Pakamac

Hi Pam,

No I like nothing better than going for a walk in the rain and hearing it on my umbrella. It's not something I'm able to do much these days, for a start Australia has been in drought for the last few years, but I take the chance when it comes. When I was studying full time I would often walk around the campus in the rain, it was a great way of clearing my mind (and my head from that overheated second-hand library air) and relaxing and refreshing myself. I also love the intimacy and romance of sharing a brolly. If I do have a pet hate regarding umbrellas, it's the current seemingly legal requirement that they have to be black and anal and boring and depressing and who cares if they cost $2 and look like a piece of crap after a hundred yards - they comply with the dress code!

But I suppose all this talk of umbrellas is for another forum. Lately I have rediscovered the nylon mac, as I said, and I have four or five of them and wear them at concerts and sports events and in crowds generally. I was watching the Melbourne Cup on television last week and it was just ridiculous that all these women would spend more on their 'outfit' for the day than I paid for my car, maybe my last two cars, only for the weather to turn nasty and the only protective clothing they had was an oversized piece of sandwich cling-wrap with a hood. It looked absolutely ludicrous and wouldn't have survived more than five minutes of a steady downpour. I suppose it told the world that not only did they have this fabulous outfit and you could still all see it and be impressed, but they were so armpit-deep in money that it didn't really matter if the rain ruined it. If I had turned up amongst them wearing my red nylon mac and a rain hat, I'd have been laughed off the track. All so arbitrary!

You have hit on a pet hate of mine Kareliz, i.e. umbrellas. I hate them especially when I'm shopping. I really can't understand how they have come to replace the pakamac when the latter is so much more functional, attractive and leaves hands free to do what they better used for e.g. searching through rails of items rather than holding the handle of the accursed folded brolly!

As a schoolgirl in Australia the 60s and 70s I wore 'pakamacs' regularly, first red plastic then yellow, then at high school we were meant to wear royal blue outerwear but it wasn't rigidly enforced, mainly we used umbrellas walking to and from school. Nylon ws much more popular than plastic, it was 'cooler' in both senses of the word. These raincoats didn't often have hoods so especially at primary school most of us had those plastic rain hats that folded into pleats so you could keep them in your coat pocket. These macs and rain hats did a great job of keeping you dry - even some girls who rode their bike three or four miles every day. I lived close enough to school to walk or ride depending on how the weather was looking.

I've started buying and wearing nylon macs and rain bonnets again recently since more and more places such as sports stadiums are making nannyish rules about umbrellas, and at other places like outdoor concerts the expectation is you don't put up the brolly (same story of a small precentage of idiots ruining it for the rest of us). I have a dark blue one (just like school), a couple of vivid red ones to match my umbrella, including a 'genuine brand Pakamac, made in England' which I picked up for a whole 50 cents at an opp shop a few months ago, with a bonus accordion rainhat completely unused in the pocket, and a turquoise blue one (I couldn't resist the color). I love the way colored nylon looks so bright when it's wet, and this sort of rain wear looks so much better and keeps you dry so much better than those awful thin plastic ponchos that 'they' say are the only acceptable alternative when an umbrella is seen as inappropriate.

On the Welsh speaking TV a comedian sometimes comes on wearing a plastic mac and just tells corny jokes .

Just like some others here I also love to sleep in my plastic macs. I really miss Pakamacs.

I remember back in the early 50's in England when I was about ten years old. I'd been playing at a friend's house, and when it was time for me to go home it was pouring with rain. So my friend's mother made me wear his sister's plastic mac home. It was translucent, with a hood and a tie belt, and she insisted on putting up the hood and tying it on firmly under my chin with strict instructions that I wasn't to undo it until I got home. I then had to walk through the streets wearing what was obviously a girl's raincoat. Boy was I embarassed!

I have read the web page it is great but are you real Pamela I have never met a lady who really likes plastic macs not in North Wales the classic is do you want me or my mac or they are sweaty or cling I am now really confused after reading your comments I hope you will get in touch I would love to corrospond or talk to you just try and understand it all best wishes Gareth.

Since there seems to be a desire to set up a Pakamac society I suggest the easiest way would be to start one in Yahoo groups. I set up a group for myself there and found it a free, simple process where it's possiblee to submit pictures and send comments to other group members.

I've just returned from a shopping trip with my 16yo son, and as a result of him previously losing his navy blue nylon pakamac, I managed to find a new one for him in the local outfitter, much to his dismay.

It's of a slighlty longer length than his last one, about 3 or 4 inches below the knee, and buttons to the neck, in the traditional style. I also took the opportunity to buy a new school raincoat, double breasted with a belt.

