Barbour celebrates another Christmas with Shaun The Sheep, launches collab with Sorel

Busy Barbour is back for a bumper Christmas on the promotional and collaboration fronts.

First the campaign. Created by the team at Aardman using its trademark stop-motion animation, the premium outdoor brand introduces ‘Baabour and Shaun the Sheep’, back with another light-hearted new Christmas film “focusing on giving the gift of warmth” this festive season.

Having successfully patched up the farmer’s waxed jacket last year, the storyline now sees Shaun and his flock focusing on the brand’s “unique and much-loved accessories”, with a message of “giving the gift of warmth this winter”. 

The film sees Bitzer – the farmer’s devoted dog and Shaun’s best friend – attempting to conduct a very cold choir of Shaun and his flock through some Christmas carols. As their ‘baas’ begin to freeze, Bitzer has an idea – rushing off on his bike and returning with gifts from Barbour. All wrapped up in their Barbour hats and scarves, the flock (and the farm around them) feel the warmth of the British brand’s quality accessories, as they merrily sing their way to the end of their carol.

Alongside the ad, Barbour has created 30 limited edition re-loved Shaun the Sheep-inspired wax jackets, with all proceeds going to Oxfam.

Now the latest collab sees Barbour heading for its fourth link-up of the year, (Erdem, Saturdays NYC, Levi’s, and now Canadian footwear brand Sorel) it’s certainly getting some mileage out of fashion brand tie-ups.

The new Sorel x Barbour limited edition line sees “two icons of weather defiance collide” with a collaboration that “sits squarely at the intersection of countryside and city”.

The range of three footwear styles includes the Sorel x Barbour Callsign Horizon Low GTX: Waterproof Gore-Tex Membrane with a lightweight LivelyFoam mid-sole; and Vibram grip outsole, finished with Barbour’s classic tartan; The Sorel x Barbour Daystorm Horizon GTX features 100% full-grain waterproof leather, a tartan tongue, and Vibramgrip outsole; and the Sorel x Barbour Caribou Horizon GTX, which updates a longstanding favourite where a corduroy-collared rugged design meets advanced Gore-Tex Waterproof Fabric.

Completing the capsule is a reimagined take on the Barbour Transport Jacket with the Sorel x Barbour Transport Down Wax Puffer, combines Barbour’s waxed cotton heritage with Sorel’s protection-first ethos. Featuring an 80/20 down fill, corduroy collar and co-branded detailing, it’s designed to carry the collection from storm to street.