Recognising Genuine Barbour: An Authentication Guide
An English institution since 1894, Barbour sees its waxed jackets copied and its vintage pieces sometimes misattributed. Here is how to check a Barbour jacket, overshirt or quilted piece before you buy.
At NB08, every piece is checked and authenticated in our boutique before it goes on sale. Here are the reliable markers.
Why check the authenticity of a Barbour piece?
The vintage revival and the success of its collaborations have boosted the brand's market value — and the copies, especially of the emblematic waxed models (Bedale, Beaufort).
The tartan lining and the wax
The Barbour tartan lining (the characteristic Scottish check) is crisply woven, with aligned checks. On the waxed models, the waxed cotton has a dense, slightly greasy hand feel that marks at the folds — very different from the plastic coatings of the copies.
Labels and markings
An embroidered/woven Barbour inside label with the model explicitly named (Bedale, Ashby…), care labels specific to waxed cotton and, depending on the era, the Royal Warrants. The label must match the age and model of the piece — a point where fake 'vintage' pieces give themselves away.
Zips, press studs and finishing
Sturdy two-way zips on the jackets (often engraved), firm, branded press studs, precisely set pockets, a dense corduroy collar. The light, unbranded hardware of the copies fools no one once in hand.
Price and seller: the warning signs
Be wary of 'new' waxed jackets sold off cheap and of labels that are never shown. The model must be precisely identifiable.
Checklist: authenticating a Barbour piece in 7 points
- Crisply woven, aligned tartan
- Dense wax with a characteristic hand feel
- Label with the model name
- Markings consistent with the era
- Branded, sturdy zips and press studs
- Dense corduroy collar, neat pockets
- Realistic price and reliable seller
Buy an authenticated jacket at NB08
Every piece we offer is checked and authenticated in our boutique before it goes on sale.
