Barbour's wax jacket started on the docks

A wardrobe staple that started on the docks. John Barbour set up in South Shields in 1894, selling oilskins to keep North Sea sailors dry. The waxed cotton jacket grew straight out of that brief: beat the weather. A century later it is country gentry and street style at once. Form, after function.

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The post, as it ran

01A WARDROBE STAPLE THAT STARTED ON THE DOCKS.

02JOHN BARBOUR SET UP IN SOUTH SHIELDS IN 1894, SELLING OILSKINS TO KEEP SAILORS DRY.

03THE WAXED COTTON JACKET GREW FROM ONE BRIEF: BEAT THE WEATHER.

04NOW IT IS COUNTRY GENTRY AND STREET STYLE AT ONCE.

05FORM, AFTER FUNCTION.

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