The Original Men's Mackintosh Raincoat

The original mac raincoat - a true icon of British outerwear - was invented by Charles Macintosh, a Scottish chemist and innovator, in 1823. His pioneering work led to the creation of a revolutionary waterproof fabric, formed by bonding two layers of cotton with a layer of liquid rubber. This invention laid the foundation for what would become the Original Men’s Mackintosh Raincoat.

Charles Macintosh’s innovation was born out of necessity - to create a garment that could withstand the harsh, wet climate of the British Isles without sacrificing comfort or mobility. The result was a waterproof raincoat for men that combined practicality with understated elegance - a philosophy that continues to define the Mackintosh brand today.

Though the spelling of the coat’s name eventually adopted a “k” (Mackintosh), the legacy of Charles Macintosh remains central to the brand’s identity. To this day, each Mackintosh raincoat is still made using a version of his original rubberised fabric technique, crafted entirely by hand in our factory by skilled artisans.

The original mac raincoat is not just a piece of clothing - it is a piece of history, reimagined for the modern man.

Mackintosh’s signature rubberised coats continue to be made by skilled craftsmen in our Scottish factory using the same tradition pioneered in the early 19th century. Each coat is made entirely by hand and one artisan works on a single garment from start to finish. Find out more on making a Mackintosh.

An original mac raincoat is defined by its materials as much as its craftsmanship. At the heart of our most iconic outerwear lies the Mackintosh cloth or rubberised cotton - a fabric first developed in the 19th century by Charles Macintosh. This unique material is created by bonding two layers of cotton with a layer of vulcanised rubber, resulting in a fabric that is completely waterproof and windproof.

Each original mac raincoat is still made using this time-honoured technique in our Scottish factory, where skilled artisans cut, glue and tape every seam, by hand, to ensure a flawless finish. The result is a coat that not only protects against the elements but also maintains a sharp, tailored silhouette.