Inside the Factory (2015)

Episode Overview

This episode explores a factory in South Shields that crafts an impressive 650 water-resistant waxed jackets daily. Starting with 500-metre-long rolls of undyed cotton, the process involves dipping the fabric into baths of heated wax before assembling each jacket from 23 individual pieces. A crucial breathable membrane ensures perspiration escapes while preventing water from penetrating. Additionally, viewers witness how a simple wooden stick is expertly transformed into a high-quality umbrella, utilizing traditional tools like saws and pliers—methods that have remained largely unchanged over the past 150 years. The episode also delves into the history of seamen who ingeniously adapted oil-soaked sailcloth for clothing.