Year:
1894
Description:
In 1894, Scotsman John Barbour established himself in South Shields in the North East of England, supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and mariners from the worst of the British weather.
Year:
1908
Description:
1908 Malcolm Barbour, 2nd generation of the family who had secretly wanted to be a journalist, produced the first mail order catalogue. By 1917, the catalogue accounted for almost 75% of Barbour’s business including international orders from as far away as Chile, South Africa, Hong Kong and the Falkland Islands.
Year:
1936
Description:
Duncan Barbour, the 3rd generation of the family and himself a keen motorcyclist introduced a one piece International motorcycling suit named after the International Six Day Trials for which it was created. It quickly took off and Barbour International suits were worn by virtually every British international motorcycling team from 1936 to 1977 when Barbour pulled out of the motorcycle clothing market.
Year:
1939
Description:
Duncan Barbour was called away to war and Malcolm Barbour and Duncan’s wife Nancy took over the running of the business. In 1940, at the request of Captain George Philips who was the commander of the Ursula, one of the first U-class submarines, Barbour developed a two-piece version of the International suit. Warm, comfortable and weather resistant, the Ursula suit became standard issue in the submarine service. In 1947, the International jacket was adopted by civilians for motorcycling.
Year:
1964
Description:
Actor Steve McQueen and the US motorcycling team wore Barbour Internationals in the International Six Day Trials in East Germany.
Year:
1968
Description:
John Barbour died suddenly leaving behind his young widow Margaret and their 2 year old daughter, Helen. Margaret was immediately made a member of the Board of Directors and became Chairman in 1973.
Year:
1974
Description:
Barbour received its first Royal Warrant from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
Year:
1980
Description:
Margaret Barbour designed the Bedale, a lightweight thornproof short jacket designed for equestrian purposes.
Year:
1981
Description:
Barbour moved into a new factory in Simonside, South Shields where the company remains to the present day.
Year:
1982
Description:
Barbour receives its second Royal Warrant from HM The Queen.
Year:
1983
Description:
The Beaufort wax jacket designed by Margaret Barbour featured in the range for the first time. The jacket was originally designed for country pursuits. Today it is worn in both town and country and the distinctive full length rear width pocket is used for newspapers or small groceries.
Year:
1987
Description:
Barbour received its third Royal Warrant from HRH The Prince of Wales and held his Warrant until he became HM The King in 2023.
Year:
1988
Description:
Margaret Barbour set up The Barbour Trust (now The Barbour Foundation) to support charitable and good causes primarily in the North East of England.
Year:
1991
Description:
In June 1991, Margaret Barbour was honoured with the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to industry.
Year:
1998
Description:
Margaret and Helen Barbour in association with tartan specialists, Kinloch Anderson, introduced the first exclusive Barbour tartan, the Classic Tartan. Based on the Ayrshire District tartan sett (the region from where the Barbour family had originated in the 13th century), the Classic Tartan reflects the colours of the British countryside.
Year:
1994
Description:
J Barbour & Sons celebrated its centenary.
Year:
2001
Description:
Margaret Barbour was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honour’s List.
Year:
2011
Description:
Barbour celebrates the 75th anniversary of its iconic Barbour International jacket and launches its first Barbour Steve McQueen collection.
Year:
2017
Description:
Barbour launches the Barbour Way of Life brand campaign. This was quickly embraced by consumers on social media, sharing their own #BarbourWayOfLife and continues to be popular with our communities.
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Year:
2019
Description:
As part of its 125 year anniversary, Barbour launches a womenswear collaboration with the ALEXACHUNG brand.
Barbour introduces Barbour Re-Loved whereby customers can return their old jackets in exchange for a voucher for a new one. Saved from disposal, their old jacket is cleaned, re-waxed and repaired, ready to go to a new home.
In October, Barbour launched its new customisation service, My Barbour offering customers the chance to design their own Barbour.
On 21 November, Dame Margaret won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Drapers Awards.
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Year:
2020
Description:
In April and May, the Barbour factory made PPE for the local NHS Trusts to support the fight against COVID-19.
Barbour launched Wax for Life, an overarching name for all of Barbour’s wax services including re-waxing, repairs, Re-Loved and My Barbour.
Year:
2021
Description:
Barbour celebrated its Re-Waxing Centenary – 100 years of re-waxing and repairing jackets 1921 – 2021. It was in the 1921 catalogue that re-waxing and repairs featured for the first time.
On 9 November 2021 HM The King, when he was HRH The Prince of Wales visited Barbour to open the Wax for Life Workshop.
Year:
2022
Description:
In August, Barbour launched GANNI Re-Loved at Copenhagen Fashion Week with two of the jackets on the runway, a first for Barbour. This was followed by a mainline collection with GANNI in November.
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Year:
2023
Description:
In November Barbour collaborated with Gucci Continuum for the first time on a pre–Spring Summer 24 Re-Loved collection. Unique pieces made from Barbour Re-Loved jackets and Gucci deadstock were all made in South Shields.
In November Barbour partnered with the National Trust on the relaunch of their Plant a Tree Appeal to plant 20 million trees by 2030. Barbour donated £50,000 to be used as match funding to double the number of trees planted.
Year:
2024
Description:
2024 Barbour celebrates 30 years of the Liddesdale quilt. First introduced in 1994, this quilt remains a bestseller, renowned for its comfort, ease of wear and versatility.
In May, Barbour launched Quilt for Life, a repair service for quilts, extending our circularity initiative. All repairs are done in the factory in South Shields.
In May 24, Barbour was granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to HM The King as manufacturers of outerwear, clothing, footwear and accessories.
Barbour partnered with Oxfam at Glastonbury to rent/sell Re-Loved jackets with all proceeds going to Oxfam.
On 2 December, Dame Margaret was presented with a Special Recognition Award by the British Fashion Council at The Fashion Awards for her services to the fashion industry. The Award was presented by Alexa Chung at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Year:
2025
Description:
In January, Dame Margaret officially re-opened the Herd Groyne lighthouse (known internally as the Beacon) in South Shields. The Herd Groyne which has been an important part of the Barbour story since the beginning had been badly damaged during the storms. The Barbour Foundation donated £100k towards its repair.