Barbour’s Iconic ’80s Waxed Cotton Jacket Just Got a Wild Update

Noah and Barbour drop another bold collaboration involving an essential warm weather fabric.

the propped-up corduroy collar of a pink plaid Barbour jacket

Published March 5, 2025

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Updated March 5, 2025

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Noah and Barbour are at it again, dropping another reimagined Bedale waxed cotton jacket that will surely become a grail piece for streetwear and preppy fans alike.

This is the fifth collaboration between the trendy New York menswear label and the British titan of waxed cotton outerwear. Noah has a talent for reimagining Barbour’s classic Bedale jacket in bold but faithful ways.

a man wearing a pink plaid Barbour jacket — The Waxed Madras Bedale is the boldest move yet for the Noah x Barbour collaboration.

We’ve seen Bedales done up in color block panels, retro camo and purple paisley, but the latest pink plaid waxed Madras may be the wildest iteration yet.

Madras and pink are both synonymous with springtime in menswear, so this waxed cotton jacket is the perfect way to combat the impending spring showers.

April showers bring waxed canvas

Noah’s collaborations with Barbour have been so successful because they don’t mess with the jackets’ foundational elements. Aside from the fancy fabric, this is a Bedale jacket like any other, and that’s a good thing.

a man in a pink plaid jacket with the collar up — The corduroy collar folds up and is secured with a throat latch.

The bellow patch pockets, hand warmer vented pockets, solid brass hardware, corduroy-lined collar and throat latch are all there. It has a snap-closure double-ventilated back and raglan sleeves with a slightly boxy fit. Everything that Bedale fans love is untouched.

The fabric is the only innovation here, but it makes all the difference. Madras is famous for pastel plaids, such as this light pink background with green, red, navy blue, light blue and yellow woven over it.

a man in a pink plaid jacket and tan hat — The Waxed Madras Bedale has four exterior and one interior pocket.

What makes the fabric even more interesting is the fact that Madaras is traditionally lightweight, loosely woven cotton meant for hot weather. Seeing it on a notoriously tough waxed canvas jacket is an interesting juxtaposition.

More complex than it appears

Arranging this collaboration took more work than it appears on the surface. There hasn’t been any official information released on the process, but given certain facts, I believe that it required some impressive choreography between at least four companies.

the back of a man in a pink plaid barbour jacket — The back has double vents that are secured with brass snaps.

Madras is a name that appears all over the fashion industry. It is associated with lightweight cotton in faded pastel plaids but can technically be any color.

The fabric originates in India, where it is still exclusively produced today. It was originally dyed in vibrant colors in a wide range of patterns and dates back to the 1600s.

All genuine Madras, with the capitalized “M,” used throughout the fashion industry, comes from the Original Madras Trading Company. The company now has a commercial apparel brand, but it was founded in the 1970s as a textile supplier to brands like Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren and J.Crew.

The pocket has a subtle stitched Noah logo.

Barbour

If Barbour and Noah are using this notoriously delicate fabric for a waxed jacket, it is like a special order from OMTC. But that would require an extra step to apply the wax finish.

That is where the Scottish textile mill Haley Stevenson, Barbour’s waxed canvas supplier, comes in.

I speculate that Noah designed a Madras waxed cotton Bedale. OMTC then supplied the fabric and Haley Stevenson applied the wax finish with a trademarked Hybrid-Aero application process that wouldn’t deteriorate it.

The interior features a big stitched Noah logo.

Barbour

Barbour then took the fabric and turned it into this wild, wonderful pastel Bedale that is sure to sell out before I can even post this article.

Availability and pricing

The Noah x Barbour Waxed Madras Bedale Jacket is available now from Barbour and Noah for $700.

The hype around all things Noah and especially its Barbour collaborations means that this jacket is already sold out on the New York retailer’s website. Fortunately, Barbour still has some stock. But if you want one, you should act fast.

Noah is also selling a unique take on Barbours’ under-appreciated Spey jacket as a worthy consolation prize for anyone who can’t land a Madaras Bedale.