WATERPROOF BAG N°1 - 15L - GUY COTTEN
15L waterproof bag, originally designed for professional sailing and fishing, it will protect all your belongings, even in the worst conditions,
Ideal for cycling, hiking, or camping, it can be carried over the shoulder using its strap, or by hand with its handle. Waterproofing system by rolling the fabric and clipping.
Made of high-frequency welded FERRASAC fabric, one of Guy Cotten's thickest and most resistant materials.
Bag size N°1: 20 cm diameter x 71 length.
MADE IN FRANCE.
Strength, wearability, durability, and timelessness remain the brand's leitmotifs today.
Guy Cotten (1936-2013), born of the land, lived for the sea and sailors. He spent incredible energy enabling them to protect themselves from the elements and designed waterproof, sturdy, and protective clothing to provide them with safety and comfort.
The company specializes in professional clothing for sailing and fishing, agriculture and industry, as well as leisure wear. Production remains mainly carried out in Brittany, across 3 production sites: 2 in Trégunc (29) and 1 in Landaul (56), while the Madagascar workshop provides the remainder for items where "price impact" is unavoidable. GC favors French or European materials, which represent the bulk of their manufacturing. All structures strive for quality, and GC makes every effort to maintain the brand's expertise in France. The flexibility and adaptability gained through the Madagascar workshop not only allow the company to exist in France but to continue developing and investing there.
The context: until the 1960s, sailors' clothing was made of coated cotton, mainly smocks or button-up jackets—heavy, impractical garments that were not always very waterproof.
Since 1964, Guy Cotten has been selling fishing gear at the port of Concarneau. Yvon Hemery, a friend and manager of the ROSBRAS sailing school, asked him to design a practical, lightweight, and durable garment for sailing.
Within a few days, Guy created a prototype made of polyester knit covered with a PVC coating. This jacket featured a zipper and two protective flaps with Velcro; the seams were reinforced with two high-frequency welds, eliminating any possibility of water infiltration.
The first oilskin was born! The ROSBRAS jacket.
In record time, the jacket became THE reference. Its windproof and waterproof system revolutionized the market. Today, there isn't a single foul-weather jacket in the world that doesn't use the "Rosbras system."
Guy Cotten (1936-2013), born of the land, lived for the sea and its sailors. He spent an incredible amount of energy ensuring they were protected from the elements and designed waterproof, sturdy, and protective clothing to provide them with safety and comfort.
In 1974, Alain le Quernec (who would become a committed graphic designer and renowned poster artist) was an instructor at the Rosbras sailing school, for which he had already created the logo.
Guy Cotten wanted to provide a signature for his company, which already enjoyed an international reputation, so he asked Alain Le Quernec to work on a visual:
ALQ: I don't have much experience, but I have a ferocious appetite to get things done. What would you like to highlight above all?
GC: People say my clothes are as practical as a jacket and as effective as a smock. So, I could see a little character hopping around in the rain…
Very quickly, the idea of the "Petit Bonhomme Jaune" (Little Yellow Fellow) emerged. Presented as sketches that were already quite well-developed, the project was proposed to Guy Cotten within the week.
GC: Isn't it a bit stiff?
ALQ: The strength of a logo is being able to see it from a distance. With the yellow and black, I’m sure we’ll achieve that goal. You have to get used to it. If you want, we can revisit it in two years, but I’m not changing a thing.
The young graphic designer's confidence unsettled Guy Cotten, who accepted the proposal. He did not suspect that he was giving his clothing an incredibly powerful image, a timeless image engraved in everyone's minds today.