Google Doodle celebrates the man who invented waterproof 'Mac' raincoats
LONDON -- Google has today paid homage to the Scottish inventor Charles Macintosh, creator of the iconic 'Mackintosh' waterproof raincoat -- by creating an animated Doodle in celebration of his 250th birthday.
While waterproof raincoats might not sound terribly groundbreaking in 2016, Macintosh's invention of a water-resistant fabric in 1823 was nothing short of revolutionary.
Macintosh was experimenting with naphtha -- an oily by-product of tar -- when he made a chance discovery that would redefine the way people dressed forever. "By sandwiching a layer of liquid rubber (made with naphtha) between two layers of fabric, Macintosh created a new material that would be resistant to water while also remaining flexible and wearable," reads Google's blog post on the inventor.
"When Charles Macintosh patented his superior method of rubberising fabric he created a new product that became an instant success," the post continued.
The Mackintosh or 'Mac' remains a wardrobe staple for many people -- come rain or shine. Though the styles may have changed since the early 19th century, the iconic Mac remains, in essence, the same.
"Mackintosh still produce coats with a surprisingly simple process that uses the same technology as the original Mackintosh coat," the post continues.
"Thanks Charles Macintosh, for keeping us warm and dry for over 200 years!"
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Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.
A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.
Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.
