As residents of the Pacific North West, we've been looking for a fashionable and fun line of waterPROOF--not water resistant--raincoats since our former manufacturer went out of business. Enter Flotte (pronounced "float"), a brightly-colored, waterproof, breathable line of coats made from 100% recycled polyester designed in France.
NOTE: To our disappointment, Flotte will not be selling raincoats in the US. Our Spring order was canceled, but we managed to purchase these samples at a slight discount and are offering them below MSRP. Do to the sample source, sizes/colors are limited. We have also discounted the Freedom capes that we already had in stock, to match this lower price
Flotte's Freedom rain cape combines comfort and practicality. It is ideal for protecting you from bad weather, whether you are on a bike, walking the dog, running errands, or heading to the great outdoors. The shape of the jacket is adaptable, thanks to its double front zipper, its overall roominess, and zippers on both sides at the hem, which can add additional room for activities. The hood/visor has a drawstring adjustment, protects your face from the rain and keeps it on in the wind, and its zipped pockets keep your personal belongings dry. Finally, the rain cape transforms into a backpack in an instant (see fuchsia example in images), thanks to an integrated pocket on the back.
Tech/materials detail:
- 100% Recycled Polyester / rPET (further details at bottom of page)
- Waterproofing: 10,000 mm water column
- Breathability: 10,000 g / m2 / 24 h
- Waterproof zipper
- Heat-sealed seams
- OEKO-TEX certified
- Certified Global Recycled Standard
Colors: Fuschia, Indigo
Care Instructions: Zip all zippers and machine wash cold in the gentle cycle with moderate spin. No fabric softener. Hang dry. Do not iron.
Sizing: Generous fit. We recommend taking a size smaller than usual. The model is 5' 7" tall and is wearing a XS.
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What is recycled polyester? Coming mainly from the recycling of used bottles, food packaging, and used clothing, rPET (or recycled polyester) is brought back to the state of fiber to be reused. This material ages slowly and is resistant to UV rays or bad weather. The advantage is that it can be recycled several times. PET can be recycled from post-industrial and post-consumer raw materials: It takes the equivalent of 14 recycled water bottles to make a rain cape.
An eco-responsible material: The higher the percentage of recycled polyester in the industry, the greater the effect on protection and respect for the environment. Indeed, the increase in the proportion of rPET automatically leads to a drop in the consumption of new PET. This solution requires optimizations throughout the chain, starting with waste sorting.
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Flotte's research and design are carried out in Paris, and their products are made in Asia in a workshop specializing in recycled outerwear. The manufacture of their products requires a particular technicality and know-how that cannot be found elsewhere. Flotte's raw material and the production system allow them to guarantee quality without multiplying the transport of raw materials. Their partners in China are BSCI certified, and the salary of the artisans they work with is above average. One of their teams visits the workshops several times a year to check production and to carry out a social audit of the production chain.