Why Oilskin?
Oilskin is a traditional fabric — cotton finished with an oil or wax coating that makes it resistant to water and wind, while staying breathable. Unlike synthetic membranes, the protection comes from the wax or oil finish itself. Not a plastic layer, but a barrier that works the way water beads on leaves, seeds, and animal fur.
The wax coating of the fabric responds to temperature. In the warmth it softens, allowing the fabric to breathe. In the cold it firms up, becoming windproof and resilient. This makes it well suited for outdoor use in all seasons — including as a waterproof dog coat. Material that moves with the body rather than against it.
It is a fabric that doesn't wear out in the usual sense. It changes. Softens. Develops a patina shaped by use. And when the water-repellency fades, it can simply be re-waxed — rubbed in by hand, gently warmed, and restored to full performance. No specialist cleaning, no machine washing needed, no replacement. Just care. That is how a piece made from oilskin can last for years, even decades. Find out how to care for your garments in our Material Care Guide.
The wax finish makes use of by-products that would otherwise go to waste. A quieter, more considered way of manufacturing.
This is why I chose it. Not only for how it performs, but for how it lasts — and how it carries the traces of use.