The Ventile® Mac
Time To Read: 5 minutes

It’s difficult to know where to start with our raincoat. It’s one of the foundations we’ve built our business on, and says everything we want to say as a brand in that it’s functional, stylish and built to last. We’ve been making similar waterproof jackets for over one hundred years, and as a result we’ve perfected the design through decades of trials and constant tweaking. Indeed, if we had to have just one jacket in our wardrobe, it would most likely be the Ventile® Mac.

It’s about as versatile as a piece of clothing can get, and thanks to its quality fabric, unrivalled construction and luxurious details, it’s somewhat of an heirloom piece. This is a piece of outerwear that will not only look as good in decades to come as it will now, it will likely outlast both its current owner, and the one after that. If you’re interested in what we’re all about, look no further. This is the jacket that embodies the Private White VC ethos, and everything we stand for.

So why are we making such a big fuss about the Ventile® Raincoat? It is a simple looking garment after all. And therein lies its beauty. This is a jacket that doesn’t need to sing and shout. It’s got a tailored, regular fit that is neither too slim nor too boxy. It’s a minimal design, with its short collar, mid-length and signature copper hardware. That’s the point. It will go with anything and everything, from the sharpest of tailoring through to sweatpants and a hoodie.

We know this because of the amount of history and research that is behind its design. Our factory in Manchester has been producing similar raincoats for over a century, and while things have changed, the basics are still the same. Squint a little bit and this jacket isn’t too dissimilar from its forebears that would have kept the country dry back in the ’20s and ‘30s. The combination of its collar, in-set sleeve and front pockets is a truly timeless one, and will continue to look good in the years to come. Of course, in reality this jacket performs very differently to anything that came before it, but the basic premise of a simple, waterproof, mid-length jacket is one we’ve executed since our company was founded.

What made it popular then is what makes it so great now. It’s incredibly lightweight and surprisingly soft - it’s a far cry from the harsh, almost abrasive fabrics you’ll find with other raincoats. This is thanks to the extra-long staple cotton that’s used to weave it, which makes up just 2% of the world’s cotton production. Thousands of these little threads are woven tightly together to form one jacket and they immediately swell when wet, forming a solid wall that stops any water from seeping through. While liquid can’t get through it, the minuscule holes that remain allow air to come through from the inside, resulting in a waterproof yet breathable fabric that’ll keep you comfortable as well as dry.

It’s about as versatile as a piece of clothing can get, and thanks to its quality fabric, unrivalled construction and luxurious details, it’s somewhat of an heirloom piece. This is a piece of outerwear that will not only look as good in decades to come as it will now, it will likely outlast both its current owner, and the one after that. If you’re interested in what we’re all about, look no further. This is the jacket that embodies the Private White VC ethos, and everything we stand for.

If you are stuck for inspiration, try keeping everything pared back and minimal. Start with the Mac and wear it over a cashmere rollneck and light cotton T-shirt underneath. Combine these with a pair of jeans or cord trousers and finish with a pair of leather or suede shoes. An easy, smart casual look, it’s perfect for a first date, a lazy Friday in the office or a city walk on the weekend.

Thanks to its in-set sleeves and flattering fit though, the Ventile® Mac will also work with tailoring. Opt for one in British racing green and go for a traditional look, with a blue shirt or blazer, a merino crew neck, and a pair of tailored trousers. Sharp, sophisticated and comfortable, this is an outfit that, like the raincoat, you can rely on day in, day out.

So why are we making such a big fuss about the Ventile® Raincoat? It is a simple looking garment after all. And therein lies its beauty. This is a jacket that doesn’t need to sing and shout. It’s got a tailored, regular fit that is neither too slim nor too boxy. It’s a minimal design, with its short collar, mid-length and signature copper hardware. That’s the point. It will go with anything and everything, from the sharpest of tailoring through to sweatpants and a hoodie.

And it will keep you bone dry. Put it on, do it up by zipping it to your neck and snapping the buttons closed, and zero water will get through. This is thanks to the highly technical Ventile® fabric we’ve used, and the fact all the seams are taped. You could get hosed down by a fire engine and, while your head and legs might get wet, everything underneath the jacket will remain completely dry.

