Belstaff and Barbour

I am pleased to announce that a dear compatriot will be joining me in my denim experiment this coming Fall semester. Gregorias Bartholomew Kenzington III twice removed from the D'urberville line, this one's for you.

My man recently stepped into the world of raw denim with the great purchase of some Levi's Shrink-To-Fit in Indigo, size 30x34 pre-wash (along with some dirty Argentine-style stretch-denim, full of hidden zippers on the butt and everything). With his consent we're going to get some fit pics up for him pre- and post-soak for even greater reference. Another dear friend, The William, has agreed to be a part of the experiment despite expressing some anxiety over not washing a pair of jeans for an entire semester. Hahahaha... we'll see.

I've been doing a bit of research about both Belstaff and Barbour jackets with that rich Northern England heritage. Despite the hefty price tags, I'm considering an investment. I'm really taken by the classics in both brands, particularly the Belstaff Original Trailmaster and the Barbour International Original. I'm also intrigued by the Barbour Ursula (originally produced for submarine crews during WWII) as well as the Belstaff Che Guevarra Replica Jacket. The first two mentioned are a waxed cotton, as per motorcycle jackets. They're all belted and fall to just below the hips. Unfortunately I can't find any way to copy images from their website in order to show them off.

I received this link from a friend of mine, explaining the unique history of the Barbour Ursula jacket.

My personal studies at the university are the basis for my intrigue in the Guevarra Replica jacket, apparently a replica of the coat he donned while motorcycling around South America in the early 1950s.

This is a small example of the Belstaff Trailmaster, with all of the jackets honestly approximating to the same design. Belted, four flap pockets, waxed cotton, etc. The only thing is from what I can gather these are not sold retail domestically, here in the USA. A quick review of Belstaff's website reveals flagships exclusive to the major cities of Europe.

This example was found on amazon.com of all places. This one is the Barbour International, which I think I like a bit better because it doesn't look like a highly-glossed leather. The great thing about Barbour jackets is that they're still produced in England, as per their roots, and the price point is generally lower than the now "Italianized" Belstaffs. Belstaff originally began by providing waterproof jackets for motorcyclists while competitors Barbour were grounded more in outdoorswear and hunting in particular.

Interestingly enough, JCrew has partnered up with both brands in order to expose them to an American market... their price is drastically marked up (such as the JCrew/Levi's collaboration), and they're given a more "fashionable" vibe in comparison to original intentions.

Currently the only issue would be finding a reputable American dealer. Any help would be appreciated.