What is the purpose of fringe on buckskin jackets?

Not sewing related - but an interesting tidbit about how buckskin jackets were originally designed...

The fringe on buckskin jackets was originally cut to make seams more flexible while keeping the strips of hide available for use in tying things, and to allow rain to run off the coat instead of soaking in to the part that touches the body. 

In emergencies, a strip of fringe could be cut off to use as a tourniquet or to tie canvas and hides together to make an emergency shelter.

The Lemen website also describes the way fringe creates an illusion of movement that makes it popular with bronco riders.

On today's buckskin jackets, fringe serves a decorative function.

Source:

http://www.lemen.com/qa256.html