Creator of yellow sailor oilskins dies

BREST, France — Guy Cotten, the French businessman known for creating the emblematic yellow oilskin jacket worn by seafarers and fishermen worldwide, died Wednesday aged 77, his company said.

Guy Cotten SA, based near the city of Quimper in Brittany, said he had died in hospital following a long illness.

From a small family-run factory opened in 1964, Cotten built up a world-renowned brand of outdoor wear prized by the fishing industry and yachting enthusiasts.

By the time of his death the company, now run by Cotten's daughter Nadine Bertholom, had 300 employees around the world and sales in 2012 of 12 million euros ($15.4 million).