Stephen Nowak, an Australian native, had been immersed in the Rag Trade since his early years. Both parents; his father a fabrics distributor and his mother a fashion boutique owner in Melbourne, imparted to him the same values that still guide the business to this day. As an early pioneer in off shore manufacturing Stephen forged long lasting relationships with mills and manufacturers specialising in technical apparel. This marked the birth of Rainbird and set the foundation for the brand's quality, a tradition that is still proudly maintained today.

Rainbird started trading in the mid 80s, operating out of Carlton in Melbourne and selling widely across the outdoor & adventure industry, with navy, black and olive green raincoats being the go-to colours. Stephen soon saw the potential for the use of colour and was one of the first to pioneer bright coloured Raincoats in Australia! The introduction of jade green and crimson was a turning point for the brand. At the start, it took a lot of persuasion to engage retailers to stock the colourful raincoats, but the customers loved them and they were soon flying off the shelves!

The last decade has brought with it further innovation across the industry in waterproof and breathable fabrics. Rainbird has been at the forefront of incorporating these technologies into our rainwear, giving rise to the innovative Rainbird STOWaway Jacket. This industry-leading packable jacket effortlessly folds into its own bag or pocket! Rainbird has grown and changed a lot in the last 40 years, but some things remain the same. We believe in quality and performance and sustainability. Above all, we believe that you deserve to stay happy, warm, and dry—regardless of the weather.