As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
One constant in the quick-change culture of today’s fast fashion is an enduring and endearing British coat that is as at home in an insectary as it is on George Osborne’s shoulders. The Barbour jacket speaks to heritage and practicality with equal regard and its very wearability is not only visible but palpable. In this universe of countryside pursuits and the hard-sell counterpoint of urban sophistication, the Barbour has become less a piece of what it keeps at bay and more a narrative of itself.
And yet, even the most robust of clothing needs knitting back together at some point, and while re-waxing might not be part of our regular cycle of garment maintenance, it is something that becomes a rite of passage for any Barbour devotee. We’ll explore the art – and the need – to re-wax your Barbour jacket below in this complete guide.
![how to re wax barbour jacket](https://garment-exchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/how-to-re-wax-barbour-jacket.jpg)
Why Re-Wax Your Barbour Jacket?
Fine sewing, a snug fit, and generous layers of waxed cotton make the Barbour jacket a paragon of heritage function, connoting affectionate associations with the earth, piety and rusticity its wearer might enjoy. As happens with good heritage goods, patina is earned and envelops the Journeyman jacket with every hike or ride into the cold and the wet. The wax coating that defines the garment’s water-resistant, weatherproof features will erode with use.
Preservation of Quality and Longevity
Re-waxing is the protector of your Barbour’s life, keeping it alive and giving it an extended life. The re-application of wax ensures that your well-loved item will not only be shiny and polished, but it will also reinforce the fabric so that it can handle all the elements a jacket must face, and it can remain as robust as the day it leaves the workshop, ready to be taken on all your journeys.
Restoring Water Resistance and Weatherproofing
A waxed Barbour jacket might be the original protection, but after a few years the wax gets rubbed away and water droplets no longer bead up, but merely stick to the cloth and make for a sad, damp jacket. A rewax brings it back to life, ensuring that, for another season at least, this classic of menswear and outdoor clothing is again fit for fending off the elements.
Steps to Re-Wax Your Barbour Jacket
While periodic re-waxing can sound like an onerous task, especially for the inexperienced, it’s also rewarding and will prolong the life of your jacket. Here’s how you do it right:
Setting Up the Desk and Jacket
Ensure you’re blessed with the right conditions of success before you attempt re-waxing: protect the surface from drippage with a sheet or newspaper, then clean your Barbour (wax adheres better to a clean surface).
Choosing the Right Wax and Tools
Pick the right wax for your jacket – is it the correct wax for the Barbour fabric? There are different textures and scent profiles: traditional wax (or wax dressing) sold by Barbour or by a third party. And you need to have the right implements: a sponge or brush to apply, and a cloth to buff.
![How To Re-Wax Your Barbour Jacket](https://garment-exchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/How-To-Re-Wax-Your-Barbour-Jacket.jpg)
Applying the Wax Evenly
The key to a well-spread re-waxing is uniformity. Take a small thumb-sized scoop of the wax and use the palm of your hand in a circular motion to spread it across the fabric. Work methodically, passing the scoop twice in each section, to make sure it’s well applied throughout the area.
Heating and Drying the Wax
Then heat the areas with a hairdryer – or a less obvious option is to seek out the inside of a Barbour wax jacket care thornproof dressing. You should be warming the areas to even out the wax application (avoiding any lumps) but the other benefit is that this also helps it to be more readily absorbed into the fabric.
Finishing Touches and Inspection
When the wax is heated you should hang your jacket up to cool and settle, before having an extra look at any missed areas or irregularities. Then you can seep up any unwaxed spots, and give your jacket a buff to remove the excess wax.
Tips for Best Results
Ensure Thorough Coverage
Wax sparingly but regularly: get into every crevice. If even a spot is missed, your jacket’s defenses are breached. A splodge will reveal itself, and not in a flattering light.
Avoid Overheating
Your warmer can be ruined if you use too much heat, which can make the wax run like a puddle across the jacket or cause it to evaporate before it’s had a proper chance to stick. The message is clear apply heat slowly and carefully.
Give Yourself Enough Time to Dry
Then, look at it. When it’s dry, you can rub the back of the wax using your fingers. Be patient; let it dry completely. Dryness is the key to a good final step because if you hurry to crumble it off into powder and remelt, you’ll get something that won’t shine brightly.
![how to re wax barbour jacket](https://garment-exchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/how-to-re-wax-barbour-jacket.jpg)
Maintenance and Care Tips
Your re-waxing adventure is merely one chapter in the story of Barbour jacket care: several other monthly or annual maintenance procedures are required to ensure longevity in your jacket:
Storage Recommendations
Don’t hang in the sunlight. Always keep dry and cool when not in use. Keep on a shaped hanger.
Cleaning Guidelines
Don’t put it through the washing machine simply sponge-wash in cold water. And a clean jacket is always a better candidate for being re-waxed.
Frequency of Re-Waxing
When initiates didn’t have suitable witnesses for a difficult decision, a waxing ritual could be performed. How often would you ‘rewax’? The original use and context determined the frequency. For moderate use, it is best to ‘rewax’ annually. You’ll probably have to do it more often, though, if you’re an avid adventurer.
Conclusion
Re-waxing seems like a fussy activity, but with each careful application you renew your Barbour’s defensive systems. You also layer your jacket with its history, becoming part of the same tradition as the people who made it. So pick up the wax and sponge. Channelling your inner artisan, d Aboville, dig out that Barbour and give it the TLC it deserves.
Relish that process, rejoice in that result, and delight in the wearing of a garment whose excellence not only bears a strong stamp of your initial, superior investment but of a brand that has brought a lot of craftsmanship and tradition to that evolution as well. Keep your Barbour looking good and you’ll go on looking good in it – and be as protected from the elements now as you would have been on that first day. and it will keep you safe from the elements with the same timeless elegance it did on day one.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Leave a Reply