Highland Spirit - Barbour and Paul Smith Return for a Third Season

Two British design houses reunite for a third time, taking inspiration from the tradition of the Scottish Highland Games.

Two British design houses, Barbour and Paul Smith are proud to announce the launch of their third collaboration, building on the resounding success of their Autumn/Winter 2025 (AW25) and Spring/Summer 2026 (SS26) collections. The 38-piece capsule, comprising clothing and outerwear across menswear and womenswear, accessories and footwear, explores the traditions and spirit of the Scottish Highland Games through a playful interpretation of British country dressing.

As two British institutions, Barbour and Paul Smith continue to find common ground through their shared appreciation for craftsmanship, functionality and enduring style. Balancing Barbour’s outdoor heritage with Paul Smith’s signature use of colour and wit, the collaboration once again brings together two distinct perspectives to create a collection of classic outerwear with a twist.

The Autumn/Winter 2026 campaign sees the return of characters Paul and Baz as they journey to Scotland for The Braemar Gathering, but all is not as it seems. Under the pretence of attending the famous Highland Games, Baz has a personal goal: to reunite with his ex-wife, Linda. Unfortunately, he's also got the date wrong. Arriving two months early, the pair find themselves at the Games' training ground instead.

What follows is a series of characteristically unexpected encounters as Paul and Baz meet an eclectic cast of authentic local personalities, each embodying the warmth, wit and enduring traditions of the Highlands. Their journey celebrates the charm, craftsmanship and eccentricity that define both The Braemar Gathering and the collection itself.

Directed once again by Leonn Ward, the campaign builds on the playful cinematic world established in previous AW25 season, combining understated British humour with a distinctly offbeat narrative. Set against the dramatic Scottish landscape, it brings together British heritage, exceptional craftsmanship, the landscape which is synonymous with the Barbour family’s beginnings, and Paul Smith's signature sense of optimism and the unexpected.

Central to this season’s collection is Paul Smith’s reimagining of two of Barbour’s Original and Authentic Tartans; Classic Tartan and Muted Tartan. Reworked with Paul Smith’s iconic bold use of colour, vibrant pinks, oranges and yellows are woven in place of the traditional tones of both tartans, bringing a fresh perspective to Barbour’s heritage sett. The exclusive tartans appear throughout the range as linings, trims and statement fabrics.

Outerwear remains a focus of the collaboration, with some of Barbour’s most iconic silhouettes reimagined through new fabrications and seasonal colourways. The Barbour Beaufort Jacket is updated in a Merino wool windowpane check, speaking to both the Barbour family Scottish heritage and Paul Smith’s tailoring influences and signature overcheck detailing. Elsewhere, the Barbour Transport Jacket is reworked in a charcoal melange Merino wool, while a deep navy corduroy iteration of the Barbour Beaufort introduces new texture to the collection.

The range also introduces two new seasonal colourways across a selection of classic waxed jackets, with a rich autumnal russet appearing in the Transport Wax and Beaufort Jackets, alongside deep bottle green featured across the Barbour Gamefair Wax and Barbour Long Spey Jackets.

The wider collection builds on the collaboration's narrative through knitwear, shirting, accessories and footwear. The Tyneside Knitted Jumper and Cable Tyne Jumper arrive in rich jewel tones, created with a mixture of knit techniques and featuring Paul Smith's signature stripe to the cuff, while the Tartan Shirt incorporates the exclusive tartans through patchworked constructions. The Key T-Shirt references the boot room setting with a playful motif, while footwear and accessories revisit familiar Barbour icons including enamel pin badges, Chelsea and Tall Wellies, each updated with distinctive new colours and details for the season.

The Paul Smith loves Barbour collection is available in store at Barbour in Sandton City.

Campaign Credits

Director, Leonn Ward | Photographer, William Waterworth | Stylist, Rose Forde

About Paul Smith

Paul Smith is Britain’s leading independent design company. Paul Smith champions positivity, curiosity and creativity. These qualities underpin every Paul Smith design, whether its a shirt, a shop or a special collaboration. Paul Smith is a British company with a global outlook. What began in a small, 3 x 3 meter shop in Nottingham, England in 1970 has grown to 120 shops and counting around the world, with locations in over 50 countries.

About Barbour   

Originally established by John Barbour in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England to provide outerwear to fishermen, sailors and mariners to protect them from the worst of the British weather, today Barbour offers a complete wardrobe of clothes, accessories and footwear for men, women and children. Shirts, knitwear, trousers, footwear and accessories are now just as much in demand as Barbour’s iconic outerwear.    

Forever synonymous with the British countryside, Barbour’s collections now span from the best practical country clothing to fashion-forward lifestyle collections. To this day Barbour’s ranges continue to be inspired by the company’s archives which date back to 1910 – each season classic designs are re-interpreted into modern, contemporary silhouettes.   

A family-owned 5th generation brand established over 130 years ago, Barbour is a global success story sold in over 55 countries worldwide including Germany, Italy, Spain, France, the US and Japan.  In 2020, Barbour launched Wax for Life, an overarching name for all of Barbour’s wax services designed to encourage customers to extend the life of their jackets.  Wax for Life includes Re-waxing and Repairs first introduced in 1921 and Re-Loved, an upcycling circularity initiative taking jackets that owners no longer have a need for, cleaning re-waxing and repairing them, thus extending the life of the jackets. In May 2024, Dame Margaret Barbour as the Grantee was granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to HM The King as manufacturers of outerwear, clothing, footwear and accessories. 

About Adventure Brands

Adventure Brands manages Barbour’s importing and distribution in South Africa. The standalone Barbour Sandton City store provides a dedicated setting for customers to explore the brand. To become a Barbour stockist, please visit www.adventurebrands.co.za.