The raincoat as we know it today was invented by Charles Mackintosh, a clever Scottish designer who worked out a way to make fabrics waterproof using rubber. In addition to taking a key role in the development of waterproofed fabrics, Mackintosh gave his name to the raincoat, which is why the majority of such jackets are commonly referred to as Mackintoshes or Macs. In 1823, Mackintosh patented his first waterproof cloth; and in 1830, Mackintosh merged forces with Manchester’s Thomas Hancock who’d been working with rubber-coated fabrics since 1819.
With Hancock’s help, Mackintosh was able to overcome the trouble his garments had with smelling iffy and melting in hot, sunny conditions. And in 1843, the pair patented a method for vulcanising rubber. The company went on to make waterproofs in all shapes and sizes at their manufacturing base in Cumbernault, near Glasgow. More recently, the traditional Mackintosh raincoat has been linked with high-end designer labels, such as Gucci, Hermés, and Louis Vuitton. The iconic Mackintosh coat is a firm favourite with trendsetting women the world over, and has been so successful overseas that the firm won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2000.
Though fashion shifts from season to season and all coat and jacket manufacturers change their designs to reflect current trends, Macs for men, women and children usually cut to the same basic pattern. The classic raincoat shape is about three-quarter length, long sleeved, with a simple collar and often a belt. Some raincoats, particularly those designed for children, are hooded.
The fabrics that raincoats are made from vary from manufacturer to manufacturer – common fabrics used include vinyl, duck, and oilskin; however, a genuine Mackintosh raincoat will always be made from rubberised or rubber-laminated fabric. Other fabrics suitable for use in making raincoats include nylon, polyester, cotton, wool and high-tech fabrics, such as microfibre. The fabric is typically coated with resin, Teflon, rubber, polyurethane or another chemical; alternatively, fabrics can be coated with natural oils or waxes to improve their water repellent properties.
Though the iconic Mackintosh raincoat is usually a three-quarter-length jacket, there are a variety of styles to suit many activities and tastes. Popular styles for raincoats include the traditional trench coat; the slicker, a shorter shape usually used for children’s jackets; and also, the poncho, which is an over-the head jacket with a hood, sometimes with sleeves and sometimes without.
Raincoats are available in a wide variety of styles, colours and sizes to suit all men, women and children. Macs for adults and children are widely available from a variety of high street chains and specialist retailers, as well as a host of online merchants.
© Jackets.org.uk 2008
