Mackintosh: The Mother of All Raincoats

Mackintosh is to raincoats what Levi’s is to jeans. Made of a rubberised fabric making the coat waterproof, the Mackintosh (often abbreviated as “the mack”) was first sold in 1824 and it’s basically still made in the same way today. The Mackintosh is named after its Scottish inventor Charles Macintosh. ”Mackintosh” has become the generic name for its category, yet the original Mackintosh brand lives on. All linings and pockets are glue fixed, while backing tape is placed on all seams, which ensures that the coats are fully waterproof. Every piece of Mackintosh outerwear is made in Britain carrying tradition and stylish design as an implicit ingredient.

Charles Macintosh patented his invention for waterproof cloth in 1823 and the first Mackintosh coats were made in the family’s textile factory, Charles Macintosh and Co. of Glasgow. In 1830, the company merged with the clothing company of Thomas Hancock, which had been experimenting with rubber coated fabrics since 1819. The production of rubberised coats soon spread all over the UK. Early coats had problems with smell, stiffness, and a tendency to melt in hot weather, but Hancock further improved their waterproof fabrics, patenting a method for vulcanising rubber in 1843, which solved many of the problems.

With the intention to establish the traditional rubberised Mackintosh coat as an upmarket brand in its own right, senior staff members acquired the company around the turn of the 21st century introducing collaborations with leading fashion houses such as Liberty in London. The coats became particularly popular with Japanese women and in 2007 the company was by Tokyo firm Yagi Tsusho. In January 2011, Mackintosh opened its first fashion store in London. The coats featured in this article are available from GOODS. Additional source: Wikipedia.

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Thomas Bojer

Founder and editor-in-chief at Denimhunters

Thomas got into denim through a keen interest in manufacturing and a love for the well-faded jean. He's based in Copenhagen, Denmark, but he travels as much as his job allows. Through Denimhunters he has found a way to share his passion with likeminded enthusiasts while learning more about the blue fabric. Thomas' favourite jean is the 1947 501XX and he has a soft spot for Red Wing Shoes.