Courtesy of Ganni X Barbour
“The response was overwhelming,” says Ganni’s creative director Ditte Reffstrup of the Scandi label’s inaugural collaboration with British heritage brand Barbour, which launched at the end of last year. “The pieces sold out quickly, and customers were asking for more.”
Next month, Ganni will fulfil that request: a second collaboration with Barbour will be revealed on 3 November, a nine-piece collection of outerwear and accessories injected with the two brands’ respective signatures.
“The collection really is a blend of both brands, for me this is what makes the collaboration so powerful, when you can see both brands’ DNA so clearly,” explains Nicola Brown, head of womenswear at Barbour. “You will find Barbour’s iconic detailing and styling within the collection, with the wax, diamond quilting, brass hardware and statement cord collars all given a Ganni spin with new striking proportions and bold prints.”
“It was about finding that perfect balance between Barbour’s iconic styles and our playful Ganni twist,” continues Ditte, who says the Barbour silhouettes provided a “perfect canvas for us to infuse our creativity, and create pieces that are both classic and contemporary”. She adds: “We love Barbour for its timeless appeal and unique heritage.”
Ditte promises that Ganni X Barbour 2.0 is “even more joyful” than the first capsule. Barbour’s sand, olive and navy “core fabrics” were spliced and patchworked to create longline quilted coats and wax jackets with removable hoods, while one of its archive tartans becomes a new logo-stamped scarf.
Ganni fans will be pleased to see the Scandi brand’s trademark leopard print emblazoned across an oversized bomber jacket and bucket hat. “A moment of excitement,” is how Ditte puts it.
Having worked on the first collaboration during Covid, the design process this time round felt much more collaborative. “Seeing how the Barbour family runs the business in such a personal way was really inspiring,” says Ditte, who visited the brand’s South Shields HQ last year. “The skill and craftsmanship they put into their work was truly impressive and left us in awe. It’s this personal touch that makes collaborating with them so special for us.”
Nicola, meanwhile, was left feeling “very jealous” of Ganni’s creative spaces in Copenhagen after visiting three times in the past 18 months. “Somehow all our meetings ended with conversations around cooking or new vintage stores, even sharing cinnamon bun recipes at 8:30am on a Friday morning – a real sign of teamwork!”
Ganni X Barbour will be available to buy online at Ganni.com and Barbour.com and in selected stores on 3 November.
This article was originally published on British Vogue.