I have no time whatsover with his protestations that he should be allowed to wear a football jacket of some description, but I dont allow that, he must wear his traditional mackintoshes for another couple of years.

I would be delighted to answer any questions, and in particular correspond with other like minded mothers.

Patricia

Shona, I wish I knew someone like you! My love of plastic macs goes back to my childhood although the last one I had was around 8 years ago.As you say, wearing a plastic mac is "electric" and I wish I had the courage to wear one again.Maybe I need a little encouragement. As for sleeping in your mac, a few years ago I had a nylon cagoule which had pvc lining which I slept in regularly so I can understand how you feel.

I've been looking at a genuine Pakamac for sale on ebay and can confirm, as some of the people here have said, that they were given ladies names. The one for sale is a blue one with the name 'Tina'. It was a real treat to see the original packaging with the words "Drip Dry Nylon Raincoat" on it. What memories.
I have been wearing plastic and nylon macs for well over 40 years and am the person Pamela referred to as her friend. I'm visiting her and looking forward to lots of trips out in our Pakamacs!

Just checking this evening's on-line weather forecast, and it looks like I can have another chance to go out in one of my beloved plastic macs. The other night, I was out for hours in the sustained downpour. Pure bliss. I wore four different ones in turn. Firstly the glass-clear blue one, then the soft plastic blue one, followed by the milky white one and finally the battleship grey one - just like my Pakamac of yore. All these plastic macs are some 60 inches long and actually sweep along the ground, making the most delightful sound. They are all see-through and have attachable hoods. The white and grey macs have traditional big rubbery buttons. I will happily join the Pakamac Society.

Shona, you are fantastic!! Simply fantastic!! I will have to share more with you about my rather complex domestic situation where rainwear is concerned, but, make no mistake about it, this website is becoming beautifully alive. There are some wonderful pakamac-loving people here, and we really must take things further. In the meantime, wear and love your Pakamacs.....

I have been a mac lover for quite a few years now, and as per previous post, prefer the pvc mac better than the nylon mac. I did have a blue nylon mac during school, however do like the aroma and feel of a pvc mac the best. I would support a pacamac type forum if we could get members to subscribe. I do like rainbonnets also, however they seem to be out of fashon these dats, shame
scotty

Brian, a 'Pakamac Society' would be divine. How wonderful it would be to have a tasteful and respectful community of people who share the same feelings and the love of Pakamacs. I'm aware that my own obsession with them could be viewed as 'over the top', but why not. Plenty people have obsessions or hobbies that take over their lives, so why not a love of Pakamacs. At many times it becomes the focus of my life, I rarely stop thinking about them. I absolutely worship them, but why not. 'Pakamac' does sound like the name of some south American deity, so why not a sect who worship the 'Goddess Pakamac'!
I'm thrilled that you say I'm amongst friends here. That's something new for me and quite a comfort too. I feel that I've been a subject of scorn for most of my life. It's also a relief that there are other ladies here, who too share my love. I'm sure you were correct that your neighbour Linda wore her nylon mac indoors, I do. It's a comfort to wear one any time, anywhere. I keep one of mine to use as a dressing gown, a different one for housework as well as their obvious use. I have also restyled smaller sized nylon macs into button through day dresses and once a strappy sun-dress.
I hope I understand what you say about plastic macs and I believe I'm quite similar. My recollections of nylon macs are more prevalent simply because it's always seemed that the nylon mac were more readily available in the shops. Plastic macs were available but not as widely available in my experience. John Lewis in Aberdeen in the 70s used to have a lot of plastic macs and so did Fenwicks in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Fenwicks store even sold them into the 90s but I don't think they were Pakamacs. It was a rare event for me to see to see a 'genuine' plastic Pakamac, in it's distinctive packaging. Trips to the English Lake District would net a few plastic macs though from tourist type shops. Until I had access to the internet, I'd almost given up finding new plastic macs. Call me a fuss but I don't like second-hand things so I could never visit charity shops in my quest for them. My collection of plastic macs has grown immensely from the few specialist sellers available online. I've really had to curb my urge to own every plastic mac I see, for the sake of my credit card. Now that I have more than enough, I allow myself the to wear them outside again and not worry about the risk of them becoming damaged. Something a plastic mac is susceptible to, especially if they are ones with plastic buttons. It's these older styles that I really love but the memories of torn buttonholes are still strong. A nylon mac is probably my more practical wear and more resilient, but I still feel so good in them. The feeling of wearing a plastic mac though is 'electric'. A plastic mac makes me feel so alive, so beautiful, so desirable. On a cold winter's night I'll even snuggle up in bed in one. That's really comforting in the cold, alone in my thoughts. I love the summer weather and soaking up the sun, but the thought of cool wet days and cold nights in my plastic macs has me longing for winter. Thank heaven for regular summer showers.
I quite like PVC macs too. There was a real surge in their general availability in the 90s, which was wonderful. I believe that Pakamac had some too in the 60s, but I don't remember them.

