Detachable Hood

In 1898 a British Sailor Emilius Le Roy envisioned an all-weather, indestructible jacket made of old recycled ship sails that were treated with oil. His first iteration that was dubbed the first ‘Driza-Bone’ unfortunately was pretty flammable due to the use of linseed oil. 

Later, T.E Pearson who was the son of E.J Pearson and the founder of Pearson Soap brought a consignment of LeRoy coats to Australia to rework the proofing process. It is this excellent formula that we still use to proof our coats today. 

Since 1898, Driza-Bone has become an Australian Icon being worn not only by stockmen but by politicians such as John Howard and George W Bush; Rockstars and models like Kate Moss and by the everyday Australian.

Whether it’s wearing one to drove a mob of sheep across the central plains or throwing one on to keep dry at the footy, there’s nothing more quintessentially Australian than wearing a Driza-Bone. 

Our traditional Oilskin coats and jackets are made from sturdy 100% cotton that is coated with our uniquely formulated oil and wax finish to give the Oilskin its distinctive weatherproof and breathable character. As a specialised garment, the Driza-Bone Oilskin fabric needs special attention to maintain its weatherproofing qualities.

You can learn how to look after your Driza-Bone on our Garment Care page.