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Why everyone’s talking about... Dryrobes

STEVE BENNETT

THEY are at the centre of the latest, and quite niche, culture war. So what is a Dryrobe, and why so contentious?

Let’s start with the ‘what’:

It’s a giant, fleece-lined jacket, like an over-sized sleeping bag, which you can wear on the beach to get changed under, protected from the elements – and prying eyes.

Who came up with it?

Devon- based s urf e r Gideon Bright, based on an idea from his mum, who ran him up a waterproof cape with towel lining and a hood when he was a teenager. Years later, standing freezing in a rainy car park, he decided that a professional version just had to be created. The first Dryrobes were sold in 2010 and it’s now a multi-million-pound company.

So who buys them?

Surfers and outdoor swimmers. Celebrities love them, too. Singer Rita Ora’s been seen in the most popular design of camouflage on the outside, hot pink inside – even though it makes wearers look like Chechen rebels. Other fans include Marvel film star Chris Pratt, Poldark’s Aidan Turner, Game Of Thrones’ Kit Harington and pop heartthrob Harry Styles, below. ‘Wardrobe departments like them because they protect actors’ costumes,’ says Bright, whose firm sells Dryrobes for £150 each.

How much?!

Exactly! They are not cheap, but they are effective. However, the exclusive price, celebrity endorsement and distinctive look have made Dryrobes a fashion statement – they are now as likely to be seen in the organic aisle of Waitrose as in the rugged outdoors, much to the chagrin of hardy sportspeople.

This makes them divisive. ‘No Dry r o b e s ’ signs have appeared on beaches in Cornwall and Irel and, and t he garments have been described as an ‘epidemic’ in Brighton. Critics complain about the ‘Grim Reaper silhouette’ and wearers taking up t o o much space. But generally it’s all about inverse snobbery.

So is it a foolish fashion fad?

Possibly. And that’s even without mentioning that you can buy Dryrobes for dogs – a snip at £40.

China In The Dock

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2021-06-06T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-06T07:00:00.0000000Z

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