Barbour International is the self-proclaimed original “Biker Brand” and also one of the newest collections to join the Mainline Menswear range.
Part of the Barbour label- an authentic, British brand, with a rich heritage of over 100 years producing clothing in the North East town of South Shields- International was formed on the back of the success of one of their most famous designs, the International jacket, which became a popular choice of protective wear for motorcyclists and in turn a fashionable item for casual wear.
J Barbour and Sons Ltd set up in South Shields producing weather-proof outerwear in 1894. They became recognised for their high quality country workwear and eventually this signalled a transformation into the luxury clothing brand it is today. Even though they now operate as a brand with international reach, approximately 100,000 jackets are still made each year at their Simonside factory in the North of England, which is another reason why people value their heritage so much.
Barbour International has a substantial collection available at Mainline Menswear, learn about some of the special collaboration capsules currently on offer here:
Steve McQueen
In 1964 Steve McQueen raised the profile of Barbour when he chose to wear their jacket to race for the American Trials team in a gruelling endurance race. McQueen is widely regarded as one of the most popular male style icons of all time and he still gets labelled “The King of Cool” years after his passing. His image rights are still worth millions of dollars to this day and Barbour are able to capitalise on that with the simple, masculine image he had.
The collection features a vast selection of printed Steve McQueen motif t-shirts in bright colours for the summer season as well as key items such as the Vin wax jacket which is inspired by the jacket McQueen wore personally with features like the convenient pocket to reach into with the right hand whilst riding, as well as the mid-riff belt to stop the jacket being blown about by the wind, and finally the large looped pull ring which would allow the wearer to adjust the jacket without removing their gloves. Just like the Steve Dot shirt, any products in this special capsule collection are made from the very finest materials and are designed to reflect the slick style of the man himself, a style which has stood the test of time for 50 years now.
Dues ex Machina
Dues ex Machina are a premium motorcycle brand from Australia who are teaming up with Barbour for a second consecutive year to create a highly original collection of men’s wax, casual and quilted jackets, plus bold shirts, jumpers and tees inspired by a captivating ‘wheels and waves’ theme. Lightweight and summer-ready, the Washed Geelong Casual is a moto-inspired men’s jacket with a fashionable fade finish and a host of authentic details. The Austailian label’s influence is clear to see with the brighly coloured hues in this collection and all in all it offers a dynamic new twist on the classic Barbour International look. Throw over surf-inspired shirts and tees such as the Palm shirt which is constructed with lightweight cotton fabric for day-long comfort, whilst the dynamic print design offers an effortlessly cool summer look of the highest quality.
Tourer Lux
A sophisticated take on Barbour’s motorcycling heritage, the Lux Tourer collection features men’s biker-inspired styling, smart leather detailing and understated branding on a number of convenient casual items such as t-shirts, hats and bags. An array of authentic shirts, knitwear and casual tops make the line-up, with Union Jack detailing and patriotic prints that celebrate Barbour International’s British roots.
