Originally Posted by
skmark
Interesting thread this.......funnily enough I grew up in South Shields, in fact Simonside about half a mile from the Barbour factory. As such the brand were very prominent locally, though I never personally had one, expensive for a 'coat' and not quite my thing as a young Mod in the 80's.
However, now at 52 I have just purchased my first ever Barbour! Living in St Albans for the last 20 years it's always amazed me the prominence of our 'little local firm' and even amused me no end to go into the Covent Garden Barbour Shop to find it bedecked with no end of photo's from my home town.
So I've just purchased a Duke.....originally Large (ordered on-line!) then changed for a Medium which arrived yesterday. I couldn't be more pleased. I went for black but to be honest would have bought all 4 colours if I had money to burn. Being a biker and massive Steve McQueen fan too I would have gone for the International, but fancied a quilted lining and don't really like the belted look.
It is a shame that they don't make a 'proper' bike version with removable armour etc. but I suppose they know their market. This is a fashion item after all, as a keen 'outdoors' person too I much prefer modern materials for mountain type stuff......but for a walk in the rain, I now have a new go-to which I'm sure will serve me well for many years.