Imagine being faced with the task of applying a flexible coating to a cotton fabric for the purpose of waterproofing, and then the current coating material imparted too great a stifness for the intended use; and yet, here was a coating material known as rubber which was available only as large lumps. Those early pioneers, amongst whom Charles Macintosh is perhaps the best known, faced a daunting problem.

With today's knowledge it must appear simple: dissolve the rubber in a suitable solvent to gain tractability, apply as a "liquid" coating to the cotton fabric and dry. Subsequent cutting and stitching followed by sealing the stitching with "garment varnish" completed the production of a relatively comfortable and yet waterproof garment. The industry fathers would be gratified to find that the principle they established remains unchanged but would undoubtedly be amazed at the vast array of webs, coatings and end products found today.

Examples of finsihed coated fabrics.