Dry as a bone. Dry like the bush right now. Dry like Australian humour. Or dry like standing in a downpour wearing an oilskin coat.
Which brings us to the laconically named Driza-Bone - the quintessentially Australian waterproof coat. In the spirit of Australia Day, we thought we'd take a look at this iconic garment. How many people actually own one in our increasingly urbanised population? Drovers are largely a thing of the past, and there are far fewer farmers than there once were- so what is the future of the Driza-Bone? Can it make the leap from paddock to catwalk like the trench coat? Is there a place for it in festival chic?
Oilskins have been around for centuries. As far back as the 1500s sailors waxed and oiled their clothing to make it weatherproof. It worked, but at a cost; the fabric was heavy, stiff and over time became hard and yellowed- hence the long association between sailors and yellow capes and clothing.
In 1894, John Barbour of North East England began using cotton instead of flax and developed new methods of oilskin production. The idea was later commercialised by Edward Le Roy in New Zealand, who started making outdoor clothing that was waterproof, durable and breathable. These clothes gained popularity with outdoors people and soon made their way to Australia where stockman embraced them wholeheartedly.
With a few local tweaks - longer hems for riding, fantails to protect saddles, wrist and leather straps to stop the coat flapping in the wind - the Driza-Bone was born. It kept stockman dry on endless cattle runs, protected shearers from the elements, and became standard kit for anyone working under the open skies.
Over time the Driza-Bone became a symbol: tough, dependable and unmistakably Australian. A Drize-Bone attains a beautiful patina with age, much like an old leather satchel, or a well-worn pair of boots. It's something to use, to live in, and to keep for a lifetime - a quiet but enduring emblem of Australia's rural heritage.