A technical, colourful oilskin, for the city as much as the sea
Why should an oilskin have to be yellow? The question is asked on Varek's home page, and the answer lies in the range: unisex oilskins in colours inspired by the ocean, designed for the sea as much as the city. The name comes from varech, the seaweed the tide uncovers on the rocks. For the two brothers behind the brand, it sums up a childhood by the water, between first catches and first slips on the weed. After eight years with Bredouille, their brand devoted to the humour around fishing, they launched Varek in 2023.
The idea is to take the oilskin out of the harbour without taking away its technical edge. The cloth comes from the world of the sea, a thick 380 g/m² cotton coated in PVC, chosen from the materials made for oyster farmers and fishermen. The seams are welded by high frequency rather than stitched, for waterproofing rated class 4 under the EN 343 standard. Around it, a clean, straight cut that works as well on the quayside as on a bike in town.
The oilskins are designed in France. Varek found no suitable solution in France to manufacture them; the brand turned to the closest solution within the European Union, a workshop in Poland, less than 1,500 km from France. That is why we decided to welcome Varek. The colours are best discovered on the brand's own site.
A brand that states on its product pages where its oilskins are made, and names Poland rather than keeping quiet about it. An oilskin that keeps the technical edge of the seafaring trades yet belongs in the city, freed from its obligatory yellow. And a name, Varek, that holds a whole childhood between the rocks and the tide.
A straight, fairly fitted cut, a deep hood with a drawcord, flapped pockets and stainless steel ventilation eyelets under the arms. The two-way zip also opens from the bottom and leaves real freedom of movement, on a sailing boat as on a bike. The brand suggests going one size up if you are broad in the shoulders.
The same oilskins, the same coated cotton cloth and the same high-frequency welds, in several colours. As the cut is unisex, the brand suggests choosing one size below your usual size. Elastic windproof cuffs keep the sleeves dry, and an inside pocket does the same for phone and keys.
For autumn 2026, Varek has teamed up with the Marine nationale to honour the French naval forces through a series of oilskins. The same 380 g/m² cloth, this time coated in a matt PVC with a peach-skin effect, the same high-frequency welds, and details inspired by the military world.
