British brands Brompton and Barbour have collaborated on a small outerwear urban cycling collection for men and women, as well as a limited edition of the iconic folding bicycle.
The collection features waxed cotton and waterproof breathable jackets for men and women in a range of colours. The men’s Merton jacket in navy and sage and the women’s Bromley jacket both feature Barbour’s new Dry Wax, a hard wearing waxed cotton in a pure hydrocarbon which “feels crunchy to the touch and is extremely water repellent, whatever the weather”. For protection against wind and showers, the line includes the waterproof breathable men’s Newham jacket and women’s Brent jacket in a choice of colours, which the brands say are ideal to wear on warmer days or to add over layers.
Each jacket can be folded into a Barbour x Brompton bag in navy or sage which can be worn over the shoulder and, for those requiring extra storage, the Barbour x Brompton Tarras bag has been created to fit neatly over the bike. Prices for outerwear collection start at £34.95 for the Brompton x Barbour bag moving up to £139 for the Newham jacket.
The Tarras bag is included with the Brompton Barbour bike which is available as an M6L model, with a brown Brooks B17 saddle with the main frame and extremities finished in Gloss Barbour Green. The Special Edition bike, including Barbour Tarras Bag, is priced at £1,350.
“Barbour and Brompton are two brands renowned for their innovation – Barbour with their iconic jackets and Brompton with their personal transport solutions. This collaboration is all about practicality and fitness for purpose and fits the ethos of both brands. The jackets are designed to be worn on and off the bike and will appeal to urban bike riders who love the Barbour style combined with technical features, all engineered for performance,” said Barbour director of menswear and accessories Ian Bergin.
Brompton chief design and engineering officer Will Carleysmith added: “At Brompton we are all about meticulous attention to detail, both when designing our bikes and when manufacturing them in London. Spending time with Barbour at South Shields it was immediately clear our two companies share the same attitude. It’s been great to work with a UK brand that combines deep manufacturing craft with clever design and such an iconic look. The new range combines the best of Brompton and Barbour and the pieces will provide years of dependable service with an inimitable British style.”
Brompton was founded in 1975 by inventor Andrew Ritchie. The bikes are made in West London and it is on course to make 44,000 models this year. Around 80% of its bikes are exported to 44 countries worldwide. A Brompton Bike Hire scheme is in place across the UK and bikes can be hired for £3.50 a day.
It’s A Barbour Dog’s Life: new loyalty scheme for dogs
Barbour is one of Britain’s best known heritage brands and was originally conceived to protect fishermen, sailors and mariners from the worst of the British weather. Its collections, which are made in South Shields, now span from practical country clothing to more urban fashion for men, women and children.
Last month the brand launched a loyalty scheme especially for dogs. Called It’s a Barbour Dog’s Life, customers are invited to provide information on their dogs to receive exclusive dog content, free gifts, birthday messages and invitations to dog friendly events. The launch followed the success of the @barbourdogs account on Instagram.
