About us
Barneys Originals
Part Of The Very Fabric Of Manchester.
Barneys Originals. 1911.
Tucked away in Manchester’s fashion quarter, you’ll find Barney Originals. A small team dedicated to real leather & suede goods.
Born from Manchester’s rag trade - the spirit of graft and grit - Barneys Originals is a leather built the slow way. We don't chase trends, we make the core stuff: the jacket you reach for day after day, the one that outlasts trends, moving home, bad relationships, muddy fields, and somehow looks better for it. Real leather, real suede - sheep, goat, cow, buffalo - sourced the world over by people who've spent years learning what actually lasts, and procuring the best materials to bring your new favourite jacket to life.
The Barney in Barneys
There was a real Barney. Barnett Rosemarine - youngest of five, born in 1911 to a Lancashire rag-trade family who thought enough of him to name a coat after him. The original "Barney" was a raincoat. Which, in Manchester, rather sells itself.
Barney eventually built the family firm into something serious. In his spare time, he did stand-up and wrote a book of comic poetry. So, if we don't take ourselves too seriously, that isn't a brand decision, it's genetic.
Four generations on, the family still runs the business.
the History
of Barneys Originals
The resurgence of the Barneys brand over recent years has brought with it renewed speculation once again as to the time weathered question of 'who was Barney'.
With the fourth generation of the family still continuing to run the brand, more and more details are coming to light.
1911
The Beginning
Founded when Barney Rosemarine was born and the 'Barney' raincoat was designed by his parents' Manchester factory, M. Rosemarine Ltd.
1910-1930
Barney Builds the Business
Barney learned tailoring from the ground up, then expanded the family firm by acquiring smaller companies, opening retail stores, and buying property in what is now Manchester's Northern Quarter.
1930
Family Life & Community
Barney married Ella Taylor and had four children. A stand-up comedian, published poet, and philanthropist, he donated land for a local hospital and was Patron of the Manchester Blind Society.
1982
A new Chapter
Lynda and Syd founded the latest version of the business in 1982, after Syd was made redundant from the job he had worked at since leaving school - selling leather garments. They setup in the spare room of the family home, selling wholesale to UK retailers.
1983
First Showroom
After quickly outgrowing the spare room, the business moved into a shared showroom in Stevenson Square in 1983 - just one block from the place Syd had been made redundant from the year earlier .
1991
Cheetham Hill
After outgrowing Stevenson Square, they moved into their own premises in Cheetham Hill, where the business remains today.
1994-2000+
Next Generation
Michael joined in 1994, followed by Richard in 2000. The brothers continue to run the business, carrying the Barneys name forward.
“It might be the last thing you put on, but it’s the first thing people notice.”
Our Values
The Barneys Originals goal has always been to create lasting garments that transcend the passing, short-term style phases. It’s our belief that the best way we can combat overproduction in the fashion industry is by creating an enduring garment that can be worn year after year.
Our Collective
Music and leather have always gone together. Bob Dylan in suede. The punks of the late 70s. The customised art on the leather jackets of rock bands in the 80s. Michael Jackson's infamous Thriller jacket. Something about it gets baked into the culture, generation after generation, and that’s why we love it.
When you put on a leather jacket, you’re carrying with it a vibe that cannot be replicated. It’s woven into history and popular culture. It’s every movie villain, it’s every 90s rockstar, it’s you but just a bit more cool.
You might've spotted us on a few of your favourite artists. We hope so, there are a fair few out there: Cliffords, The Lottery Winners, Overpass, Cherryholt - to name just a few. We've always run with musicians, and we always will.
Follow us
@BarneysOriginals
Follow us on Instagram for new arrivals, real looks, and everything in between. Tag us in your fits with @BarneysOriginals and you might just end up on the site.