That's wonderful news, Pamela, thanks for agreeing with me about the formation of a Pakamac Society. Leave me to do some thinking, and enjoy your shopping trips with Susie.
WHAT A WONDERFUL AND REVEALING WEBSITE THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE!! LOVE YOUR LIGHTWEIGHT, SWISHY, TRANSPARENT MACKINTOSHES, BOTH INDOORS AND OUT!!

I agree Brian, we should have a 'Pakamac Society'. I'm sure my friend Susie will agree. We met again last week and had a lovely chat about things and some wonderful reminiscences on the subject. I think we will be great friends and we're already planning some shopping trips.
There does appear to be quite a community of people here who share similar feelings and memories. In the heyday of the Pakamac, I never imagined that was possible.

As I have mentioned, my love of plastic and nylon macs all arises from schooldays, and I am compiling a fairly lengthy article, on this subject, for eventual posting into this site. But I cannot wait any further before thanking Pamela, Susie, and now Shona, for some really lovely, revealing, and imaginative contributions. Congratulations to all of you. Not forgetting Anna, of course, with her views on how nylon macs relate to school uniforms.
Shona, you remind me of Linda, one of my former neighbours, who had a lovely navy nylon mac, and wore it as often as possible. When she was on her way to work, she was never without it, and I believe she used to wear it indoors too. She really LOVED her mac and she, as much as anyone, was resposible for establishing my love, enthusiasm, and even passion for nylon macs in the late sixties. Yes, I still regard myself as primarily a plastic mac enthusiast, but experiences drawn from this site, and the availability of those beautiful macs from Stay-Dry, have led to much rainwear activity in nylons once more. Also, Shona, you mention, rather touchingly, that your love of Pakamacs has hindered your friendships and personal relationships in the past. Well, that has all changed now. You are definitely "one of us", and, were my domestic situation more straightforward, I would even suggest meeting some time and dating, both wearing plastic or nylon macs(and not necessarily waiting for the rain either!!) As it is, your contribution to this site has been wonderfully inspiring, and, as I mentioned to Pamela too, I hope you share more of your ideas and experiences. Plastic macs and nylon macs are lovely beyond all description, as we have all found out. Perhaps we should form a Pakamac Society. So many existing societies and groups concentrate on rubber macs and, exciting though these are, I feel that Pakamacs have been somewhat cold-shouldered. This wonderful blog/forum- related website is changing all that. Who knows where it may lead! In the meantime, love your mackintoshes and they will love you....

Have just caught up with the comments on the 2nd August. At risk of blowing my own trumpet and grinding my own axe, if my paintings stirred something in you Pamela, you might find that reading some of the stories would stir something deeper in you. Once you penetrate the overt subject there's another layer or two of feelings below.

I can empathise with Pamela regarding the derision that was sometimes levelled at Pakamac wearers. I remember as a young woman that my mother constantly accused me of not looking my best when I turned up in a Pakamac. Ultimately her criticism caused a rift. I much preferred to visit my gran, especially when we went shopping together. She was great fun and like me was an avid pakamac wearer herself. Perhaps my mother was right in the end though. I never had many friends nor married, which I put down to my love affair with plastic and nylon macs.
I have loved and worn pakamacs all my life. At school and college I always wore a navy blue nylon one. Not because it was the uniform, simply because I loved them. I think I modelled myself on some of my teachers who wore them. They were without exception, strong and independent ladies who I admired immensely. A pakamac was my constant companion when I went out. I always wore one for work, in fact I was even labelled with the nickname 'Shona Pakamac' in one place. Of course at one time Pakamacs were everywhere, but I stuck with them all through the nineties and noughties. I loved to go out with my gran and visit some of the many rainwear establishments that focused exclusively on raincoats. Why, why did they disappear? In the various places I worked, I'd search out one becoming quite a regular. There was 'Robertson Rainwear' in Perth, 'Weatherwise' in Newcastle upon Tyne. Even department stores had a huge stock. 'Binns' in Middlesbrough had loads, even nylon capes but I don't know if they were pakamacs. I particularly remember one dress shop had a 'Pakamac Stockist' label in the window during the early eighties. That perhaps says something about the popularity. I too remember pakamacs being labelled with different ladies names, I think it depended on the colour. I recall Arnotts in Redcar sold them with the ladies names pencilled on the label, how quaint. I had to have one of every colour, gorgeous nylon pakamacs with their four chunky buttons. It was such a shame when pakamacs started to disappear but at least they were replaced with equally lovely styles from 'Rainstar' and 'YB Wet'.
I would never be without a pakamac. When I wasn't wearing it, one would be neatly folded in my bag. Old men everywhere seemed to have one rolled up in a jacket pocket or held in their hand usually secured with an elastic band. How I used to fantasise about them putting it on for me. Peter Sallis in 'Last of the Summer Wine' is my pin-up in his nylon mac!

