J. Barbour & Sons - History 1894-2011

1894                    The founder John Barbour opens J Barbour & Sons in 5 Market Place, South Shields.

1908                    Malcolm Barbour, John Barbour’s son, produces the first mail order catalogue.

1912                    J Barbour & Sons becomes J Barbour & Sons Ltd with John Barbour as Chairman and his sons Jack and Malcolm as joint Managing Directors.

1917                    By 1917 the catalogue accounts for almost 75% of Barbour’s business including international orders from as far away as Chile, South Africa and Hong Kong.

1918                    John Barbour dies on 7 July 1918 and is succeeded by Jack Barbour.

1927                    Malcolm Barbour is appointed Chairman, due to Jack Barbour's resignation.

1928                    Duncan Barbour, Malcolm’s only son joins the business.

1934                    Duncan Barbour, a keen motorcyclist, introduces a motorcycling range that quickly takes off.

1936                    Virtually every British International team wears Barbour suits from 1936 to the year that Barbour pulls out of the motorcycle clothing market in 1977.

1939                    Duncan Barbour is called to war, so Malcolm Barbour and Duncan’s wife Nancy take over the running of the business.

                           They develop the Ursula suit, which becomes standard issue for members of the Submarine Service.

                           The Ursula suit was named after the U-class submarine, Ursula whose commander Captain George Philips was instrumental in having the suits produced.

1957                    97% of all competitors who take part in the Scottish 6 Day Event ride in Barbour International Oiled Cotton suits.

                           Barbour moves to the Simonside Trading Estate on the outskirts of South Shields and builds a manufacturing plant. After 63 years of being a retailer, Barbour became manufacturers and marketers.

                           Duncan Barbour dies age 48 and Malcolm Barbour again takes charge of the business with Nancy and her son John Barbour, age 19.

 

1964                    Malcolm Barbour dies age 83 and Nancy Barbour takes the role of Chairman with John as Managing Director.

1968                    John Barbour dies suddenly leaving behind his young widow Margaret and their two-year-old daughter Helen.

                           Margaret Barbour is made a member of the Board of Directors.

1972                    Margaret Barbour is appointed Chairman.

1974                    Barbour receives the first Royal warrant from the Duke of Edinburgh.

1977                    Barbour pulls out of the motorcycle clothing market.

1980                    The first lightweight thornproof short riding jacket – the Bedale – is designed.

                           The distinctive black and gold Barbour International badge is first seen on the famous motorcycling jacket of the same name.

1981                    Barbour moves into a new factory in Simonside.

                           The company remains at Simonside to the present day.

1983                    Barbour receives the second Royal Warrant by Her Majesty the Queen.

1983                    The Beaufort jacket designed by Margaret Barbour is featured in the catalogue for the first time.

1987                    Barbour receives the third Royal Warrant by HRH the Prince of Wales and opens an office in New Hampshire, Barbour Inc, in March.

1988                    The subsidiary Barbour (Europe) Ltd. is founded in Germany. Today, the company is located in Düsseldorf.

                           The Barbour Trust is set up to support local and national projects and community issues. Margaret Barbour donates 20% of her shares in the company to The Barbour Trust.

1989                    Barbour opens an office in Paris, Barbour France in October.

1991                    In June, Margaret Barbour is honoured with the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to industry.

1992                    Barbour wins a Queens Award for Export Achievement.

1994                    J Barbour & Sons Ltd celebrates its centenary.

Barbour wins its second Queens Award for Export Achievement.

1995                    Margaret Barbour is made President of the Royal Warrant Holders Association.

Barbour wins its third Queens Award for Export Achievement.

1997                    Helen Barbour is made Vice Chairman.

2001                    Margaret Barbour is appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours List.

2005                    Barbour wins the Best Shooting Clothing Product at the IPC Shooting Awards for the Northumberland range designed by Lord James Percy.

2007                    Barbour is the jacket of choice at the Glastonbury Festival with acts and celebrities such as the Arctic Monkeys, Lily Allen, Peaches Geldof and Rufus Wainwright all wearing the brand.

2008                    Barbour wins Best Shooting Clothing Product at the IPC Shooting Industry Awards for the Linhope Endurance 3 in 1 jacket designed by Lord James Percy.

Barbour is awarded a special commendation at the Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 Awards.

2009                    Barbour wins Best Brand of the Year Award at the Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 Awards in London in June.

Barbour undertakes a collaboration with Japanese designer, Tokihito Yoshida.

Tokihito produced a collection of eight jackets for AW09.

The collaboration was so popular that it was continued for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Barbour Europe opens its first flagship store in Berlin.

Barbour UK opens their first heritage store in Fouberts Place, Carnaby Street, London in September.

2010                    In April Barbour opens its first own brand store in France in Deauville and a new store in Cologne, Germany.

                           In September Barbour opens a store in Georgetown, Washington, USA.

                           November saw a new Barbour store in Soho, New York.

                           A further heritage store opened in Spitalfields, East London.

                           Barbour wins Best Shooting Clothing Product at the IPC Shooting Awards in May for the ladies Belford jacket.

                           Barbour collaborates with Anya Hindmarch.

                           Anya produced four styles of ladies jackets for AW10. This is the brand’s first ladies collaboration.

2011                    Barbour celebrates the 75th anniversary of its iconic International motorcycle clothing.

                           Barbour opens its first pop up store in Haarlem, outside Amsterdam in the Netherlands in March.

                           Barbour opens its first flagship store in the UK in Long Acre Covent Garden in June.

                           Dame Margaret appears in Vogue in July in a feature entitled Wonder Women, recognising her business achievements.

                           Barbour launches Barbour Gold Label, a luxury limited edition womenswear collection in conjunction with British designer Alice Temperley for AW11.

                           Helen Barbour, Vice Chairman and Head of Sporting, in conjunction with Lord James Percy produces her first new sporting range for AW11, Barbour Sporting.

                           Barbour launches its first Barbour Steve McQueen Collection to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the International jacket for Autumn Winter 11.

                           Steve McQueen was one of the most famous wearers of the Barbour jacket and wore a Barbour International when he took part in the East German International Six Day Trials in 1964.

                           Barbour collaborates with British footwear company Grenson for AW11 with a limited edition available in stores from September.

                           In November, Barbour collaborates with Rockport in the US and UK to produce three different styles of boots aimed at the lifestyle market.