Gannex is a waterproof fabric composed of an outer layer of nylon and an inner layer of

wool Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. As ...

with air between them. It was invented in 1951 by

Joseph Kagan Joseph Kagan, Baron Kagan (6 June 1915 – 18 January 1995) was a Lithuanian-British industrialist and the founder of Kagan Textiles, of Elland, which made raincoats from the waterproof Gannex fabric he had invented. Gannex raincoats were worn b ...

, a UK industrialist and the founder of Kagan Textiles Ltd., of

Elland Elland is a market town in Calderdale, in the county of West Yorkshire, England. It is situated south of Halifax, by the River Calder and the Calder and Hebble Navigation. Elland was recorded as ''Elant'' in the Domesday Book of 1086. It ha ...

, which made raincoats. The company is now defunct. The mill occupied by the company was demolished in 2010. The raincoats were worn by a number of well known people. Gannex Mill, Dewsbury, Elland - geograph

Gannex Mill, Dewsbury, Elland - geograph

References

*John A. Hargreaves, "Kagan, Joseph, Baron Kagan (1915–1995)", ''

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...

'', Oxford University Press, 200
accessed 17 Dec 2006
Products introduced in 1951 Technical fabrics Brand name materials Textile companies of the United Kingdom Companies based in Elland {{textile-stub