While 'heritage' and 'authentic' are hackneyed terms dropped so frequently that they have almost lost their meaning, there are a few brands that can truly stand by them without prompting an eye-roll response. One of these brands is Barbour.
With an untouchable legacy and portfolio of iconic styles, Barbour has achieved what many brands can only dream of. But, facing a changing market, maintaining momentum and evolving the brand beyond its iconic styles is a delicate balancing act. This has not deterred the brand, and for Fall/Winter 2018 Barbour is contemporizing its heritage with a new sub-brand titled Barbour Beacon.
With Barbour Beacon, the brand has managed to hit the sweet spot by distinctly respecting the classic aesthetic of its progenitor while bringing newness through subtle silhouette adjustments and the addition of graphic tees and accessories. Staying true to the brand’s area of expertise, the new collection is centered around outerwear and draws on iconic styles such as the quilted jacket.
Its name too, pays tribute to its roots. Barbour was founded by J. Barbour & Sons Ltd. in 1894 in South Shields, a small town located in the North East of England and situated on the River Tyne. Where the river meets the ocean stands the Beacon lighthouse, which has been an identifying trademark for the brand since 1908. For this new sub-brand, the symbolic Beacon once again serves as the inspiration for the logo and eponym for the new line.
The hero pieces include the Egremont Fleece, an unlined fleece with contrasting branding, as well as a quilted vest that boasts a corduroy collar reminiscent of those on Barbour’s staple Beaufort waxed jacket. Alongside clothing, Barbour Beacon brings a range of accessories including a backpack, beanies, and even dad caps.
Following the outdoor theme, the color palette offers olive and navy with pops of royal blue and orange. The Barbour Beacon lighthouse logo appears throughout—embroidered on jackets, stitched on as patches, and printed on tees — nodding, again, to the brand’s roots.
Barbour Beacon will be available to cop via Barbour Beacon's online store and at Topman, who will be launching the collection at its Oxford Street store with a personal shopping experience on August 29 from 7-9 p.m. GMT. There'll be ice cold beer to sip on and complimentary merch up for grabs, too. Sign up to attend, here.
