Waxed cotton has been at the heart of Barbour ever since the company’s beginnings in 1894. When John Barbour founded J. Barbour & Sons in South Shields, a busy port in the North East of England, one of the bestselling lines was a range of oilskin outerwear named the Beacon Brand.
It was initially designed to keep the sailors, fishermen and shipyard workers dry in all weather conditions, especially in the bad weather caused by the North Sea The formula has been developed further and refined over the years, and when a Barbour waxed jacket is properly looked after and cared for, it can last for many years, building up a patina that’s as unique as each wearer.