It's already time to wear mid-season coats!
It's not always easy to dress in autumn or spring... This requires a coat that is not too hot, and can also protect you in rainy weather.
However, should we give up on style as soon as the drops fall? Can't we take advantage of this to enrich our outfits, particularly by relying on more technical materials?
This is what I want to explore with you today, by introducing you to a Danish brand that really appealed to me: Rains .
Disclaimer: Guerric is a loyal reader and contributor to BonneGueule, who also founded his t-shirt brand GoudronBlanc . A few weeks ago, he sent us an email saying that he wanted to write an article about Rains, “a very minimalist brand that deserves a nice article”. The pen is his!
Choosing a good rain jacket
Like many, I tend to wear warm coats in winter. This saves me from piling up sweaters. A t-shirt can be enough under a warm coat.
So I went on a quest to find the right mid-season jacket .
Inspired by BonneGueule's praise for techwear, I dug into the subject. But I also didn't want to fall into the “tech-ninja” style that Milone describes .
I preferred to stick with urban techwear . Geoffrey explains that this “designates pieces with a “classic” appearance, perfectly suited to everyday and urban wear, but which are made from technical materials (water-repellent, breathable fabric, etc.)”.
Geoffrey delighted with his Outlier pants, note the flexibility.
This is how I came across Rains, a brand that I really like for its style and its history.
Interestingly, the founders decided to create their own material , where most waterproof clothing brands opt for established names like Gore-Tex.
We often find the same technologies from one techwear brand to another. Gore-Tex is the best known, but we can also cite eVent or Sympatex .
Before going into details about the coat that caught my eye, I'll tell you more about Rains' story...
The Rains brand
Rains was founded in Denmark in 2012. Although the brand is only 5 years old, it has already proven itself.
It offers a range of rain jackets and “waterproof” accessories for men and women. Building on its success, the company extended its range to children by creating a new brand, Sways .
Coats from the Sways brand, Rains' children's sub-brand.
Rains already has three own stores, in Aarthus (Denmark) where its head office is also located, in Antwerp (Belgium) and, more recently, in Paris.
The Rains boutique, rue du Temple in Paris.
But Rains is also available at major multi-brands like Asos or Topman . An interesting choice which illustrates the positioning of the brand: although it borrows the visual codes of a high-end brand, it remains in fact very accessible.
It reminds me a lot of its Swedish sister Stutterheim , which positions itself in a more upscale niche (at a less affordable price as well). One of the big differences is in the origins of the brand. Indeed, Rains began as a school project. And that’s what makes it a great entrepreneurial adventure.
The Stockholm coat from the Stutterheim brand, quite similar to the Long Jacket from Rains.
The brand's entrepreneurial beginnings
At the origin of Rains, the desire to reinterpret the traditional raincoat.
Their team told me that this idea came to them during a project at their design school, VIA in Denmark. This surprised me because this is also where we create the SNS Herning brand sweaters, which I told you about here .
Indeed, I really appreciate the minimalist side of Danish and Swedish brands.
Once they had the idea, the team had to follow all the steps of creating a brand: they chose the name "Rains" and purchased the Bodoni font to create their logo, to give it the high-end look. range I was talking about.
Armed with the visuals, they began creating samples, despite their lack of experience in textiles.
Like many young entrepreneurs, what they had to help them move forward was a vision: “to be the first everyday rainwear brand, connected to beautiful moments outdoors.”
One thing led to another and they were able to develop a first collection of rain jackets and waterproof bags.
The different models available at Rains
Since its debut in 2012, Rains has created a serious catalog of rain clothing and accessories.
They all follow the same minimalist and colorful inspiration which I really like. She is no stranger to the brands I wear, like Carhartt chinos, or the t-shirts I design.
A simple and effective look: Rains coat, Carhartt pants and GoudronBlanc t-shirt.
The brand aims to equip the “modern consumer”
Coats with a minimalist style
The brand uses its in-house material on several coats, ranging from the Mackintosh to the parka.
The Mackintosh Rains, reinterpreted with a bomber-style collar.
I'll tell you more about their Long Jacket a little further down. Before that, let's talk bags...
Bags and accessories that you want
Although I haven't had the chance to test the Rains accessories, I must admit that they look envious in photos.
A very colorful collection of bags.
