subject: Use Barbour to keep the bad cold weather at bay [print this page] Use Barbour to keep the bad cold weather at bay
The weather in the North Sea is not always pleasant. The community of fishermen, dockers and sailors living around the area has sought relief from the weather in several ways ever since civilisation came to live around the port of South Shields. Barbour International came to the rescue of the vulnerable community in 1894 by supplying it with garments that included oilskins. The oilskin garments were water proof, so they were adopted by the layman to keep them dry, especially while riding a bike. Jackets and overalls soon took over the company in continuation with its trend for protection against cold weather. They were even adopted by the armed forces in 1914 when World War I broke out.
Barbour International continued on its march towards perfection by introducing a one-piece bike suit, the A1. With the passage of time, the A1 was incorporated into a set of a pair of trousers and a two-piece jacket. It was adopted by Britain as a uniform for the submariners in 1940. As time marched ahead to 1947, the one-piece bike suit was absorbed by the civilians as a standard dress to be worn while biking. As time pushed its way to 1951, the International found itself with a typical slanted breast pocket on the left. This gave the user an easy way to handle maps and charts when on the field. The year 1953 saw a successful collaboration of Barbour International and Vincent Owners Club, and the International Jacket found itself in the avtar of the official uniform of the Club. The jacket was typically black in colour.
The popularity reached its zenith when the jacket was endorsed by the American movie star, Steve McQueen. He dropped in into London specifically to buy the Barbour International in 1964 while on his way to East Germany for the 1964 International Six Day Trial, regarded as being the equivalent of Olympics for those passionate about Motorcycling. The growing craze for motorbikes gave way to a Barbour Bomber motorcycle suit. It was typically blue and bright red in colour. They were quite comfortable. But the story of evolution doesn't end here. It was in 1980 that the Barbour Jackets got the typical black and gold Barbour International badge. This gave a distinctive flavour to the jackets, and the jackets began being absorbed by the masses.
Nylon jackets of bright hues and colours of the variety found in the rainbow have replaced the combination by Barbour International had managed to retain till now. Barbour International celebrates its 75th anniversary even as bikers trek the rough British countryside on the dozens of bikes Britishers find themselves on.
Barbour International has shed its affinity for jackets now. All sorts of garments ranging from trousers to coats, and socks to knit-wears have come under the brand. The brand continues to rule over the heart of billions across the world as stores dedicated to the sale of these clothes continue to open up. They have a special section devoted to clothes for kids, and another for the ladies. This has been done keeping in mind the differences in the physical and mental outlook of men and women around the globe.
