Early mariners, who worked at sea a hundred years ago were at the mercy of the rain, wind and waves, and often their craft offered little protection from the elements. Survival was dependant on good clothing. If a man was soaked on deck, the icy waters could render his limbs heavy and slow his return journey to the shore. These early sea-farers devised a way of weather proofing their crude canvas
smocks. These garments, which were usually made from the remains of torn cotton sails, were rubbed with linseed oil. They found that when the oil had penetrated the cloth it kept the biting winds and harsh sprays from reaching their skin. This idea of applying finishes to a base fabric was the beginning of generations of waterproof and water resistant fabrics. And that’s where the British Millerain’s story begins.....
Started in 1880 by the Miller family, British Millerain was founded by a small syndicate of labourers and academics who wanted to further this concept of waterproofing fabric. John Miller Senior and John Miller Junior formed part of the syndicate and played a key role in the development of the first patented “Millerain” rainproof finish in 1894. Since the company began trading, it has been managed by several generations of the Miller family:
Mr. A. W. C. Miller 1950 - 1959
Mr. H. Miller 1959 - 1978
Mr. S. Miller 1978 - 1983
Mr. M. Miller 1983 - present day
Leading into the 20th Century, British Millerain expanded globally, by supplying fabrics to suit a wide variety of clothing requirements, from the rigours of life in the armed forces to the demands of country pursuits. Through more than a century of refinement, development and testing, we have built a reputation as the leading manufacturer of practical, aesthetic fabrics for outdoor applications. Today, due to the technical performance, aesthetic appeal and traditional roots of British Millerain fabrics, desire for our textiles is greater than ever. Indeed, ‘Millerained’ textiles are often the fabric of choice for the well-heeled on the streets of cities and country towns around the world.
