“The collection started almost two years ago, and there’s no end in sight,” says Janis Tomesch, a 20-year-old Barbour aficionado, who’s already amassed an impressive 45 jackets from this brand. Clearly, a wardrobe is not something he just wears—it’s a territory to conquer.
Having just emerged from a three-year apprenticeship, Tomesch is now cementing his role as a jacket magnate, claiming that his fascination with Barbour stems from its “closeness to nature.” Because, of course, what’s more natural than spending your youth and money on high-quality jackets designed for rural living while you’re busy hustling in a city? Once, he owned a Bedale jacket, but that was before it became a full-blown obsession. That’s what happens when you’re introduced to a stellar collaboration; one minute you’re in casual wear, the next you’re deep in the rabbit hole of collectible luxury.
Together with a dash of flair, Tomesch shares snippets of his collection on Instagram via @JNSArchivePortfolio, appealing to fellow wax-jacket enthusiasts who’ve also formed cozy online communities on Reddit and Facebook. These digital yards are hybrid marketplaces where everything from authentication queries to collection showcases thrive. Think the Disneyland of overpriced outerwear. “Without these communities, my inner Barbour monster would probably be confined to solitude,” he notes. No envy, no competition—just jacket love abounds.
One of the moderators, Sara Jeffrey, is the oracle of Barbour wisdom. Having spent years in her family’s hunting and fishing shop, she not only certifies authenticity but wines and dines countless inquiries. Much of her correspondence consists of over-enthusiastic emails, filled with specifics about body types and styling intents, as if she’s preparing to dress them for a posh English country wedding. “They come to me with epistles of need,” she says, shaking her head in disbelief.
Jeffrey has observed a upswing in new enthusiasts, especially during lockdown—because nothing screams “I need a wax jacket” like being confined indoors for months. “Newcomers seem riveted by the history and ethos behind Barbour,” she explains. “Suddenly it’s about more than just looking smart; it’s about carrying the weight of a hundred years of heritage as you walk into your local coffee shop.” Talk about responsibility!
Simon Carter, a photographer turned Barbour collector, revels in the fabric’s transformative qualities. “A decade ago, if you had told me I’d be such a Barbour person, I would have laughed in your face—and then probably bought a jacket anyway.” After a prolonged game of online hide-and-seek with authentic pieces, he realized that wearing a Barbour was like putting on an invisible badge of honor during his shooting escapades. “It’s like armor when you’re working in creative spaces—you never know who’s going to drop by,” he nerded out.
And while Barbour jackets strut their stuff in the countryside wearing mud like a badge of honor, they have also found favor among the aristocracy. The Duke of Edinburgh awarded the brand its first royal warrant in 1974, and later, the Queen hopped on the Barbour train in the ’80s, making it the epitome of regal functionality. There’s nothing more comforting than knowing your jacket has royal bloodlines, especially when you wear it to ferry the dog to a local pub.
So here it is: the buzzword of the year: “quiet luxury.” In this era of ostentation, Barbour maintains its understated elegance, perfectly suited for everything from a muddy hike to a royal gathering. What started as a brand for seafaring folks protecting themselves against the elements in 1894 has remarkably transformed into a statement piece, and as modern collaborations with streetwear brands like Supreme flood the market, you can rest assured their timeless nature continues to appeal to generations far and wide.
