Leslie Massey
Driza-Bone is an Australian-owned company that manufactures full-length waterproof riding coats and apparel. The company was established in 1898 and has been an important part of Australia's heritage, clothing the men who built the country's railways, roads, and highways. The Driza-Bone coat, also known as the stockman's coat, has become an iconic symbol of Australian quality and resilience, with its products being worn by Australian Olympians and featured at the APEC Summit in Sydney. The brand was brought back into Australian ownership in 2008 and continues to be a trusted and dependable name in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1898 |
| Current ownership | Australian |
| Manufacturing location | Australia |
| Trademark registration year | 1933 |
| Coat origin | Australia |
| Coat use case | Workwear for stockmen |
| Coat features | Straps that hold the coat to the rider's leg |
| Coat wearers at 2000 Olympics | Stockmen, stockwomen, band members |
| Coat wearers at 2002 theatre musical "The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular" | Cast members |
| Coat wearers at 2007 APEC Summit in Sydney | 21 leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference |
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What You'll Learn
Driza-Bone is Australian-owned
The Driza-Bone brand is synonymous with the spirit of the Australian bush and has clothed the men who built the railways, roads, and highways of Australia. It has also served in two world wars and travelled with explorers to the vast ice sheets of the Antarctic and the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. The brand has earned its reputation as trustworthy and dependable, with a commitment to superior quality and comfort.
In 2008, the brand was brought back into Australian ownership, and in December 2023, Driza-Bone was purchased by S. Kidman & Co. The acquisition brought several influential industry figures, including Steve Bennett, the founder of Country Road. This resulted in the relocation of the head office and primary warehousing facilities to Melbourne, Victoria.
Driza-Bone has also appeared on the international stage, with appearances at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2007 APEC Summit. The brand has been worn by cast members of the 2002 theatre musical "The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular," further solidifying its place in Australian culture and history.
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The company was founded in 1898
In the late 1800s, a Scot named Edward Le Roy emigrated to New Zealand and began manufacturing oilskin rainwear for sailors using the lightweight sails of sailing ships. The waterproofing technique involved applying linseed oil to cotton. Over the years, Driza-Bone has clothed the men who built Australia's railways, roads, and highways, served in both world wars, and travelled with explorers to the Antarctic and the Himalayas.
Driza-Bone has earned a reputation for being trustworthy and dependable, with a philosophy centred on simplicity, longevity, and comfort. The brand has been worn by cast members of the 2002 theatre musical "The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular", designed by Robert Peron, who aimed to establish the Driza-Bone as a true fashion item. In 2007, the leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Sydney wore Driza-Bone attire, selected by Australian Prime Minister John Howard as the national outfit.
In 2008, the brand returned to Australian ownership, bringing industry figures like Steve Bennett on board and relocating its head office and primary warehousing facilities to Melbourne, Victoria. In December 2023, Driza-Bone was purchased by S. Kidman & Co., ensuring the brand remains in Australian hands and uniting two iconic Australian brands.
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It is an important part of Australia's heritage
Driza-Bone has been an important part of Australia's heritage since its foundation in 1898. The brand's full-length waterproof riding coats, originating from the phrase "dry as a bone", have clothed generations of Australians and have been intertwined with pivotal moments in the country's history.
The coats were originally designed as workwear for stockmen, protecting horse riders from the rain with straps that held the coat to the rider's leg. Over time, Driza-Bone expanded beyond its workwear roots and became a symbol of Australian quality and resilience. The coats were worn by soldiers during World War One, providing shelter at Gallipoli, and were also sported by Olympians during the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
The brand has been described as "synonymous with the spirit of the Australian bush" and has adapted to both rural and urban settings. Driza-Bone has earned a reputation for being trustworthy, dependable, and a brand that is "here to stay". The coats have been worn by explorers to the icy Antarctic and the snowy Himalayas, further cementing their place in Australia's history of exploration.
Driza-Bone made an appearance at the 2007 APEC Summit in Sydney, where the 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference posed in a group photo wearing Driza-Bone attire. This further solidified the brand's status as an Australian icon and a symbol of national pride.
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The brand is synonymous with the spirit of the Australian bush
The Driza-Bone brand is synonymous with the spirit of the Australian bush. Since its foundation in 1898, Driza-Bone has been an important part of Australia's heritage. The brand's name is derived from the phrase "dry as a bone", and it has become an Australian icon. The full-length waterproof riding coats have been worn by generations of Australians and have been present at pivotal moments in the country's history.
Driza-Bone coats were worn by stockmen and women at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and by the 2000 Olympic Band members. The brand was also chosen as the national outfit for the 2007 APEC Summit in Sydney, with the 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference posing in a group photo wearing Driza-Bone attire.
The coats have also been worn by those serving in the two world wars, including sheltering soldiers at Gallipoli during World War One, and have travelled with explorers to the vast ice sheets of the Antarctic and the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. Driza-Bone has clothed the men who built the railways, roads, and highways of Australia.
The brand has earned a reputation for being trustworthy and dependable, with a focus on simplicity, longevity, and comfort in its designs. The coats are designed to withstand the rugged Australian environment, and the unique style of the Driza-Bone coat has remained much the same over the years, becoming synonymous with the spirit and resilience of the Australian bush.
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Driza-Bone coats were worn at the 2000 Sydney Olympics
Driza-Bone is an Australian-owned company that manufactures full-length waterproof riding coats and apparel. The company was established in 1898 and the Driza-Bone trademark was first registered in 1933. The Driza-Bone coat originated in Australia as workwear for stockmen and stockwomen. The coats were developed to protect horse riders from the rain and feature straps that hold the coat to the rider's leg.
The Driza-Bone coat is an iconic symbol of Australia, reflecting the ingenuity and practicality of the rugged Aussie surviving the hardships of the outback. The coats are known for their superb quality and attention to the wearer's comfort. The company was established by E. Le Roy, a Scot who was a crew member of a sailing ship in the late 1800s. Le Roy experimented with making coats out of windjammer sailcloth to provide better protection for himself and his shipmates.
The Driza-Bone coat has become so iconic that it was chosen to represent Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The stockmen and stockwomen at the Opening Ceremony wore Driza-Bone riding coats, and the Olympic Band members wore specially made Driza-Bone coats with differently styled sleeves and unique red, white, and blue colours. Additionally, all the medal presenters during the 2000 Summer Olympic Games wore Driza-Bone coats.
The appearance of Driza-Bone coats at the 2000 Sydney Olympics was not the only time the iconic garment represented Australia on a global stage. In 2002, cast members of the theatre musical "The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular" wore Driza-Bone coats, and in 2007, the 21 leaders at the APEC Summit in Sydney posed in a group photo wearing Driza-Bone attire.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Driza-Bone is Australian-owned.
Driza-Bone was brought back into Australian ownership in late 2008.
Driza-Bone was established in 1898 and has been an important part of Australia's heritage. The brand has clothed railway, road and highway builders, served in the two world wars and travelled with explorers. The Driza-Bone coat has become an Australian icon.
Driza-Bone coats have been worn by stockmen and stockwomen, Olympians, theatre cast members, and world leaders.
