Inspiration

Brands

Barbour

J. Barbour & Sons was founded in 1894 by John Barbour, a Scotsman who set up shop in South Shields selling oiled cotton to the sailors and seamen working the North Sea - cloth that soon became the outerwear itself, and the basis of Barbour's reputation for tough, weatherproof gear. The company is still family-owned and family-run; Dame Margaret Barbour has chaired it since 1973, and under her the brand earned Royal Warrants from the Duke of Edinburgh (1974), Queen Elizabeth II (1982), and King Charles III (1987).

Long associated with country pursuits - shooting, riding, farm life - Barbour found a second life in the 2010s as its waxed jackets, especially the 1983 Beaufort, were adopted by streetwear and heritage-menswear audiences as an urban staple, helped along by collaborations with the likes of Wood Wood, White Mountaineering, and Ally Capellino.

That revival leans on the same practicality that built the brand: Barbour runs a rewaxing and repair service that restores more than 60,000 jackets a year, so a Barbour bought today can plausibly outlive its owner. It's a rare case of a 130-year-old workwear maker becoming fashionable without changing what it actually makes.

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Beaufort

Designed in 1983 by Dame Margaret Barbour, the Barbour Beaufort is one of the brand's most recognizable waxed cotton jackets.

Inspired by French shooting styles, it sits slightly longer than a short jacket, falling mid-thigh to cover a sport coat or suit jacket.

Bedale

Designed in 1980 by Dame Margaret Barbour, the Barbour Bedale was the brand's first short, lightweight waxed jacket designed specifically for equestrian use.

Its shorter cut, tailored features, and functional details were built to make horseback riding comfortable, but it quickly evolved into an iconic everyday casual staple.

Ashby

Introduced in the 2010s as a modern alternative to the Bedale, the Barbour Ashby retains the heritage aesthetics of classic country outerwear while re-engineering the cut and construction for a contemporary, urban tailored look.

Border

Designed in 1982 by Dame Margaret Barbour, the Barbour Border is the longest coat among Barbour's core classic waxed cotton lineup.

Named to commemorate the border region between Scotland and England, it was engineered as a heavy-duty, fully weather-resistant coat capable of covering tailored suits and longer layers completely.

Gamefair

Introduced in 1968, the Barbour Gamefair is widely considered the true ancestor of Barbour's modern country jacket lineup.

Predating the Bedale, Beaufort, and Border, it was the original blueprint that established Barbour as a household name for field sports and country wear throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Northumbria

Introduced in 1979, the Barbour Northumbria is the absolute heavy-duty flagship of Barbour's core waxed cotton range.

Built on the exact same pattern and long three-quarter silhouette as the Border, the Northumbria was engineered specifically for severe weather, harsh countryside conditions, and maximum warmth.

Durham

Introduced in the late 1960s alongside early field coats like the Gamefair, the Barbour Durham occupies a unique place in Barbour's archive.

While most classic Barbour jackets were built around boxy shooting or equestrian templates, the Durham was designed as a lightweight, functional waxed parka or smock-style hooded jacket, offering an unconstructed, packable alternative for fell walking, fishing, and unpredictable weather.