Barbour was founded in 1894 in the thriving port of South Shields, England. Originally created to provide sailors, fishermen, river workers, and dockworkers with garments to protect them from the harsh weather of the North Sea, the company quickly became the leading supplier of waxed clothing for the entire northeast coast, appealing not only to those who worked at sea, but also to the surrounding communities of farmers, workers, and shepherds. At the dawn of the new century, Barbour's Beacon waxed jackets were known and appreciated throughout England. The company soon also received three Royal Warrants: in 1971 from the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1982 from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and in 1987 from the Prince of Wales.