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Wax Jackets
Gregg Wallace is in South Shields at a clothing factory where they produce 650 waxed jackets a day.
Gregg Wallace is in South Shields at a clothing factory where they produce 650 waxed jackets a day. He follows the production of water-resistant jackets from the arrival of 500-metre-long rolls of undyed cotton through to dispatch. Along the way, he sees the fabric dipped into baths of wax heated to 95 degrees Celsius and learns how a 23-piece pattern is used to create a complex 3D jacket jigsaw.
Meanwhile, Cherry Healey is learning about the science of staying dry. She finds that it is easy enough to waterproof a fabric by coating it in a non-permeable coating. But while this stops water getting in, it also stops sweat getting out. The key to comfortable rain resistance is a breathable membrane which contains microscopic holes, big enough to allow steam to escape, but too small to let rain drops in. Cherry also visits an umbrella factory, where manufacturing methods have barely changed in 150 years. She helps transform a simple wooden stick into a top-notch canopy using saws, pliers and needle and thread.
Historian Ruth Goodman is investigating the fishy origin of waxed jackets. She visits a remote Scottish harbour and learns how these weatherproof coats were born out of oil covered sail cloth which seamen adapted into garments to keep out the worst of the weather. She also visits Edinburgh and learns how an English King played a key role in the popularity of that favourite Scottish fabric, tartan.
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Gregg Cuts His Cloth
Duration: 01:21
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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00:03
Chase & Status
All Goes Wrong (feat. Tom Grennan)
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00:05
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
Fire
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00:09
Kongos
Take It From Me
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00:10
Bastille
Good Grief
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00:10
David Guetta
Don't Leave Me Alone (feat. Anne-Marie)
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00:12
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
The Man Who Built The Moon
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00:17
The Maccabees
Ayla
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00:22
The Future Shape of Sound
The Shakedown
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00:25
Rae Morris
Atletico
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00:26
Leon Bridges
If It Feels Good
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00:31
Florence + The Machine
100 Years
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00:33
April Towers
Holding Tight
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00:37
Nick Lee and Halima
Hotspice
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00:41
Seth Lakeman
1643
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00:42
Bastille
Flaws
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00:52
You Me at Six
Back Again
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Gregg Wallace |
Presenter | Cherry Healey |
Presenter | Ruth Goodman |
Production Manager | Samara Friend |
Editor | Matthew Reinders |
Executive Producer | Amanda Lyon |
Executive Producer | Sanjay Singhal |
Series Producer | Michael Rees |
Production Company | Voltage TV |
Director | Steve Bonser |
Broadcasts
- Tue 6 Aug 2019 20:00
- Sun 11 Aug 2019 19:00±«Óãtv Two except Wales & Wales HD
- Mon 19 Aug 2019 08:00
- Thu 8 Oct 2020 20:00
- Sun 10 Sep 2023 19:00
- Tue 2 Jul 2024 21:00
Learn more about the history of the factory and how it has evolved with an interactive from The Open University.
The fascinating stories behind the production of some of our favourite products.