Wash and Re-proof

Almost every waterproof piece of clothing has a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish applied to the outer fabric — it’s what makes rain bead up and roll off rather than soaking in. Over time, that finish wears away through everyday use: dirt, body oils, sweat and general grime work into the fabric and break down the coating. Once the DWR fails, the outer fabric starts to “wet out” — it soaks up water instead of repelling it. This stops the garment breathing properly and leaves you feeling cold, clammy and heavier than you should be, even if the waterproof membrane underneath is still doing its job perfectly. The washing stage removes the dirt that’s clogging the fabric and breaking down the coating, whilst the reproofing stage restores the water-repellent finish. Collectively, it helps keep the whole waterproof system, membrane and outer fabric working together the way it was designed to.