1) "Oilskin referred originally to a type of fabric - canvas with, literally, a skin of oil applied to it as waterproofing, often linseed oil." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oilskin 2) "Our Down Under Oilskin coat fabric is made of a tightly woven cloth that is impregnated with a hot solution of specialized oils and waxes to ensure maximum snow, wind and rain protection." Source: http://www.downunderweb.com/store/Clothing_OilskinandCanvasCoats.html 3) "The Driza-Bone oilskin coat has been a part of Australian life since 1898. For over a hundred years the Driza-Bone has been essential to the lives of many; stockmen, horse riders, sporting teams and spectators, royalty, celebrities, as well as ordinary rural and urban folk who have an appreciation of the great outdoors. In the 1890's, a Scottish sailor named Edward Le Roy who voyaged across the great southern oceans, discovered that the torn sails on his ship could be recycled into long coats and sou'westers (a seaman's weather-proof hat) by painting the canvas material with a mixture of oils. This transformed them into excellent wet weather gear. The word on the land spread about the effectiveness of Le Roy's coats in the wet and Australia's squatters and settlers soon adopted them. The coat was adapted to life on the land by adding a fantail to protect the seat of the horse rider's saddle, leg straps to keep the coat from taking off in strong winds, and extra-long sleeves to protect the wearer when his arms were extended. The coats were so effective and useful for many, that they eventually became known as Driza-Bones, named after the dried and scorched bones of animals in the arid Australian Outback. The theory that oil and water don't like to mix still keeps out the heaviest downpours of rain, even when you need to be outdoors for days on end. Certain improvements have been made to the secret oiling process of the Driza-Bone over the last century, but the coat's essential style, waterproof quality and famous durability remain unchanged." Source: http://www.about-australia-shop.com/drizabones.htm 4) "My oilskin coat is leaking. How do I re-treat my oilskin coat? The first sign of leakage usually occurs in the crease area on the sleeve of the coat. We recommend a treatment of Jacaru Garment re-proofing To re-oil your coat, please follow these steps: Clean your coat by soaking it in a bath tub or laundry basin of cold water - add a cap full of a mild liquid detergent (one that is suitable for woolen garments). Agitate the water for a few minutes and then allow the coat to soak overnight. Then rinse out your coat with fresh water. It is very important to remove all dust before applying the garment dressing. If you do not remove dust: The garment dressing will stick to any dust remaining; when the dust dislodges it will leave tiny holes in the fabric exposed, which will leak. Allow the coat to dry naturally. Wait for a very hot day to re-oil: the hotter the day, the better the results. Place the coat in bright sunshine and allow it to heat up. Heat the garment dressing until it turns to liquid – this can be done by putting the can of dressing in the sun or a saucepan of hot water. At the hottest time of the day, sparingly apply the dressing to the coat, using a clean cloth. Add a little extra dressing to the seams. The sun will spread the dressing evenly and quickly through the coat fabric. If you do not have a suitable climate then you will need a hand-held hair drier to work the dressing into the cloth. Your coat will now be ready to give you full protection. " http://www.wildearth.com.au/product_care.php#oilskin