Such attention to detail elevates our raincoat above the ordinary, and influences even the smallest aspect of the design. James gives an example of how we have adapted it to modern requirements: “It seems a little thing, but we’ve reshaped our inside pockets as smart phones have got smaller and wallets slimmer”. This meticulous approach manifests itself elsewhere. For instance, the garment not only uses the best military quality Swiss Riri zips, but also features a stud fastener at its base to ensure it closes smoothly and quickly even in the most inclement weather. A further example is on the back of the collar, which has distinctive triangular pattern known as ‘Vandyke’ stitching, after the Dutch Old Master portraitist whose sitters wear wide ornamental collars. In the case of our raincoat, however, the diagonal stitching has a practical as well as a decorative purpose. It ensures that when the collar is turned up, it will support itself against the elements.
This combination of form and function ensures the Ventile® Mac is both timeless and contemporary, equally at home in town or country. James Eden asserts that: “…pretty much every guy in the world could, should and would, look good in this raincoat. It works with jeans or over a suit, for a barrister or a graphic designer. This, in part, explains why it’s one of our best-selling pieces.” With some enthusiasts owning the garment in multiple colours, devotees of our Ventile® Mac can be found from Japan to the East Coast of the United States. As so often in the past, the fruits of the invention and imagination of Manchester’s manufacturers are being carried to the world - and, of course, rain knows no borders.