History in the Making
Promotional raincoats have strayed from the pricey gabardine coats (a material Burberry invented) to accommodate lower budgets. Joy Shi, marketing associate for Tri-Mountain, Irwindale, Calif., mentioned nylon and polyester as good raincoat materials because they can easily be treated with waterproof coatings and seam-sealed to keep the wearer dry. "On ponchos, a waterproof PVC or EVA is the best material," added O'Brien. Despite the material change, promotional raincoats for uniforms or casual wear still put fashion first. Shi noted that updated accessories like earbud holes make raincoats stylish and modern. She offered the example of Tri-Mountain's Connecticut system jacket. "[It] features a convenient zip-out inner fleece jacket in addition to adjustable Velcro cuffs, inner cellphone pocket and a concealable hood," she said.
- Companies:
- Storm Duds Raingear
- Tri-Mountain