We know this because of the amount of history and research that is behind its design. Our factory in Manchester has been producing similar raincoats for over a century, and while things have changed, the basics are still the same. Squint a little bit and this jacket isn’t too dissimilar from its forebears that would have kept the country dry back in the ’20s and ‘30s. The combination of its collar, in-set sleeve and front pockets is a truly timeless one, and will continue to look good in the years to come. Of course, in reality this jacket performs very differently to anything that came before it, but the basic premise of a simple, waterproof, mid-length jacket is one we’ve executed since our company was founded.

It is of course, vastly different to what’s come before it though, and that’s largely down to the fabric. It’s made from waterproof, 100% cotton Ventile®; the same we use for our Harrington. It’s one of the most innovative fibres to be created on British soil, and hails from - as many of the best things do - just down the road from us in Manchester. It was created at the request of Sir Winston Churchill himself during World War II, as a way of keeping Air Force pilots warm and dry. It was first used in military issued outerwear in 1943, before being adopted widely by adventurers and explorers in the most extreme parts of the world. Ventile was even worn for the first Everest summit in 1953 as well as by Sir Ranulph Fiennes during his Arctic crossing in 1979.

What made it popular then is what makes it so great now. It’s incredibly lightweight and surprisingly soft - it’s a far cry from the harsh, almost abrasive fabrics you’ll find with other raincoats. This is thanks to the extra-long staple cotton that’s used to weave it, which makes up just 2% of the world’s cotton production. Thousands of these little threads are woven tightly together to form one jacket and they immediately swell when wet, forming a solid wall that stops any water from seeping through. While liquid can’t get through it, the minuscule holes that remain allow air to come through from the inside, resulting in a waterproof yet breathable fabric that’ll keep you comfortable as well as dry.

And what about the other details that make up this deceptively simple piece? There’s the zip, for starters. In years gone by we’ve made numerous iterations of this coat, many featuring a three or four button closure. A quality zip is essential for waterproofness though and, as always, we settled on a RIRI military-grade copper take, which is distinctive both in look and feel. It closes with a satisfying mechanical chatter that is lost on many other, inferior designs.

To complement it, the raincoat features three matching RIRI poppers, which conceal the Swiss-made zip when closed for a clean, minimal finish. Find the handy, extended bit of fabric by the bottom of the zip, do it up and snap the poppers all into place, and the jacket will look sharp while offering its maximum level of weather protection. Put your hands in the two external welt pockets and you’ll be dry whatever the weather.

The copper theme continues at the neck with our signature, exposed popper, as well as inside the jacket. You’ll find copper coloured tape running across every seam, which further helps keep things watertight. These are heat sealed by hand in our factory, which is something very few other manufacturers offer. They’re purely functional, yet also complete the minimal feel of the design, given that each seam is hidden underneath. Elsewhere you’ll find two handy interior pockets, which can be buttoned shut for added security, as well as a single, buttoned vent at the rear. This is a simple, classic raincoat and, thanks to its lack of extraneous detailing, will look just as stylish for years to come.

It’s thanks to this simple, timeless design though that the Ventile® Mac is so easy to wear. It really is a piece you can wear with practically anything. Some garments are naturally geared towards more casual or formal pieces, but you don’t need to consider what else you pair with the raincoat - whatever you throw at it, from suits to sweatpants, it’ll work effortlessly.

If you are stuck for inspiration, try keeping everything pared back and minimal. Start with the Mac and wear it over a cashmere rollneck and light cotton T-shirt underneath. Combine these with a pair of jeans or cord trousers and finish with a pair of leather or suede shoes. An easy, smart casual look, it’s perfect for a first date, a lazy Friday in the office or a city walk on the weekend.

Thanks to its in-set sleeves and flattering fit though, the Ventile® Mac will also work with tailoring. Opt for one in British racing green and go for a traditional look, with a blue shirt or blazer, a merino crew neck, and a pair of tailored trousers. Sharp, sophisticated and comfortable, this is an outfit that, like the raincoat, you can rely on day in, day out.