The old black rubber cape

Any collection – paintings, books, wines or cigars, for example – has a stand-out item, and in the Pluvmantelo cape collection this old rubber cape is the star piece.

Bought from an online auction site it’s believed to date from the 1950s. It’s seriously heavy and consequently has lasted well: there is some ageing, some splitting and a couple of the buttons are loose, but for the raincape enthusiast this one, with its big hood and button-up collar, really is something special.

The attention to detail is excellent and it’s a testament to those who made it – and the material it was made from – that fing’s ain’t what they used t’be.

Pluvmantelo headed to the south coast for a shoot with Nat, and while it was a seriously hot day she took to the cape and gave us some first-class images both in the shade and in the sun.