SCOTLAND'S TOP INDEPENDENT FASHION ... - Xile Clothing

With a rich 117 year history Barbour can
generally be relied on to provide an authentic
backstory for their product. Forget about cheap
marketing ploys and crass celebrity tie ins –
Barbour have enough fascinating stories in their
archives to keep us inspired for the foreseeable
future. One of the most astonishing stories
we’ve heard this season revolves around the
new Pegasus jacket and its lineage from the
famous Ursula Submariners suit.
The Ursula Submariners suit was born out of
one man’s desire to keep his crew safe and dry
at sea. Lieutenant Commander George Phillips
commanded the British submarine HMS Ursula
throughout the Second World War and soon
became dissatisfied with the protective qualities
of the standard wet weather gear supplied by
the Navy. Having discussed the problem with
senior officers from his sub, Phillips was made
aware of the one piece Barbour motorcycle suit
that his Navigating Officer wore when racing.
The suit was duly tested (with a fire hose) to
Phillip’s satisfaction; he then visited Barbour at
their South Shields HQ and ordered a special
prototype to be made at his own expense. The
first Ursula suit was a great success and Phillips
paid for them to be made for his entire crew.
The Navy soon adopted the design as standard
and compensated him for the original order. In
the post war years a great deal of Navy surplus
ended up in the hands of motorcycle racers.
The Ursula was widely used for its durability
Pegasus Jacket £250 (11905)
and style and many consider it to be the
predecessor of the classic International range.
The Pegasus jacket draws upon this remarkable
heritage. The heavyweight, waxed material
and oversized hood hark back to the original
Ursula while more contemporary details have
been added to give it a premium fashion feel.
Available in Olive or Black this classic piece is
one of the best Barbour design’s we’ve seen in
years!
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