Barbour

What Barbour does

Barbour is a fifth-generation family-owned British heritage outerwear brand founded in 1894 in South Shields, England, and operating today as J. Barbour and Sons Ltd with a wholly-owned continental subsidiary, Barbour Europe GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Düsseldorf. The company designs, manufactures, and sells waxed cotton outerwear as its signature product category, utilizing proprietary wax treatments (Sylkoil, 6oz, and 4oz weights) and a Thornproof Dressing formula. The product portfolio spans waxed jackets (including iconic Bedale, Beaufort, and Beadnell styles), quilted jackets, waterproof and showerproof outerwear, the Barbour International motorcycle-inspired sub-brand, footwear, accessories, dog products, and curated collections (Heritage+, Modern Heritage, Icons, Essentials, Countrywear). Beyond apparel, Barbour operates service programs including Wax For Life (repair and re-waxing) and the Re-loved circular trade-in program.

The business model is primarily direct-to-consumer, combining owned e-commerce across five regional domains (barbour.com/us, /gb, /de, /it, /row), company-owned retail stores with a store locator network, and third-party multi-brand retailers and department stores. Pricing is unit-based, with standard men's waxed jackets ranging from $398-$435 and collaboration jackets reaching $800 (e.g., FARM Rio). Free shipping thresholds vary by region (>$100 in the US, >€49 in Germany). Customer segments span country/outdoor enthusiasts, heritage and festival fashion consumers, men's and women's apparel buyers, pet owners (dog accessories), and a celebrity/influencer market reached through social media and earned media. Strategic collaborations with Arket, GANNI, FARM Rio, Paul Smith, Sorel, Levi's, Kaptain Sunshine, Baracuta, and Feng Chen Wang, alongside partnerships with Aardman (Wallace and Gromit), BFC Foundation, and Oxfam, generate brand visibility and extend reach into new demographics and geographies.

FY2025 (year to April 2025) reported turnover of £350.8M, up 9% year-on-year, with operating profit of £49.5M, up 25%, driven by international growth across Europe, the US, and Asia. The brand has donated over £32M cumulatively through its charitable foundation and maintains royal endorsements and a 131-year heritage positioning as core intangible value. The company does not disclose a public ticker, has no parent company, and remains under fifth-generation Barbour family ownership.

Name

Barbour

Legal name

J. Barbour and Sons Ltd

Website

https://barbour.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Barbour is a fifth-generation family-owned British heritage outerwear brand founded in 1894, specializing in waxed cotton jackets, weatherproof apparel, and footwear. It sells through DTC e-commerce, retail stores, and multi-brand retailers across the UK, US, Germany, Italy, and Asia, reporting £350.8M FY2025 revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Outerwear and Apparel

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316990), Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (31699)

SIC

Leather & Leather Products (3100), Women's, Misses', And Juniors Outerwear (2330), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Handbags & Leather Goods (CRAAAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small Leather Goods (Wallets, Cardholders, Keyholders) (CRAKAEAB), Leather Belts & Straps (CRAKAEAD), Small Leather Accessories Manufacturing (Belts/Straps/Watch Bands) (IMAOAFAG)

Keywords

• Waxed cotton jackets
• Heritage outerwear
• Countrywear clothing
• Quilted jackets
• Wax care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Apparel and Outerwear Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling waxed jackets, quilted jackets, waterproof jackets, casual jackets, clothing, footwear, accessories, and dog products through e-commerce and retail stores.
2. Repair and Re-wax Services: Barbour generates revenue from repair, re-waxing, and care services for their jackets, including the Re-loved program where trade-ins are refurbished and resold.
3. Collaborations and Limited Edition Products: Revenue from limited edition collaborative collections with partners including Arket, GANNI, FARM Rio, Paul Smith, Sorel, and others, often at premium price points.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Barbour designs, manufactures and sells heritage waxed cotton outerwear and complementary apparel, footwear and accessories for men, women, kids and dogs. Its signature waxed jackets (Bedale, Beaufort, Ashby, Beadnell, Spey) sit alongside quilted, waterproof and showerproof jackets, the Barbour International motorcycle-inspired sub-brand, footwear, accessories, dog products, and curated collaborations with fashion brands such as FARM Rio, Paul Smith, GANNI, Arket, Sorel, Kaptain Sunshine, Baracuta and Feng Chen Wang. The Wax For Life re-waxing/repair service and Re-loved trade-in program extend product lifecycle and reinforce brand loyalty.

