Pakamac

These memories certainly make me feel nostalgic for simpler times. I grew up in the late 70s and early 80s when every downpour seemed to be greeted by an absolute rainbow of rainwear, in particularly orange and blue cagoules, bright Dunlop wellies, and lots and lots of transparent plastic macs in different colours. My mother worked in a C&A store and they seemed particularly eager to keep the women of Britain dry. Like many people I look back on rainy holidays in this country with real affection and Wales certainly features quite a bit! We all seem very fond of our Pakamacs so perhaps we never really lost that carefree feeling. And they clearly inspire a lot of affection in others too; I am pretty sure that my wife and I could wander around all year in our overcoats and nobody would say a word but as soon as we put on our plastic macs and go out in wet weather we get lots of lovely comments from complete strangers, complimenting us for being prepared for bad weather or ready for the rain, and asking us where we buy our rainwear; mine is from Go Travel and my wife has several St. Bernard and Primark plastic macs. Somehow wearing a Pakamac seems to break down social inhibitions in the same way that campers speak to one another on a camp site. In our case our camping holidays usually coincide with plenty of opportunities to make good use of our wellingtons, Pakamacs, and brollies so we really do have a sociable time! The best example I can give is a visit to an open garden last summer when, as she was about to go out in an absolute downpour, my wife put on her rainwear and put up her transparent dome umbrella and the lady guide, smiling, said ‘there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong type of clothing‘; it’s true and she seemed genuinely happy to see us enjoying the garden regardless of the weather. I could give many other examples and if 2012 is anything to go by we should be in for lots more. We are also, apparently, using public transport and holidaying at home much more, so perhaps the climate (economic and meteorological) is just about right for the humble Pakamac to make a comeback; after all wellies and see through brollies seem pretty fashionable. I was also interested to read that lots of husbands enjoy seeing their partners in rainwear and while I don’t consciously wish for rain I am always pleased when I hear that ‘heavy rain’ is forecast because it invariably means that my wife will say ’I’ll need my plastic mac today’ and needless to say I don’t discourage her. I’m no internet expert but a little research suggests that there are no high street stores currently selling plastic macs. I did find a few ‘specialist’ shops selling, amongst other things, rainwear but I'm not sure how many ladies will be inclined to buy from them; not least because I know my wife wouldn’t spend well over £20 on a plastic mac. So if I owned the Pakamac brand, and presumably someone does, I would seriously think about re-launching it with those styles made popular by Pakamac and C&A in the eighties. Given our climate I am sure it wouldn’t take much for us to be happily packing, and unpacking, our plastic macs once again.

years ago in the happy days when plastic mackintoshes were common. I noted a woman wearing a blue plastic mackintosh with the hood up holding hand of a small boy wearing the same thing. Boy was only young guess about 8 even so he must have felt strange knowing her was wearing the same mackintosh as his mummy. I wonder if it lead to anything. Bev

I remember the late 50's, when I was 10 years old, my mother took me into Woolworths to purchase me my first plastic mac, I remember at least four clothing racks full of plastic macs, only one rack contained men's macs, they were all black or grey in colour and felt, completely different to the womens macs, I tried on two of the macs, but didnt like them, as they were made from really harder plastic, so she chose a bright blue mac with a hood attached, it fit me very well, including the hood, she bought the mac and said, its for your holiday, my fetish for pvc macs was born, and I still have the fetish now that I am 68 years old.
I have been very lucky that my good wife of 47 years loves pvc and rubber items of clothing.
My father had a Pakamac which he seemed to be wearing most days including on our holidays, well they were always in Wales.

Hi Paul i always wear my mackintosh buttoned right to neck
and have by belt really tight. If hood is up i have it tied neatly Bev

Thanks for the info Rob hope you will both come to Wales.

Gareth mostly in Ireland I think. We visited many times and bought several because we really liked them, all plastic but slightly different styles. I call them Pakamacs but they are branded St. Bernard if that helps.

hi beverley
this site is a loveley find for me ,to be able to share my enjoyment of plastic macs. recently wore my
mac buttoned to the neck together with a rain bonnet and
and carried a see through umbrella to match on a shopping
trip arond town. such a thrill.

Hi Rob just as a matter of intrest were did your wife buy her mac it must be well over Twenty years since I saw a lady wearing a plastic mac she must really like it lucky man.

