Aquascutum, the 161-year-old British heritage brand that designed the first waterproof material and raincoat for rainy weather in the UK, has been put up for sale by its owner Harold Tillman.
John Emary, a tailor, who founded a menswear shop in London in 1851, renamed the company 'Aquascutum', after developing the first waterproof wool, which he patented as Aquascutum.
In 1900, Aquascutum launched a womenswear range offering water-repellent coats and capes, which became extremely popular.
Subsequently, the company developed other fabrics and coats, including Aquaspectrum, the multi-coloured wool-yarn weave, and Eiderscutum, a light overcoat.
Until 1990, the firm remained family-owned, when it was sold to Japanese textile company Renown Incorporated.
After enduring losses for three consecutive years, the firm was again sold to Harold Tillman in September 2009.
In the last figures released by the company for the year ending February 2010, Aquascutum posted a loss of £10 million on revenues of £28 million.
Aquascutum has the distinction of supplying coats to several statesmen and actors, including Sir Winston Churchill, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, Sophia Loren and Michael Caine.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India