Rapanui (Isle of Wight) makes nice organic cotton raincoats and jackets with PFC-free coatings providing water-resistant linings. Also available for men, these jackets took five years to design, so they need no adjusting features (so no plastic) and their quality YKK poppers and zips are made from easy-to-recycle metal. Prices vary from £60 to £100 but should last years (look for sale bargains).
Rainwear is tricky as you need a water-resistant lining (or you will get soaked!) But PFC is a man-made chemical (also used in non-stick pans and fire extinguishers) the leaches into our waters during production, even finding their way into glaciers and stomachs of polar bears. This brand advises not to launder but to spot-clean (or gently hand-wash stains in Guppyfriend’s sink filter that catches any synthetic fibres for safe disposal).
It rains (a lot!) in England, due to the unique atmospheric pressure, so we often get four seasons in one day. Northwest England gets far more rain than drier counties like Norfolk and Suffolk, and although the south coast gets a lot of rain, sunny temperatures means pavements often dry up in hours. Unlike Cumbria!
If caught in a thunderstorm, keep a safe distance from trees and metal objects (umbrellas, golf clubs, motorbikes, wheelchairs, tent poles). Stay inside cars (fabric tops could catch fire, if struck). If exposed, squat close to the ground with hands on knees, and tuck head between them, touching as little of the ground with your body (don’t lie down). If your hand stands on end, drop to the above position immediately.
