The quintessentially British brand, beloved by everyone from the Royals to Alexa Chung, was revolutionised by Dame Margaret Barbour in the 1980s. Ahead of her being honoured by the British Fashion Council, at the 2024 , we reflect on some of Barbour’s most iconic looks. The Barbour brand began life in 1894.
Born in South Shields (and still based there), the company is best known for its outdoor waxed jackets. And while originally these were designed purely for function, it is Dame Margaret Barbour who reinvented their image, transforming them into a major fashion accessory. In the 1980s, she designed the three jackets that made Barbour a household name, the Bedale, the Beaufort and the Border.
Today, they remain in the range and continue to be bestsellers — worn by everyone from the late Elizabeth II to James Bond. Dame Margaret Barbour has held the title of company chairman at J. Barbour & Sons since 1972.
She was married to the late John Malcolm Barbour, who died in 1968 from a brain haemorrhage, aged just 29. This December, she will be honoured at the British Fashion Awards with a Special Recognition Award for her services to the fashion industry. In a statement from the British Fashion Council (BFC), Dame Margaret said: “Barbour means so much to me – I took over the company in the most difficult of circumstances and as we celebrate our 130th anniversary this year, I think my late husband John would be very proud of how far the company has come and what I have achi.