Hi Rob you are lucky to have a wife that wears a pakamac.
Not many people wish for rain but in your place i would.
So many men like women in macs. Also they are so often needed yet almost died out strange world. Bev

I came across your site by chance because I am interested in advertising but when I saw the Pakamac advert it reminded me that when I was a child Pakamac, like Hoover, was a widely used name, and I wondered what had happened to it. I hadn't realised it was so fondly remembered but having read many of the comments here I think I now understand why. Wearing a Pakamac clearly embodies those two essential British qualities of always being prepared and enjoying yourself whatever the weather! And perhaps we are nostalgic because, sadly, we seem to live in a far less practical world. But if it is any consolation there are still ladies wearing plastic macs, including my wife. Always prepared she never goes out without her plastic mac if rain is forecast and we have lost count of the number of ladies, often middle aged, who have stopped to ask where she bought it. There is clearly a demand for plastic macs and given our climate I am amazed they are not more readily available in the shops. I was also surprised to see how many ladies have said that their husbands enjoy seeing them in their rainwear. Perhaps this is also just an expression of a more chivalrous age; I have to confess I always want to hold my wife’s brolly for her when she goes out in the rain. With climate change who knows, perhaps the Pakamac with reign again. Or should that be rain?

Ken can"t agree more with you pity we have to result in this kind of thing to make anything happen, I honestly can not remember the last time I saw someone wearing a plastic mac outdoors. Its almost as if they have been banned. When I think back over the years when it rained the towns were awash with ladies especially clad in plastic macs, I find it very sad. Especially for people like us .I think we should also make a little better use of this site to give us all the chance to chat to like minded people either here or one to one,

Brilliant observation Ken. We'd be assured of shops full of them.

Pity someone could not get Pippa and Katie to wear a pac a mac then all the women in the UK would want one.

Hi again Janice. When I first discovered this site I thought yes great what a way to get to know people with the same or similar interests. But l like many others below seem reluctant to post the more personal stories relating to the gorgeous Pakamacs that once were available. However I have provided my phone number for anyone wishing to exchange emails or messenger names to chat more in depth about some of the experiences in the past. so I will always be happy to chat on a one to one basis about my life`s experiences in Pakamacs.

Alan you can tell us all your experinces on this page .

Hi Janice I was thinking the same. I looked the other day and I was suprised there had not been a message since Deccember. I too could talk all day about plastic macs and my true experiences. if you would like to hear some of my experiences I would sooner email you you can always leave your email address by texting me on 07503276676 and I will gladly tell you of some of my many many experiences.

Where is every body I love hearing your tales of plastic macs.

Happy new year to all pac a mac fans.

Hi, do any of you ladies still wear the accordian folded rainbonnet?fan of rainbonnets.rainhatc.Merry christmas.

Hi Rainhate

I love to see girls wearing rainmates too, especially the retro pleated fold up type. I was lucky to find a couple that were never used and are in great condition. I may be lucky to get my girlfriend to model them.

If you search the web for Rainbonnet you can find lots of good pictures.

Hi Rainhate

I have lots of rain bonnet photos send me an e-mail:

mac_kintosh91@hotmail.com

does anybody have any photos of accordian folded rainbonnets im a huge rainbonnet fan.like to see the ladies wear them.thank you.rainhatc.

Hi Rainweargirl

Sounds like you found a great buy. I recently droped in to my local redcross shop however no luck on the mac front. If your wearing your pakamac over your nylon mac do you wear a rainbonnet as well.

Lucky fined on Saturday in charity shop found lovely grey mackintosh looks good as new is nylon and polly etc but could pass as gaberdine so will call it my school mackintosh.
Have been out in it today nice and warm. If wearing in rain will wear plastic pakamac over it.

Anna merry Christmas to you and your son and all pac a mac fans.

Another way of mending plastic tears is to buy a length of colourless shower curtain (I have a shop which sells it by the yard or metre), cut it into strips and glue both sides of the tear to a strip.
It helps to tape the edges together first as I expect many of you do. Gaffer tape can also be used (and sewn into place if necessary) if the material is not transparent.

Hi Susan glad you were able to resurect your plastic mac with the Wilkos soft plastic glue I recommended. I keep a couple of tubes in now for every kind of plastic mishap.
I would recommend that every serious plastic lover keep a tube in for that heart sinking tear that appears almost without reason. Over the years I have gathered a number of remedial type repairs, Any one of you wanting more info can always email me, Alan

Yes he said he always liked macs from a early age the transparent ones he loved I have still got one somewere I will have to dig it out.

I have to thank you Alan for the Wilkos soft plastic glue tip. It worked a treat on a parted arm seen on my black plastic mac.

Hi Ann. I can assure you you hubby was far from being alone with his love of plastic macs, Years ago before our cyber world opened up I too thought I was strange and my wife thought that I was strange with this strong desire to want her to wear plastic macs as well as wearing them myself.
I have always accepted it as a extra gift that was given to me to be able to enjoy that sensual material.Did your late Husband have his liking from a early age ? or from the time you first knew him?