Your guide to shopping the new menswear season – according to the director of menswear at Barbour

Why is Barbour the perfect menswear brand for summer?

There is an effortless style appeal that is ingrained into Barbour’s identity; it’s something that has developed naturally since the brand was founded by John Barbour 130 years ago.

It transformed from being an outerwear brand for mariners to being a complete wardrobe of clothes, accessories and footwear for men, women and children – and its flair for walking the line between function and fashion is what has made Barbour so successful in the market.

It has a true seasonal appeal too: in summer this means stylish, lightweight layering. The sun is out but the rain and wind could appear at any moment, so having a few key weather-resistant but wearable pieces you can throw into your bag or the car is at the heart of our appeal.

What are the key highlights for the season?

Developing our Heritage collection for summer has been an important focus for us. For instance, our Heritage Plus collection connects with a younger, fashionable and sophisticated customer. We’ve done so by constructing garments with larger, oversized shapes and cuts for a modern aesthetic that still stay true to the brand’s workwear blueprint.

Meanwhile, Heritage Select is a huge success for us in the growing Asia Pacific (APAC) region. By working with lightweight, waterproof and casual fabrics and constructions, we’ve curated a modern, preppy look for this collection’s outerwear which appeals to the climate and lifestyle of the APAC region in summer.

Elsewhere, our new JBS Supply range strips the brand right back to its legacy as an outfitter: a strong maritime and mercantile feel are key, and it appeals to a younger demographic, much like the Heritage ranges.

I think what makes these collections summer highlights is the introduction of light, summer fabrics for shirting like cotton seersucker; relaxed, jersey fits for our polos; and the preppy appeal of madras check – these drive home our summer credentials as a brand.

What are your summer staples that you cannot live without?

I think our lightweight, proofed cotton Beaufort wax jacket paired with a polo shirt and loose, relaxed chinos is a go-to look for summer.

Our Beaufort wax jacket was created over 40 years ago and its timeless appeal is what makes it so popular year-on-year. Its sporty, preppy style alongside its waxed finish for all-weather protection, and the option to add a liner for extra warmth and a hood to shield off the showers, makes it the perfect antidote to the unpredictable nature of Irish and British summers.

Meanwhile, our collection of polo shirts are always a key seller for summer: we have a selection of almost 200 styles; from block colours to sports styles and nautical stripes, all complete with Barbour’s iconic logo, polo shirts are a no-brainer style staple for summer.

How do you preserve Barbour’s rich heritage through design?

Primarily it’s through staying close to our design language. By ‘design language’, I mean that as a design team we always remain purpose-driven; we take a fit-and-function approach to designing and developing new products.

Our unique DNA is in the substrates we use: wax, tartan, oversized metal trims, corduroy, leather reinforcement trims and weather-resistant and practical fabrications.

The storm flaps and cuffs (which prevent moisture from seeping through the openings of fabrics), oversized bellow pockets, the use of snaps rather than buttons, the interactive design which offers the option of a hood and extra liner and the drip-strip (for moisture prevention) are all unique features of Barbour.

As much as these elements characterise Barbour, they took over 100 years to develop and refine. As such, we constantly refer to these elements when developing new products, alongside referencing the richness found in country fabrications, colours and finishes in Barbour.

As much as we are a heritage-rich brand that strives to stay true to our design language and roots, we appreciate the importance of future-proofing the brand and remaining relevant to consumers and markets now,

What can we look forward to seeing from future Barbour collections this year?

Customers can expect innovation and interest from our Heritage Plus collection; preppy everlasting style from Heritage Select; and interesting, detail-driven creativity in our Heritage Re-engineered collection.

Our function-first rubber footwear (like updates to our Wellington collection) and the development of our accessories collection (hats, scarves and bags) are key for the year ahead – watch this space.

Shop the new menswear season from Barbour in-store at Brown Thomas and Arnotts, on the Brown Thomas app and Arnotts app and online at brownthomas.com and arnotts.ie now