Case Study - Barbour
The Barbour Jacket is the do it all, take it anywhere, work horse that stands the test of time when it comes to durability. It's also a sharp piece to add to your wardrobe. The company was founded in 1894 by John Barbour in South Shields, a small coastal town in England. Originally made to keep fishermen and sailors dry and warm. The iconic Barbour jacket, worn by many, including the royal family, is one of the most popular and recognizable jackets of all time. Like a fine-crafted leather wallet, this cotton waxed jacket gets better the more it's worn and used as intended. It is perfectly crafted for the life I live and the things I like to do. It comes equipped with two large shell pockets positioned in the lower portion of the jacket. They can hold either a whole box of 12 gauge, a restaurant sized Pellegrino bottle, or a wine bottle, depending on what you're into. Above are two pockets at the ribcage lined in a soft fabric that is in the perfect, most comfortable spot for resting your hands on a cold winter day. On the back panel of the jacket, running from the bottom to about halfway up is a bird pocket to carry around your harvest while in the field. This has come in handy many times outside of the field and, in my opinion, is one of the most functional pockets on the jacket. Stuff a sweater back there or whatever else you may need that day. A thick gold zipper harnesses you in, and the classic heavy-duty Barbour pull, which can be used as a bottle opener in a pinch. The jacket liner is a tartan patterned, which, like a family crest, is designated to a family and represents their heritage.
One memory I have with my Barbour jacket is on one cold winter day after school; I was in my driveway playing basketball, soon I got too hot for the jacket removing it and laying it on the grass beside the hoop. After sometime my mother called for dinner, running inside with ball in hand we sat and had a nice family meal. We go about our night and head to bed. As I ran into the kitchen the next morning, we were greeted by a foot of snow, which I was very excited about. Being an avid snowboarder and child whose punishment was to be inside, I was elated. Racing to the mudroom to retrieve my Barbour, it was not there. I soon realized where I left it. On the ground all night long. I thought I had destroyed my favorite jacket and was going to be without one for a while. I rushed outside to see the damage that had occurred. Digging it out of the snow, it came up frozen and in one piece. You could take it to the batter's box and probably get a hit with it; that's how frozen it was. Besides it being a sheet of ice it looked to be intact and fine. Bringing it inside and letting it thaw for a few hours, I kid you not, it was good as new like nothing ever happened. This is my testimony to the strength and rigidity of these jackets and why I will forever choose Barbour over any other brand because it's got my back.
