Barbour
John Barbour & sons has made barbour clothing across the country in Northern England, Newcastle and the Scottish borders since 1894.
John Barbour was raised on a farm in Scotland, and as he grew up he became acutely aware of the neccessary outdoor protection needed to brave the harsh outdoor elements, and after John married he began developing tough oilskins and outdoor garments specifically designed for stormy weather.
Due to the meticulously strong construction of these Barbour jackets, they are thought to last forever. One recent television documentary sought to prove this point by laying a Barbour jacket in a muddy puddle and driving a range-rover back and forth over it. Naturally, the jacket was a little muddy, but survived the ordeal, completely in tact.
The Jackets are able to withstand such tough conditions due to the high-quality materials used to constructed them; long staple Egyptian cotton, robust, strong metal zips and chunky brass studs with seams constructed to be waterproof. Being the preferred jacket for huntsman, there are numerous pockets suited to outdoor pursuits, including a small zip-pocket for ammunition, and an inner waterproof pocket designed for carrying recently hunted game.
The Barbour jacket is much loved by the royal family, and Diana princess of Wales was often pictured wearing hers on various outdoor expeditions.
The Barbour Jacket has indeed proved to be the number one choice for country pursuits, and a much loved friend to the jacket owners. Rather like a worn out teddy-bear, it is thought that the more dirty your
jacket, the more loved it is. A muddy Barbour that
tells a story is far more appealing than a new jacket, stiff and clean straight from the shop. It is a long-standing tradition to 'rough up' your new Barbour jacket when it is first purchased... many people hit them against a brick wall to soften the wax coating, and those that prefer tyre marks drive a range rover over it!