I don't see why it should be difficult. It's just a good quality, long staple cotton. If it's thick it might be a little difficult to manage but no worse that heavy curtain material.
For any heavy duty/wear material, double stitching of seams would probably be good with a natural thread which would also swell when wet and help the waterproofing.
My Rover jacket has never let in water. The only disadvantage is that it hold rather than sheds water so i does become stiff and heavy, but deing a natural fibre is favoured by those for whom that is an (ethical) priority.
For any heavy duty/wear material, double stitching of seams would probably be good with a natural thread which would also swell when wet and help the waterproofing.
My Rover jacket has never let in water. The only disadvantage is that it hold rather than sheds water so i does become stiff and heavy, but deing a natural fibre is favoured by those for whom that is an (ethical) priority.