If you go to the cinema to watch Mission: Impossible 5, Rogue Nation, starring Tom Cruise, look out for the one-piece leather racing suits that feature in the showpiece motorcycle chase.
Last summer, Hideout Leather, an all-girl, family-run company based in Ashdon in Essex, was approached to design and make the one-piece racing suits for the film, which opens in cinemas across the UK on 30 July.
Traditionally, the costume department would buy in or have a company place its products for all kit needed but for MI5 but the bike race was to be an important part of the film and costume designer Johanna Johnston wanted to have ultimate control of how the suits would look and perform.
“She wanted the suits to look stylish and fit beautifully,” said Kate Jennings of Hideout Leathers. “More importantly, they weren’t just for show. The leathers were to be used by the stunt riders racing through the streets of Morocco in some dare-devil and breath-taking action. The stunt riders would inevitably be crashing spectacularly and falling – flying – off the bikes.
“The suits needed to be manufactured to the highest specification to protect the riders. So as a leading company in the manufacture of performance safety motorcycle clothing, Hideout was the natural choice.”
Full story in the July issue of BDN.