A Puddle of Passion
I want to enjoy the rain.
I want to smell the air. I want to splash in puddles and watch the delicate ripples roll. Sit and gaze on a wet park bench at the marbly sky, and marvel at nature as I slowly walk back home.
But then my rain boots start to take in the cold water and now my back and shoulders, are soaked because my jacket has begun letting in the rain, causing me to shiver.
My outdoor time has now come to an uncomfortable end.
So out of frustration, I cried a little; got a small cold, and started hunting for a better pair of boots and rain coat.
While I was getting irritated looking from site to site, I thought of two things,
” Where are the quality brands? and, What did people use in the centuries before all this useless crap?”
The results amazed me.
In Japan and china people wove and bundled grasses to create rain repellent capes. Other places in the world also made capes of grass along with tree bark or large leaves. Tribes across North America and beyond mastered using leathers, fish skins and furs by coating them with natural oils, tannin mixers, and natural rubber, to craft capes, ponchos, and water and winter proof boots and shoes.
In the 18th century, sailors created oil coats to protect them from the harsh wet winds of the sea; the oils from oiled coat would also further improve the water resistance of their woolen garments.
They created their garments and tools with the upmost practices in quality because not doing so would have been life or death.
Then I pondered why? Why did we stop using these amazing, natural, & quality methods?
Some ideas that come to mind for how it began are modernization, money, industrialism, greed, fashion, prejudice, law restrictions and so on.
The reasons now, in our time, are somewhat still the same money, greed, and a new one- judgment from the whole world. But for us as the customers its also time, maintenance, and convenience.
People back then had more time to care for their gear, in fact it was some peoples jobs too. Today, some of us barely have time to simply care for our selves.
So as inspired as I was to go full on natural, I first evaluated the pros and cons, social acceptance, and how much time and effort was I willing to give to my clothes and tools. I realized that my rain protection is a tool for my enjoyment in life, and I wanted to feel like it matters, so I would have to make time.
I searched to find pieces that were made to last through heavy use and a decent amount of proper care, while on a budget.
One year, I found some Hunter boots on sale and gave them a try. Five years later they are still going strong even though I have neglected them.
I’ve been using an a Eddie Bauer rain jacket for the past four years and even though its water repelling abilities are great, it doesn’t protect me from even mildly heavy rain for more than thirty minutes.
Not long ago I happened to get my hands on a vintage mens long oil coat, coated with actual oil! I’ve tried it in the rain and stayed completely dry in heavy rain . It is roomy, has lots of pockets, it also has a capelet that gives extra shoulder protection and it is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship that brings a meaningful quality to simply going out in the rain.
The Conclusion
In short, I have felt that the modern life and its *conveniences* feel hollow and meaningless, and found this to be by design. But I realized that there are possibilities for a life filled with realness and authenticity. A way of putting items in your arsenal that are crafted with so much genuine care and thoughtfulness that they can enhance the good emotions and experiences in us and our lives, instead of taking from it.
So this is one of the missions of Essential Nartisians, acquiring quality basics, tools, and a few treasures along the way, that help to enhance, and allow our minds to focus on what really matters, Life.
Comment down below what your thoughts are, and thank you, for reading.
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