It’s summer, and for the UK that usually means changeable weather. (Yes, I’m discussing the weather again.) We can have periods of warmth and sunshine, but it’s usually interspersed with periods of rain. For most of us, this means a rain mac is a wardrobe staple.
The term rain mac comes from the original raincoat, which was first sold 200 years ago. In 1823, a Scottish chemist, Charles Macintosh, patented a new process for waterproofing fabric. Since then, the Mackintosh coat (the k has been added over the years) has become synonymous with waterproof outerwear.
Over the centuries, the British Army, the police force and British Rail have used Mackintosh coats. Regardless of whether it’s an original Mackintosh, we Brits call a raincoat a mac.
Before the Mac
Before the Mackintosh, the only way to waterproof fabric was by coating it with oil. This method of repelling water was rather smelly.
Dr James Syme, another Scot, discovered that rubber could be softened using naphtha—a by-product of the gasoline lanterns that were popular. Syme published his findings but did not patent them. Macintosh, however, saw the commercial potential for softened rubber and developed rubberised fabric.
In 1823, he patented the process of sandwiching a layer of softened rubber between two layers of fabric. This made the material water resistant, flexible, and therefore wearable. The rubberised fabric was an instant success, and they sold the first Mackintosh coat in the same year.
The Classic Mac
The original design was very simple—a single-breasted coat with a covered placket to hide the buttons and very little embellishment.
Do not confuse a Mackintosh with a trench coat. Thomas Burberry designed the trench coat for officers to wear in the trenches during the First World War (1914-1918). The trench coat had raglan sleeves for ease of movement and a wide collar.
The Mackintosh has a narrow, shirt-like collar, buttoned cuffs, a straight silhouette, and a long rear vent or pleat for easy walking. A classic mac is usually knee-length with a tartan lining.
Today, they make Mackintosh coats in Cumbernauld, Scotland and one will set you back more than £500. They still use the same process Macintosh patented in 1823, but they manufacture the fabric in Japan before being shipped to Cumbernauld. Skilled artisans then use the same manufacturing techniques to create the coat that is a British icon around the world.
