Hard Rain: A Ventile Story

“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.”

Roger Miller

A Hard Rain’s A‐Gonna Fall. Dylan's song resonates in Bauer's hallway as I write these lines. And, as if echoing these notes, the rain arrived right on time on the front pavement of the Atelier. Leaving the realm of music for that of dressing, there aren’t many ways to prepare for this kind of weather. A nice umbrella is a good starter.

Fulton provides their models to the English Royal Court, a sure sign of quality. Piganiol has been crafting their umbrellas in Aurillac, France, since 1884. And for something extravagant, let your imagination drift away with the Italian maker Il Marchesato, and its incredibly crafted pieces of art.

However, to keep you dry in bad weather, the essential pièce de résistance remains a good raincoat. One that keeps you dry not only from the rain but also from any impromptu sweating. This is where the right fabric becomes crucial.

Ventile, my friend...

Creating a variation, a new take on something as classic and iconic as a raincoat, can quickly become a trap. Simple in appearance but filled with all sorts of complexities in reality, all in pursuit of a result refined to its simplest form. To solve such a conundrum, we had to combined the best craftmanship of our atelier with the right fabric: Ventile.

The Ventile fabric was developped during WWII by scientists of the Shirley Institute in Manchester. Originally created for use in flight suits for Royal Air Force pilots, the fabric's purpose was to provide life-saving protection in the event of pilots being downed in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. It’s made from 100% cotton, woven densely from long-staple fibers to create a fabric that swells when wet, effectively sealing out water while still allowing the fabric to breathe.

A.W. Bauer takes of an Icon

Water resistant, breathable, durable, comfortable, and unvironement friendly since made from natural fibers which doesn’t require synthetic treatments to achieve its waterproofing qualities, Ventile is celebrated for its unique combination of natural materials, heritage, and performance making it the right choice for high-quality, durable, and functional outerwear.

And the perfect ally for creating A.W. Bauer’s interpretation of an Icon.