Barbour Still Keeping it Real

Barbour celebrates 125 years of buisness. Waxed Cotton is the most protective natural fabric to protect from the elements.

Francois Gragnon's photo of Steve McQueen in the Barbour International Suit

With the rainy weather hitting the US this holiday season, I've enjoyed the leisure of sitting at home with warm drinks, books, fire, and reading articles online. One such article was from Esquire, and their mention of Barbour's 125th anniversary. Seemed fitting with the spitting rain out the window.

With some of the most recognizable fabrics in the the apparel world, Barbour has made a household name for themselves with their signature waxed cotton jackets - basically the original. At the time, it was the most advanced technology to protect people from the harsh elements of cold rain and wind in the United Kingdom. Today it's mainly known as a traditional and heritage type of clothing. But it's a technology that can still be suited for most of our weather needs today. And best of all, it doesn't carry the same environmental burden that many of the PFC DWR soaked synthetics hold.

How it all works

Cotton is inherently hydrophilic, meaning it wants to soak up water. The Barbour fabric is woven with such a tight density, it riffs off the hydrophilic nature, and when water soaks in, it actually expands, and makes for an even tighter weave, making it harder for rain to penetrate the fabric. In addition, the hydrophobic wax coating offers water protection. When the fabric is made, the cotton soaks up the wax, and holds to it. The wax may not be very wash durable, but who cares. No one even washes their outwear anyways. Take a wet, mild soapy sponge and spot clean when needed. Over time, the wax may abrade away and re-application is needed. But with a bar of wax rubbed on to the surface, the wax can be re-impregnated, and renewed.

Next time you're looking to buy a new waterproof jacket, make sure it's really something you need, and ask yourself if you might be able to get by with this tried and true old way.