Mackintosh Deconstructed | Handmade In The UK

Mackintosh’s storied heritage dates back to 1824 at the dawn of the industrial revolution, when Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh invented a new method of waterproofing cotton. His discovery came to revolutionise textile technology and outerwear design with the birth of the Mackintosh coat, or “Mac” as it became known. The new waterproof fabric attracted the attention of the British aristocracy who were quick to adopt it for riding coats, while the British Army and railway service commissioned trench and car coats, laying the foundation for international success.

Two centuries later, our signature bonded cotton coat continues to be made using the same original methods in our workshop. Each coat is made purely by hand and worked on individually from start to finish by the same master craftsman. The most crucial element is the fabric – two layers of cotton sandwiched around a thin layer of natural, impermeable rubber. Once the fabric has been cut into the correct patterns, the pieces are meticulously sewn and sealed using a special rubber-based solution applied by the index finger, an intricate technique that is learnt and mastered over many years. The final stage is a water-resistant tape, pressed by hand over any exposed seams. The finished coat is 100% waterproof, keeping the wearer not only stylish but also bone dry.

Due to the handcraftsmanship required, only a limited number of garments are produced each year. The extraordinary time, effort and thought that goes into each coat is precisely what makes a Mackintosh so special. Every piece is finished to the very highest quality, built to endure modern lifestyles yet remaining ever faithful to the techniques established over 200 years ago.