Product overview

Barbour is a fifth-generation family-owned British heritage outerwear brand founded in 1894, based in South Shields. The company offers a diversified portfolio centered on waxed cotton jackets (its signature product, including iconic styles like the Bedale, Beaufort, Ashby, and Beadnell), complemented by quilted jackets, waterproof and showerproof outerwear, Barbour International motorcycle-inspired sub-brand, and collaborations with fashion brands (FARM Rio, Paul Smith, GANNI, Arket, Sorel, Kaptain Sunshine, Baracuta, Feng Chen Wang). Beyond outerwear, the portfolio extends to clothing (shirts, knitwear, dresses, trousers), accessories (bags, hats, gloves), footwear, dog accessories, and sustainability services including the Re-loved upcycling program and Wax For Life re-waxing/repair services. The brand operates internationally across the UK, US, Germany, and Italy, with separate regional websites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Waxed Jackets Barbour's signature waxed cotton jackets including iconic styles such as the Bedale ($415), Beaufort ($435), Ashby ($398), Beadnell, Spey and Beacon Sports ($745), available in Sylkoil traditional, 6oz classic and 4oz lightweight variants and in men's, women's and boys' ranges. Designed to be weatherproof and durable for British weather with classic heritage styling.
• Quilted Jackets Lightweight quilted jackets offering warmth and comfort for transitional weather, available in men's and women's ranges.
• Waterproof Jackets Fully waterproof jackets designed to keep wearers dry during heavy rain, featuring technical waterproof fabrics for men's and women's ranges.
• Showerproof Jackets Water-resistant jackets providing protection against light rain and showers, suitable for everyday wear.
• Barbour International Sub-brand featuring motorcycle-inspired outerwear and apparel, including the Steve McQueen collection and the International Original Waxed Jacket, targeting riders and lifestyle consumers seeking functional motorcycle heritage style.
• Accessories Range of accessories including bags, luggage, purses, hats, gloves, scarves, wraps, belts, socks, sunglasses and umbrellas for men, women, kids and dogs, plus wax care kits.
• Footwear Shoes, boots, sandals and rain boots/wellingtons for men and women, including boat shoes and outdoor styles.
• Dog Accessories A range of dog coats, collars, harnesses, leads, beds, blankets and toys that allows pet owners to dress their dogs in Barbour style.
• Barbour FARM Rio Collection Women's collaboration with Brazilian brand FARM Rio featuring colorful nature-inspired waxed jackets and apparel with tropical prints, including the Maria-Clara Waxed Jacket ($800) and Luana waxed jackets.
• Paul Smith Loves Barbour Signature collaboration with British designer Paul Smith, combining Barbour's heritage outerwear with Paul Smith's distinctive colorful aesthetic and design sensibility, sold across men's and women's collections.
• Barbour x GANNI Women's wear collaboration with Danish brand GANNI blending Barbour's outdoor heritage with GANNI's contemporary Scandinavian style.
• Barbour x Arket 17-piece limited capsule collection for autumn/winter 2025 blending Barbour's British weatherproof heritage with Arket's modern Nordic minimalism, including wax jackets, accessories, footwear and homeware pieces designed between Stockholm and South Shields.
• Barbour x Sorel Outdoor footwear and apparel collection launched November 2025, featuring three footwear styles with Gore-Tex waterproof fabric and Vibram outsoles, plus a reimagined waxed cotton jacket combining Barbour's British weatherproof heritage with Sorel's outdoor footwear expertise.
• Barbour x Kaptain Sunshine Men's collaboration with Japanese brand Kaptain Sunshine bringing together outdoor functionality with Japanese design sensibility.
• Barbour x Baracuta Men's collaboration with British heritage brand Baracuta, combining two iconic British outerwear manufacturers.
• Barbour x Feng Chen Wang Collaboration with Chinese designer Feng Chen Wang, blending her architectural design aesthetic with Barbour's heritage outerwear.
• Re-loved Program Sustainability initiative allowing customers to recycle their old Barbour wax jackets at participating stores; jackets are professionally laundered, repaired and rejuvenated by Barbour's expert repairs team and then resold, with customers receiving an $80 voucher toward a new jacket.
• Wax For Life Barbour's jacket care and maintenance program offering professional re-waxing and repair services through Barbour's facilities, together with home re-waxing products such as Thornproof Dressing ($25) and Lightweight Wax Stick.

