I was with one of my rainwear contacts from regnfrakker.dk some while ago and during our good exchange of rainwear information we came across the rainwear we see in the streets in Denmark.

While my friend often saw Stutterheim, Rains and other pretty new products from rainwear producers in the streets it was a little more seldom to see really old rainwear in the streets of Copenhagen. I am myself not that often in Copenhagen or other larger cities in Denmark, so for me it is even more rare to watch.

Where has all that old rainwear gone? Well, looking at music festivals in Denmark some of the owners are flashing that rainwear during one week or two in Denmark during the summer. But not much more. Maybe the rainwear was disposed due to environmental matters? Maybe it is not fashionable anymore? Maybe not too comfortable anymore and therefore going to newer brands like Rains (soft PU instead of heavy PVC)?

Then it struck us that we - two collectors from Denmark - alone store more than 1,500 raincoats plus rubber boots, waders, rainpants! Maybe even more. We do not really know the true amount. Of course this might occur that 1,500 women and men did NOT find any rare piece of rainwear in their local second hand shop. 1,500 persons, who must find other rainwear options - like Stutterheim, Rains and Tretorn.

So in the end we are maybe guilty ourselves in hindering a lot of rainwear interested fashion people in walking around in cities of Denmark - not being able to wear the nice rainwear we have at home on hangers in a remote and cold storages. Never seeing the daylight unless our partners tends to wear it occasionally.

The 1,500+ rainwear pieces are only us two. What about your collection? Does that collection contain like 20-25 pieces - unique raincoats? And how many does have a collection of 20-25 pieces? Well, do not really know but we guess hundreds of persons in EU alone! This adds up to thousands of raincoats in total. Living a quiet life in a cupboard or a box in the basement. Maybe in a closet, hopefully.

Maybe a very 'odd discussion', but we think the amount of collectors we are in the community really makes a big influence having these collections.

What do you think?

Interesting report on rainwear,  Over the years while on holidays I remember the old HH rain suits. What a joy to see cyclists wearing them, One year I came across a store in Copenhagen that had the old PVC. A few years later I could not find it. I do agree with you lots of people wearing Stutterheim and Rains. I have also seen Tretorn. Its great to be able to go to Bue Net to see and try on Ocean/Viking smocks/jackets and bibpants.

Sadly, I hardly ever see vintage rainwear in the street. I'm sure that part of the explanation is that you guys have some huge collections that never get traded. If you go back 10-20 years you could, like you say, often find vintage rainwear in second hand stores. Today you probably can't. Having said that, I don't share your optimistic view that there are lots of "rainwear interested fashion people" out there, because if they wanted to get themselves a vintage raincoat, it's not that hard to find on ebay or similar sites. Personally I never understood why people want to pay 600 DKK for a thin raincoat from Rains or double that for a Stutterheim coat when you can get the very best in vintage rainwear for that kind of money - or you can get some of the less rare vintage pieces for much less. But then again, I'm a rainwear fetischist, and they're not :)

I can't say that I've seen retro rainwear being worn on the street. Heck, even seeing people wear rainwear to begin with in the USA is a rarity - even on rainy days! This year and last year where I live we were hit by weakened hurricanes, I thought for sure on my university campus that I'd see people wearing rainwear as classes were not cancelled. The only thing I saw were people losing their umbrellas to the wind!

In regards to the rainwear dilemma, I don't think I we can say that we are hindering anyone. Over the years, how many raincoats and other rainwear items have been manufactured by producers like Helly Hansen, Jeantex, Rukka, Ocean and others? It numbers in the millions. Think about how many of the German style Friesennerz raincoats are out there - it probably numbers in the millions too.

I estimate my collection to be between 60-70 pieces. Half of that is vintage gear. I thought I had a lot of rainwear but you both make me look like a small time collector !

@TStorm56: Exactly as you're saying, people don't even wear rainwear when it's pouring down! Makes me feel like I'm living in the wrong decade. Imagine going back to the 1960's and 70's when wearing rubber rainwear was normal, and, judging from the old ads, possibly even trendy. I could then buy my wife a black rubber mac with a souwester, and she'd thank me for it - and wear it to the grocery store!

pvcpower,

Recycling is always good, but you should reconsider listing it on ebay. I bet a lot of people from within the community and some outside of it would cherish the possibility to get hold of some good old fashioned rainwear.

Take some pictures of the rainwear you are wanting to get rid of and post it on here for sale! I'm sure quite a few pieces of your collection will find a new home with one of us

Have you got any rain capes ??

Yes, please post some.

I have some old HH stuff. But finding old mens work rainwear in L/xl/xxl is close to impossible, due to obvious reasons.. Its pretty easy to find small/medium stuff..

My favorite raincoat is a darkblue nylon raincoat. The type that was owned by everyone in the 60s and 70s. These raincoats are also very rare to find today. There are not many today who like nylon coats. I think I'm just as seldom as the raincoat. However, have a few and use them everyday.

Same here, i find that during summer i see quite a few vintage rainwear being worn as festival cagoules, but other than that, not many. To think that most high street outdoor stores sold regatta and peter storm for decades, where has it all gone? I guess alot got thrown away before the proliferation of charity and second hand stores. Now it seems alot get bought by retro clothing resellers in bulk. I see some peter storm and k way from time to time and many dog walkers using regatta stormbreak cagoules. In the UK the pvc heavy weight never really caught on I don’t think, but now rains, dedrickson and yellow pu fisherman style rainwear is big fashion and you can buy them even in tesco in the womens dept.

for me nylon cagoules are my fav, i used to own hundreds but sold most last year and downsized to my favourites and specialised in finding k way and peter storm, where once the charity shops were full of 70’s and 80’s

cagoules and a day shopping would turn up dozens, now it’s hard to find one on a day out cag hunting.