New fibers and new polymer coatings based on poly(vinyl chloride) and polyurethanes, together with specially developed processing and coating techniques, offer potential advantages where fabrics are to be subjected to a harsh environment. Thus the tensile strength, tearing strength and dimensional stability are imparted by the textile fabric, while environmental protection is provided by the coating. A particularly significant development area has been the evolution of porometric and other breathable coatings, based on polyurethanes, that can provide a great improvement in terms of the comfort of garments designed for foul-weather clothing.