Quantifiable outcome

• Turnover rose 9% to £350.8 million for FY ending April 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AardmanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 November 2025Barbour partnered with Aardman to produce a Wallace and Gromit Christmas advertisement, creating brand visibility through beloved animated characters.
• SorelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2025Sorel and Barbour collaborated on a new outdoor footwear and apparel collection featuring three footwear styles with Gore-Tex waterproof fabric and Vibram outsoles, plus a reimagined waxed cotton jacket. The collection was launched in November 2025, combining Barbour's British weatherproof heritage with Sorel's outdoor footwear expertise.
• ArketcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025Arket and Barbour launched a 17-piece limited capsule collection for autumn/winter 2025, blending Barbour's British weatherproof heritage with Arket's modern Nordic minimalism, inspired by Gotland island in Sweden. The collaboration was designed between Stockholm and South Shields and features wax jackets, accessories, footwear, and homeware pieces. Available worldwide from October 16, 2025.
• BFC FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Barbour announced a new education partnership with the BFC Foundation, committing financial support and mentorship to students along with a design competition through the BFC Colleges Council. This represents deepening links with the British Fashion Council.
• Levi'scoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Levi's collaborated with Barbour as part of the 'GP100 list of best style releases of 2025', with the Barbour x Levi's collaboration being highlighted as a notable release among brands like Converse, Carhartt, and Patagonia.
• Paul SmithcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025'Paul Smith Loves Barbour' collaboration, featuring reinterpreted Barbour classics with Paul Smith's signature design touches. Available on Barbour's website under collaborations section.
• GANNIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Barbour x GANNI women's collaboration, available through Barbour's women's collaborations section. Combines Barbour's heritage outerwear with GANNI's contemporary Scandinavian aesthetic.
• FARM RiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Barbour FARM Rio collaboration featuring Brazilian-inspired prints on waxed jackets. The Barbour FARM Rio Maria-Clara Waxed Jacket is priced at $800, featuring Fern/Green Heart and Pineapple/Green Heart prints.
• OxfamminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 November 2024Barbour created 30 limited edition Shaun the Sheep-inspired wax jackets to support Oxfam charity, sold through Oxfam stores and Barbour's website with some hidden across UK locations. Proceeds benefited the charity.
• Mijoda DajomiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2024Designer Mijoda Dajomi used Barbour's waxed cotton fabric for her 'Daughters of Rain' graduate collection of rain-harvesting hats. Barbour sponsored the beeswax-coated fabric to maximize water repellency for the climate awareness project.
• Kaptain SunshinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarbour x Kaptain Sunshine collaboration, listed as one of Barbour's active men's collaborations. Japanese brand Kaptain Sunshine brings its outdoor lifestyle aesthetic to the partnership.
• BaracutacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarbour x Baracuta collaboration, featured as one of Barbour's men's collaborations. Baracuta is an Italian outerwear brand known for the Harrington jacket.
• Feng Chen WangcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarbour x Feng Chen Wang collaboration, listed in the Barbour collaborations section. Feng Chen Wang is a Chinese-British designer known for futuristic, gender-fluid fashion.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Canada Goose: Canada Goose is a premium outerwear brand built on technical down parkas for extreme weather, comparable to Barbour as a category-defining heritage outerwear company with global DTC, strong pricing power, and a sustainability-led product lifecycle program. Both brands occupy the premium outerwear segment with high consumer recognition.
• Mackintosh: Mackintosh is a heritage British outerwear brand founded in 1824, hand-producing rubberized raincoats in Scotland. Like Barbour, it is a multi-generational, family-influenced heritage outerwear maker selling premium weatherproof coats to a global customer through DTC and select stockists.
• Filson: Filson is an American heritage outdoor brand founded in 1897, known for rugged, weatherproof outerwear and lifetime-guaranteed products. Comparable to Barbour in positioning, target customer (country/outdoor enthusiasts), and emphasis on durability, repair, and lifetime use of products.
• Baracuta: Baracuta is an Italian-British heritage outerwear maker famous for the G9 Harrington jacket, founded in 1937. Barbour and Baracuta even have an active collaboration, underscoring direct comparability in heritage British casual outerwear, target demographic, and lifestyle positioning.
• Hunter Boot: Hunter is a 168-year-old British heritage brand famous for its iconic Wellington boots, sharing Barbour's positioning as a quintessentially British country/outdoor lifestyle brand with royal warrants, DTC and department store distribution, and an accessories-led expansion (bags, socks, outerwear) beyond its core product.
• Orvis: Orvis is a 168-year-old American heritage country/outdoor brand selling fly-fishing, shooting, and equestrian apparel and accessories, with a strong DTC catalog and store footprint. Directly comparable to Barbour's Countrywear collection in target customer (country pursuits), product breadth, and heritage positioning.
• Belstaff: Belstaff is a British heritage outerwear brand founded in 1924, best known for its waxed cotton Trialmaster jacket — directly comparable to Barbour's Bedale/Beaufort. Both serve the country/outdoor and heritage fashion customer, and both have leaned on celebrity associations (Steve McQueen for Belstaff, contemporary figures for Barbour) and international expansion.

Emerging players

• Holland & Holland: Holland & Holland is a luxury British gunmaker and country lifestyle brand under Chanel ownership, with apparel and accessories lines that overlap Barbour's countrywear aesthetic at the higher end of the price spectrum. Comparable in targeting affluent country/outdoor lifestyle consumers.

Broad incumbents

• Patagonia: Patagonia is a heritage outdoor apparel brand comparable to Barbour in its emphasis on product durability, repair services (Worn Wear program parallels Wax For Life), and sustainability-led brand positioning. Both appeal to outdoor enthusiasts willing to pay premium prices for long-lasting, repairable garments.
• Burberry: Burberry is the closest large-scale analogue — a quintessentially British heritage luxury brand with a 169-year history, royal warrants, and a globally recognized outerwear signature (the trench coat). Both brands sell premium British heritage fashion to overlapping international luxury customers, though Burberry operates at meaningfully larger scale and broader category scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@barbour
• Facebookfacebook.com/OfficialBarbour
• Instagraminstagram.com/barbour
• Pinterestpinterest.co.uk/officialbarbour
• Xx.com/Barbour

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Barbour