We’ve been perched on the edge of our seats for weeks now. Not out of discomfort (although our office chairs are a bit uncomfortable), but out of anticipation. The past two Octobers have seen Baracuta and Babour join forces in a meeting of British outerwear royalty. But October came and went this year with no sign. Nothing. Not so much as a sniff.
But just as we were about to give up all hope, the news has finally landed: the duo is back for a third outing.
If you cast your mind back a year, you’ll remember the previous collaboration drew inspiration from Mods – long parkas, lots of green and plenty of tartan. And the year before that, it was all about prep Ivy style. But now, for the third instalment of what’s fast becoming a cult classic, Baracuta and Barbour have turned their gaze north once more, taking cues from the timeless energy of Northern Soul.
This season’s collection takes Northern Soul’s spirit of all-nighters & basement dancefloors, and combines it with both brands’ foul-weather influenced outerwear. The designs are characterful and unmistakably British – a combination of grit and heritage.
Over the decades, Barbour & Baracuta’s outerwear has been adopted by countless subcultures: Mods, Rockers, Skinheads, Soul Boys – each group styling the gear slightly differently from the last. In Northern Soul, wax outerwear would predominantly be used to combat drizzle when traversing from one venue to the next, before being launched into the cloakroom to avoid passing out from dance-induced heatstroke.
That Northern Soul energy runs through every piece of the collection: from the Porton Wax Jacket, a reimagined take on Baracuta’s iconic G9 with Barbour’s signature waxed cotton and tartan lining, to the Badged Porton, complete with embroidered patches that nod to all-night dance halls and DIY expression.
Accompanying the cropped outerwear is the Tyne Wax Coat, a longer, more utilitarian silhouette blending Baracuta’s sharp lines with Barbour’s rugged wax construction. Elsewhere, tees and sweats keep things grounded, with smatterings of Northern Soul graphics and dual branding hits. Accessories like the Wax Cap and Tote Bag round things off, both carrying the playful badging that ties the collection together.
The campaign itself was shot in Jumbi, a Peckham-based music bar & restaurant hub that hums with the same energy that defined Wigan Casino back in the day. The visuals, captured through the lens of Normski, feature the collection on Goya Gumbani, a soul artist whose work bridges both eras and influences.
Overall, it’s another hit. A perfect continuation of the Barbour Baracuta love story – one that celebrates the North, without even having to lean into gravy and barms. It’s authentic, unpretentious, and deeply British, right down to the last drop of waxed cotton. Our only advice for next year is – please don’t keep us waiting again.
The Barbour x Baracuta Northern Soul Collection is available to purchase now from Baracuta