They are all offered for less than 100 euros. It's a rather entry-level strategy, reminiscent of the Herschel bags that have invaded us in recent years.
The Herschel bags which have clearly replaced the Eastpak on the backs of many people.
Rains also offers a series of accessories for smartphones and tablets. On this point, I'm not sure about the need for waterproofing, but it may appeal to some.
Rains even offers a collection of minimalist accessories that are still waterproof.
Now let's get into the details. Let me introduce you to the Long Jacket...
Test and review of the Rains Long Jacket
This coat quickly caught my eye, you will have understood my taste for refined pieces. And then, for once, I wanted to wear a long coat.
Here's the beast, a water-proof parka.
A waterproof material, made in Rains
The Rains Long Jacket is very light . In terms of weight, it reminds me a lot of a K-Way.
This is explained by the material used, which is very thin. The brand uses its own combination of 50% polyurethane and 50% polyester, making the coat completely waterproof.
A waterproof and lightweight material, reinforced by finishes which we will detail shortly after.
Some reviews on the Internet complain that the material is not the most breathable .
I didn't have this problem, there is even a lining to make the coat breathe. In practice, I just walked with this coat. I didn't ride a bike with it, for example. So let's see, but let's keep in mind that this is a city coat, not a piece of sportswear.
Perfect for the city, to avoid for sports...
In terms of waterproofing, we are at the top. The seams are ultrasonically welded
A cut that can appear generous
In terms of cut, the Long Jacket is rather wide.
When I received mine, I thought I had gotten a size too big. But when we look at the official photos from the Rains site, we see that this is wanted by the brand.
The cut chosen by Rains for its Long Jacket coats is rather wide. In this photo, the model is 1m82 tall and is wearing S/M.
The way of announcing the sizes also confused me a little. Rains does not speak of S or M, but of S/M or M/L. It's hard to know exactly where you fall.
Two solutions:
- either you like the result and take your usual size;
- or you opt for a size smaller.
I usually take coats and jackets in size M, I chose a S/M here. A little more fitted would have been great.
A raincoat that goes on even when there is a ray of sunshine.
My advice: try in store before buying, if possible.
As for the finishes?
Although Rains has not decided to go high-end
- no zip only, buttons customized with the brand name;
- returns on the pockets to prevent rain from seeping in ;
- adjustable cuffs with pressure to tighten the bottom of the sleeves;
- a hood with a small cap (I could have done without this detail, but it was probably a good feeling).
The product is really well finished. Its strong point is the presence of welded seams which, as we said, are essential to make the coat completely waterproof.
A style with retro accents
In terms of design, you notice the tail behind, which is also called fishtail
The fishtail back, inspired by Inuit outfits, was created by the US Army in the 1950s. I like the retro feel it gives.
Once again, I think the coat is a little big. But it works well in everyday life.
Alternatives to Rains: good mid-season jackets
Not everyone will be a fan of Rains' style. During my research, I came across some good alternatives.
Benoît praises the style and quality of Norwegian Rain : “The quality of the materials plays a big role in the attractiveness of the brand. I would pay a lot to find out who their Japanese supplier is... Because although the material is technical, it remains original and elegant.”
Benoît is ready for a downpour with his Norwegian Rain coat.
Indeed, Norwegian Rain offers a very creative approach to rain clothing. It also represents a good investment for very high-end products.
Also high-end, there is the Canada Goose softshell which Benoît also talks about. Nothing to complain about the quality, it's Canada Goose. Here's what Benoît thinks: “The main feature is the presence of the bellows pockets on the chest, whose design is reminiscent of a safari jacket. For now, there is little to say because the lines are clean. But because of the material, we still have a sporty design before being urban.”
The Canada Goose softshell.
More affordable, you will find the historic K-Way. I tested the new version here and I recommend it if you are a fan of the brand's sportswear style. The big plus: its lightness, only 300g.
The lightness of the Rains coat made me think a lot of the K-Way, which is more sportswear.
If you live in Scotland or Brittany, and are looking for good techwear but urban pants, Geoffrey highly recommends Outlier.
Rains also makes these waterproof pants, which I think are less comfortable than Outlier's.
So, what do you think of Rains?
Besides the alternatives mentioned, Rains was really a favorite for this season. The material is robust and I am sure that the Long Jacket will last several seasons.
Paradoxically, I hope I don't have to take out this jacket too much. This would mean that the season was rainy…
