has been a real positive boost to my business.
HW: What do you want for Christmas?
Jackie: A customized 1982 FLH!
