Barbour International

General information

In 1936, John Barbour’s grandson, Duncan Barbour, a keen motorcyclist, introduced a one piece wax cotton suit called the Barbour International. Developed specifically for the 1936 International Six Day Trials (ISDT) event, and hence its name, the Barbour International became so popular that it was worn by almost every British team right up until 1977.

In 1964, the International was worn exclusively by the American ISDT team, which included actor and icon Steve McQueen.

Today, Barbour International celebrates this long and rich motorcycling heritage. The International jacket with its distinctive diagonal chest pocket originally designed to hold a map, remains in manufacture and has been picked up by classic bike aficionados and fashionistas alike.

Men’s and women’s collections are inspired by the biker look. Styles and designs have been replicated in different contemporary fabrics alongside the original wax cotton introducing a whole new generation to this iconic style.