Help with Barbour Tartan

[robrinay]

I’ve got a 1980’s International jacket with a dark blue tartan lining which needs a couple of patches where the lining has worn adjacent to the pockets. Sadly Barbour no longer stock this particular tartan so I’m trying to source some in order to repair the lining myself. Does anyone know the name of this tartan and or where I can get some in cotton?
Cheers
Rob

 

[Seb Lucas]

Have you dropped an email to the Lochcarron tartan company in Scotland?

 

[rocketeer]

JoJo at Rag Parade may be able to help, he is in Sheffield. They have a large range of Barbour in there, maybe some beyond repair items.

 

[l0fielectronic]

Have you tried sending this to Barbour themselves? They may even be able to provide what you need.

(I've read previously that their customer service used to be good for things like this, I don't know if thats still the case.)

 

[Lean'n'mean]

This particular tartan was used in quite a few models of Barbour Jackets & as far as I know, was simply called ' Navy & Red'
Presuming you have contacted Barbour's repair service & they no longer have this tartan in stock or that you don't want to send it to somewhere like this to be relined http://www.waxjacketcleaningcompany.co.uk/wax-jacket-repairs-wax-jacket-alterations/ I think you have 3 options if you really want exactly the same design.
Firstly, try to find a fabric store that stocked Barbour fabrics & still have a roll of this pattern hidden in a corner somewhere. Good luck with that.
Secondly, try to find a Barbour cotton shirt with the same pattern, not sure if they did in fact make shirts in this particular tartan but they did make them in other lining tartans. Prehaps the hardest solution.
Thirdly, buy a cheap, old Barbour jacket which has the same (or very similar) lining you're looking for & 'canabalise' it. Ebay is your friend there. e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barbour-B...427597?hash=item51ff3b4dcd:g:SxAAAOSwrWNZzNij
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Barbour-Beaufort-Sm-M/132343347944?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=46118&meid=21b3ad5103a8476ebe8d016078c0c227&pid=100623&rk=2&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=352174427597&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1
It's worth noting though that since repairs on the lining won't be seen & these types of jackets carry rapairs like medals of honour, you could use a similar coloured fabric easier to find.

 

[robrinay]

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I searched the Lochcarron site with no success and I’ve had negative replies from Barbour but they are researching the name of the tartan for me. I couldn’t bring myself to butcher a vintage Barbour - they never die l.o.l. I’ve spoken to Jojo and he thinks he’s got some of this fabric ‘knocking about’ so that’s good. I may use a bit of blue denim or corduroy if he can’t find it. Cheers Rob

 

[l0fielectronic]

Surprised they're having to research their own products but I guess heritage isn't everything it once was

I have this lining in the 2nd hand border jacket I picket up a few years ago and I'd guess that was a jacket from the same era.

If the contact doesn't work out for you I think your idea of corduroy would be a nice alternative.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Just remember that the lining is a cotton cloth, not wool, so even if you determine what the tartan is you may never be able to find it in cotton. As Lean&Mean implies, patched Barbours (or any waxed jacket for that matter) still look good even if the patches aren't a 100% match, so don't be afraid of using cloth that isn't the same pattern.

 

[Edward]

Quite likely it wasn't a "real" Tartan (as if any of them are!) if Lochcarron didn't have it. Also plausible it wasn't made by/for anyone else, as it could have been a tm'ed design (c/f the Burberry check).

 

[robrinay]

Quite right Edward

A bit more research came up with the term ‘plaid’ - cotton which is printed and not woven like a true tartan. India is a great source of printed plaid cotton and I’ve managed to pick up a piece big enough to patch my International. It’s not quite a perfect match but as my dad used to say ‘a blind man on a flying horse couldn’t tell the difference’

 

[Doctor Damage]

^ Well done, you've gotten lucky.

Barbour has used "real" tartans from time to time and in the old catalogues they used to list it specifically.

 

[robrinay]

Thank you to rocketeer too as Jojo came up trumps - he’s got a new old stock Barbour repair kit (Barbour no longer sell them). I’m picking it up tomorrow. If anyone needs similar there are a few on eBay. It’s a tin which seems to contain three different coloured plaid patches - including mine, green blue and black waxed cotton patches and blue black and green thread and a small tin of thorn proof dressing.

 

[l0fielectronic]

Great news - I recall seeing those for sale before but figured you maybe needed more material than comes with them.

 

[robrinay]

We’ll see but I should be ok with the Madras from eBay and the kit.