Double Ventile Redcap G9 2 Ply Cotton Waterproof Short Jacket

The History of Ventile

Ventile is the world’s most effective, natural, all-weather cotton textile. It is a fabric made from extra-long staple cotton yarn that is only grown by 2% of the world’s cotton farmers.

Ventile was created to save the lives of Air Force personnel flying over the Atlantic in wartime England. Pilots needed a garment that was cool and comfortable in the cockpit, but warm and impenetrable if it came into contact with water. With nothing that offered this functionality on the market, a team of dedicated scientists pioneered a radical solution at the Shirley Institute in Manchester and, after several months of testing, Ventile was born.

Ventile extended life expectancy in the sea tenfold, which made rescue a real possibility. 80% of pilots who fell into the sea would now survive. The fabric went into mass production in 1943 and was worn by RAF pilots around the world.

The unique weatherproof qualities of the fabric ensured that it was also widely championed by outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers alike. Ventile was used in the first summit of Everest in 1953 and by Sir Ranulph Fiennes when he crossed the Arctic from 1979 – 1982.

How Ventile Is Made

The process begins by searching the world for the highest grade, extra-long staple cotton. Only the very best of the world’s cotton crop meets the exacting standards and it is with this small 2% that Ventile is made.

The cotton fibres are picked, sorted and carefully spun into an even, uniform yarn. High precision spinning results in a streamlined yarn which is essential for giving Ventile its unique waterproof characteristics. After spinning, the yarn is then doubled in order to increase its durability and abrasion resistance.

Over 15,000 individual strands of yarn are then threaded onto the loom and woven into a fabric, a process which takes precision and many hours to complete.

Due to the incredibly dense structure of the fabric, Ventile is pre-treated and dyed using a specifically developed process to ensure the best possible dye penetration, whilst avoiding creases, stains, stripes and shading which would affect the end product. Even on modern dyeing machines, the Ventile dyeing process is a challenge to be mastered.

To ensure that the highest technical specifications is always met, Ventile is subject to strict inspection procedures and laboratory testing throughout all stages of processing, all of which guarantee an exceptional end product.