A Dry Topic, Not a Dull Moment: The Mac Coat 

There are certain pieces that form the backbone of the wardrobe: functional yet humble, often taken for granted and rarely celebrated. Successful in their elevation of the ordinary rather than the marking of the magnificent, such signatures quietly brighten the days, a sartorial silver lining. 

The mac is one such signature; its history lengthy, one of trial and error, born of industrialisation and necessity. Invented by chemist Charles Macintosh in Glasgow in the early nineteenth century, the "mackintosh" — named after its creator, with a mysterious additional "k" appearing in its name over time — pioneered waterproof fabrics. 

Crafted from a vulcanised rubber fabric, the mackintosh was considered a technical masterpiece, removing many of the problems that early waterproof materials had presented, from weighing its wearer down to melting on hot days. Macintosh and his team experimented with turpentine and tar, determined to offer lightweight protection from the blustery British weather. Creating a fabric enhanced with naphtha, the fabric was flexible enough to be cut into coats, with a silhouette tailored to the tempestuous. Knee length and single breasted, favouring a covered placket and raglan sleeves, the mac shape — and the details it homed — were carefully selected to provide maximum protection from wind and rain, minimising spaces where the elements could reach the wearer. 

Today, our interpretation of the mac is a showerproof signature. We've embraced the core components of the mac's history, whilst making it ours, and nodding to our own heritage. Favouring a Ventile® cotton, both breathable and water resistant, each piece is coated with a durable, water repellent outer; PFC free in its finish, we've come a long way from the chemicals that characterised the nineteenth century attempts at weatherproofing. Unlined with bound seams, and raglan sleeves, our mac is finished with all our favourite details that add both polish and practicality, including welt pockets and horn buttons. A friendly solution to unfriendly weather, the mac reminds us of the poetic in the practical, proving a dry topic isn't always a dull moment.