Collection: Barbour

Shop the full range of Barbour and Barbour International menswear at Patrick Bourke Menswear, stocked in Ennis and delivered free across Ireland on orders over €89. Wax jackets, quilted jackets, knitwear, shirts and polo shirts — in store on High Street and online.

Why Barbour lasts

Barbour has been making waterproof outerwear in South Shields since 1894, originally for dockers, fishermen and farmers rather than for fashion. That origin still shows in the product. A Barbour wax jacket is built to be repaired rather than replaced — studs, zips, cuffs and linings are all serviceable, and the jacket itself is designed to be re-waxed indefinitely.

The waxed cotton is the point. Unlike a coated synthetic, waxed cotton is windproof and rain-resistant while still breathing, and it improves with age. The creases that form at the elbows and shoulders are what makes a ten-year-old Barbour look better than a new one.

Barbour or Barbour International?

Two distinct lines, often confused.

Barbour is the country line — the Bedale, the Beaufort, the Ashby. Corduroy collars, tartan linings, a roomier cut, and the styles most people picture when they hear the name. Built for fields, dogs and the sideline.

Barbour International comes from the company's motorcycling heritage. Slimmer through the body, biker-styled with angled pockets and a stand collar, usually in black or dark olive rather than sage. It suits a more urban wardrobe and works better over a jumper than over a jacket.

If you are buying your first, and you are not sure which, the country line is the safer choice.

Sizing

Barbour wax jackets are cut with layering room already built in, so most men take their normal size rather than sizing up. The exception is if you intend to wear a heavy jumper underneath regularly — then try both.

Quilted jackets run closer to the body than the wax styles. Come in and try both on if you can; we carry the range across our four floors and there is a genuine difference in cut between the two.

Looking after a wax jacket

Never machine wash a waxed jacket and never dry clean it. Wipe it down with cold water and a sponge, and let it dry naturally away from direct heat.

Re-wax it when water stops beading on the surface — usually every one to two years with regular use, and first at the cuffs, shoulders and elbows where the wax wears thinnest. Warm the tin of wax, work it in with a cloth, and leave the jacket somewhere warm overnight.

Barbour quilted jackets and knitwear follow the care label as normal.

What else works with it

A Barbour jacket sits naturally over a lambswool or merino jumper from our knitwear collection, or over an overshirt in milder weather. A gilet underneath adds real warmth in winter without restricting the sleeves. Finish with boots from our shoes and boots range.

Browse the wider coats and jackets collection for alternatives, or call in to High Street, Ennis. Click and collect available on everything.