Once again I'm compelled to add to the contributions in our reminiscences of pakamacs. Thank you to all the gentlemen here for their kind words after my previous post and especially the offer of marriage!! If only I were younger.
I'll try to answer in the best way I can about the vulnerability, Colin, I feel when I wear a pakamac. Yes I do feel vulnerable about being caught out in the rain without the benefit of protection. The simple act of unfolding a plastic mac from my basket and putting it on, rescues me from the rain or wind and that particular vulnerability. But when I'm wearing one of my pakamacs, even in my mature years, I feel so feminine, so alive, so attractive in a plastic mac and in a nylon mac. Those feelings indeed make me feel quite vulnerable, defenceless to the approaches of a gentleman who reciprocated those feelings. Those feelings are as fresh today as they were in my younger days, when the plastic macs were indeed genuine pakamacs. If my husband of then, had known about my feelings, I now wonder what he might have thought of me. How he poked fun, then, at each new pakamac I'd buy, despite the 'collection' I already had. How he criticised the way I looked in them too. Despite the disappointment though, his comments could never dent how I felt about them nor the enjoyment I felt wearing them. I did though, feel sometimes forced to make excuses for each new pakamac, whether it be a holiday, a different style or the claim that I'd forgotten to take one with me (always a wee fib that one).
I found that website Colin quite interesting and I certainly now understand the sentiment those art illustrations convey. It has perhaps lent me a little understanding of my fascination and that was quite new to me.
Like Fiona, I too would love to know if Pakamac produced a traditional cape. It wasn't until the mid nineteen eighties that I bought my first plastic cape. If it is at all possible, a traditional plastic cape makes me feel even more feminine and in many ways is probably even more appropriate for a Scottish lady of my years. My late introduction to them made me feel I'd possibly lost out in my younger days, but I hope I've more than made up for it. Stepping out this morning, on a damp July Sunday for my newspaper, in a long pink plastic cape I felt so elegant that it brightened up a poor summer's day.
Through the auspices of the comments here I've fortunately met another relatively local lady who shares my love too. Thank you Susie for getting in touch directly. We're looking forward to meeting more and discussing personal reminiscences and feelings.

Along with other contributors,I also wore a nylon mac,a blue one, in my mid to late teens in the early 1970s. At first I hated it but then loved to wear it round the house when no-one was there! I even used to "dance" in it, playing records and giving myself a good shake! I must have been a strange boy! I think I prefer plastic macs more now though. I wish I had one to wear now. I might even "dance" wearing it!

What an impressive forum! The comments made here really "wrap up" the totality of experiences with plastic. In the states we did not have Pakamacs, but we had many similar long grey raincoats modelled and I was hooked on one back in the early 50's when I was very young. Did not really connect to my feelings until 10 years later when I was presented with a thick frosty clear rain jacket with elastic cuffs to be used to ride the bike to school. This was not like the bike jackets of today but a Japan made stiff, smooth and robust rain jacket. Crackling along the cold mornings caused sensations that resulted in the inevitable and the rest is history. Back then guys and gals would purchase (or their parents) these "cheerleader type" clear rain jackets. Standard issue for the rainy west coast. To this day I gear up when it rains for hiking, fishing, or walking. Umbrellas are useless. Even Gore Tex, in my opinion is water 'resistent' not really waterproof. Nice to see that some ladies also have the same regard for Pakamac experiences!

I loved pakamacs when they could be bought. In fact I absolutely adored pakamacs. The way they looked, the way they felt and the wonderful aroma. Did they ever make capes?Proper ones I mean, not ponchos or cycle ones. I feel so elegant when I wear a plastic cape now. I have a thing for plastic capes especially if they have the plastic buttons. I love to dress my dolls in plastic macs and capes too.

