Unpacking our new collection with the iconic British heritage brand

In South Shields back in 1894, travelling draper John Barbour set up shop providing protective outerwear to fishermen and sailors battling the very worst of the British weather. Fast-forward 127 years and his eponymous store has become a national institution, beloved by everyone from Her Majesty The Queen to Kate Moss.

At House of Hackney, we’re also rather fond of Barbour – and it turns out that, despite the age gap, our two brands have a lot in common. We’re both family-owned (Barbour is now run by the 5th generation) as well as proud champions of homegrown craftsmanship, with Barbour still manufacturing all its designs by hand in South Shields. And just as the triple Royal Warrant holder is synonymous with the English countryside, everything we do at House of Hackney is inspired by the natural world.

So, joining forces together on a new collection of shirts, dresses and (of course) outerwear has proven to be the perfect fit. Whether it’s a classic wax jacket lined in our iconic ARTEMIS print or a waterproof cape detailed with the SATURNALIA patchwork of our most-loved florals, each design is infused with wit, grit and glamour – balancing Barbour’s heritage of beautifully functional clothing with House of Hackney’s contemporary, painterly sense of style. The result is a line-up of true investment pieces, all rooted in the here and now yet made to be cherished for years to come.

To mark the launch of Barbour x House of Hackney, we spoke to our co-founder Frieda Gormley about her must-have pieces and how she’ll be wearing them in their natural habitat: the great outdoors…

How did you decide which House of Hackney prints were right for the collection?

It was driven by our understanding of the Barbour aesthetic, and of the brand’s rich British heritage and the beautiful colours of its waxed jackets. We wanted to juxtapose all that with a light treatment of psychedelic prints and patchwork motifs, really playing with and heightening the traditional British spirit that is synonymous with Barbour.

What are your favourite pieces in the collection and why?

I really love the ‘Newington’ wax cape-jacket – it’s practical yet still has all the glamour of a cape. It looks fantastic worn with wellies, but it will uplift any outfit and lend an air of cool, no matter the occasion. I also love the ‘Kingsland Casual’ jacket: I was enamoured by the idea of a patchwork jacket so we chose to cloak this one in the SATURNALIA velvet, which is one of my all-time favourite House of Hackney prints.

House of Hackney co-founder Frieda wears the Newington Jacket in Fern

And where would we find you wearing these jackets?

You could find me walking our dog, Drake – either out in the gardens and woodland that surround our home at the Castle of Trematon, or along one of the many beautiful coastal walks near us in Cornwall.

Raising the Barbour

We would love to see how you wear your favourite pieces from the Barbour x House of Hackney collection - share with us on Instagram by tagging @houseofhackney and posting with #HouseofHackney.