Michael Jackson Ordered Over 100 Custom-Made Gloves in a Single Year — The Strange Secret Behind Why He Needed a New One Every Two Weeks

Michael Jackson's close friend said she knew the reason singer wore one white glove

“It definitely gets musty,” his longtime costume designer revealed, explaining a little-known fact behind one of pop music’s most iconic images: Michael Jackson’s glittering sequined glove.

Few visuals in music history are as instantly recognizable as Jackson stepping onto a stage, glove sparkling beneath the spotlight. The glove became inseparable from his persona, as integral as the moonwalk or the opening note of “Billie Jean.” Yet the glove’s perfection came at a surprising cost: Michael often ordered over 100 gloves in a single year.

According to his designer, the short lifespan of each glove wasn’t merely due to wear from performances. The combination of hot stage lights, relentless choreography, and energetic dancing left gloves damp and musty, sequins dulled, stitching frayed, and sparkle faded within just a few weeks.

“It definitely gets musty,” the designer admitted.

For Jackson, a notorious perfectionist, even the slightest flaw was unacceptable. Every two weeks, a new glove was handcrafted, adorned with crystals, and tailored to his delicate hands. “It wasn’t vanity,” the designer emphasized. “He wanted magic. When that spotlight hit, the glove had to explode with light.”
Michael Jackson's friend revealed why he wore his iconic glitter glove
Replacing gloves became part of Michael’s meticulous stage ritual — a behind-the-scenes discipline fans never saw while marveling at his moves. The glove wasn’t simply a fashion statement; it was a tool of illusion, a way to amplify every gesture and turn ordinary choreography into legend.

Decades later, the white glove remains one of pop culture’s most enduring symbols. And knowing the strange, human truth behind it — the constant replacement, the painstaking care, the insistence on flawless sparkle — fans can appreciate not just the star, but the tireless artistry of a man devoted to making every performance unforgettable.
Michael Jackson’s sparkling glove looked timeless onstage — but the truth is, each one had an expiration date. His designer revealed why the King of Pop secretly ordered more than 100 in a single year, replacing them every two weeks for a reason far less glamorous than fans ever imagined.