75th Anniversary Barbour International Jacket

After last weeks exclusives, I bet you thought that was about as special as things were able to get from the good old folk of Number Six. Well, we have only gone and top trumped ourselves as we have just received images of the 75th Anniversary Barbour International jacket that is about as rare and difficult to come across as rocking horse do do. To celebrate 75 years since Barbour introduced the iconic International jacket, it will be reissued as a limited edition in its original green. The daddy of all motorcycle jackets, the Barbour International boasts a design that many have followed, but none have bettered. Barbour’s rich motorcycling heritage roars to the fore in 2011 - 75 years since the company first entered the world of competitive motorcycling – and won.

Created specifically for the 1936 International Six Day Trials that supplied its name, the Barbour International – in original green and later classic black – was the jacket for competitive motorcyclists through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. It was the flagship style in a rich range of Barbour motorcycling garments. Steve McQueen, a devoted rider, wore one. So did his friend, the legendary stunt rider Bud Ekins – the man who made the famous fence leap in The Great Escape. Barbour is producing special limited-editions of the original Barbour International jacket. Recreated for modern style connoisseurs, the original green International comes in two finishes, both multi-pocketed, belted and carrying the famous Ancient Tartan lining. The first is a box fresh version. The second, for purists, is a painstakingly-crafted distressed finish, which creates the patina and look of an aged International. Both finishes faithfully replicate the original Barbour International with its six pockets - four in front and two behind ensuring the rider could carry everything that was required for a day in the saddle. Highly collectible and extremely limited edition (just 75 of each finish, per territory), they are the ultimate homage to Barbour’s unsurpassed motorcycling heritage. In store from this December, they are a prequel to a year of specials and events to celebrate the 75th anniversary throughout 2011. Phew.......what a mouthful. We will be back in touch later this week with some more good stuff from Suit, Sandqvist Luggage (very special this one) and Mark McNairys colaborative footwear with Bass Weejuns. Christmas is coming!