I used to wear a navy blue nylon mac in the 60s, as part of my uniform. It was amazing just how many people wore them then, but as I have said, it's something that I continued to this day. I see BBC Radio 4 recently ran a programme 'Uncool Britannia – The Pakamac Years' about the 50s and 60s. Unfortunately, I missed it.
I started with wearing plastic pakamacs of course but that branched into nylon pakamacs because of the uniform rules. I don't know what it is but when it comes to a nylon mac, I by far prefer a navy blue one, especially over a white blouse and black skirt or a smart dress/skirt suit. I don't know if they were the pakamacs but I recall macs in those days often came with a matching rainbonnet. My uniform mac had one, as did most of the other girls. I still find that look very fetching. As Scotty points out though, a plastic rainbonnet is equally good. I like to wear a headsquare too, but that might be a generation thing.
Shops in those days had a really good choice but even I was astounded in my late teens when I holidayed in Skegness. Just about every shop sold them! I seem to recall rails full of them, windows displaying them and them blowing in the wind hanging outside the shops. I'm sure I'd be disappointed if I went back now.
Even into my twenties a plastic or nylon mac was often the subject of fashion discussions with my friends, especially if we were out in them having coffee or shopping. I was aware too that a group of ladies in plastic macs could turn quite a number of heads, which made me feel good being able to attract such attentions. I remember the reaction of my first husband when I wore a mac and plastic rainbonnet. I wasn't long into the marriage when I realised that I could win any argument or always get my way if I was wearing a plastic mac. We never discussed it, that might have given the game away. But if I needed anything, I'd simply wander into the room, where he was, and button my mac. I never knew if he had a guilty secret.

Susan

Just noticed your site. I remember having a grey pvc packamac on holiday it did really keep you dry. I used to love to see the girls at secondary school wear theirs with a matching rainbonnet, would have loved to go out with a girl who wore one like suzie. The fashon seems to have gone away from them now, perhaps they will come back, like today in central Scotland the rain was lashing down, just the ticket to see a girl wearing her packamac, one can dream....

I've been intrigued by the comments here, in particular the confession from Pamela and feel I must add my own in support of what she said. Looking at nylon or plastic macs today I recall my first memories of pakamacs and just how frumpy they looked. However the feelings they stirred when I first wore them and the feelings they stir now were just incredible. I can't believe just how desirable I feel when I wear one of mine (I have a lot to choose from) and it's lovely to read just how much men appreciate a lady in a pakamac. How wonderful it would be to step out with a guy, like in the advert, in our pakamacs. For my own confession Pamela, you're not the only one to have slept in one!

Susan

Dear Anna-It is so lovely to hear from you again and many thanks for another contribution to this site devoted to Pakamac plastic and nylon rainwear. Your son is fortunate indeed to own and wear a navy blue nylon mac, and I hope he comes to love his macs as much as we love ours. As you know, I am very taken with the Stay Dry range of nylon macs, which are, quite simply, the most beautiful and exciting nylon Pakamacs I have ever worn. I hope you will order a couple for yourself and your son, and let us know what you think about them.
I love the way in which you are fully in charge of your son's rainwear-not in an overbearing manner, but in a beautifully spirited way. I hope you will get him a plastic mac too, for the really heavy summer downpours and also for further proofing of his winter mac. PVC Rainwear(a subsidiary of PVC-U-Like), do an excellent range of male plastic macs, including some in see-through grey-black, in the style of the original Pakamacs. They roll up beautifully small too. Worth investigating, Anna!
But, coming back to the Stay Dry nylons, I could write volumes about them. They come, all folded up, in a small pouch/bag and it is impossible to believe that so much mackintosh can be contained in such a small spac. But they unroll excitingly into a full blown but lightweight mackintosh. The initial creases smooth out and the impression is one of a really luxurious mac that belies the very modest price. They are so comfortable to wear, and do not overheat at all. They come in navy blue and also black, but I find the former the more exciting. More than any other mac, they take me back to the mid- and late-sixties, when almost every schoolgirl wore a nylon mac as part of her school uniform. If more designers took notice of you, Anna, we could see these macs back on our streets again. I hope that you and I, and perhaps one or two others, will put our heads together and see what we can do towards achieving this end.
In the meantime, do keep contributing to this site from time to time. ANNA, YOU ARE A STAR!!
Best wishes to you and all our other waterproof enthusiasts, from Brian.

Brian - Thank you for your kind comments. I do what I believe is the right thing, and that is to have my son wear a traditional nylon mackintosh. He doesn't like it of course, and I've had my battles with him, but he still wears it, not only to school, but also outside school. At this time of year in particular, a pakamac is invaluable, easy to keep in a shopping bag or handbag, and easy to slip on when it rains. He also wears a thicker, lined raincoat in winter month - beleted and double breasted. When the weather is particularly foul, the pakamac is slipped on over it.

If anyone has any further questions to ask, please get in touch.

Anna

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