Barrie x Mackintosh
A Shared Scottish Legacy
Barrie has been working with cashmere since 1903, Mackintosh has mastered the art of coated cotton since 1824. Drawing on their respective expertise, these two Scottish institutions come together to create a concise, unisex wardrobe made in Scotland. “The challenge of this collaboration between Barrie and Mackintosh was to build visual bridges without ever forcing a fusion . Barrie’s ‘Full Fashioning’ for invisible seams, Mackintosh’s ‘Felling’ for hems: every sacred gesture was respected. Each House preserves its identity, but I orchestrated unexpected encounters.” Augustin Dol-Maillot, Artistic Director of Barrie
On the MACK 1, a long Mackintosh cotton coat, the traditional lining gives way to pleated wool and cashmere, specially developed by Barrie. It resists movement while maintaining fluidity. The principle is reversed on the MACK 2, a short cotton peacoat enhanced with a cashmere vest with generous pockets, drawn from Barrie’s Timeless 5NEEDLES line. Here, the facing, usually hidden, becomes a design element. Its heat-bonded hem, a Mackintosh signature technique, aligns with Barrie’s ribbed knit. The MACK 3 is a sleeveless vest that transposes Barrie’s iconic proportions into Mackintosh coated
cotton. Its recognizable pockets and sharp lines embody this alliance, while a discreet Scottish cross is stitched beneath the armhole. The buttons, in metal or porcelain, are also stamped with the cross of St. Andrew, a subtle symbol of this four-hands capsule collection.
On the knitwear pieces, contrasting tubular lines echo Mackintosh’s sealing tapes. The double-faced trompe-l’œil cardigan conceals them inside, as in the original coats, leaving only their shadow visible on the monochrome reverse. Barrie’s signature seamless knitted trousers complete the silhouette.
The Barrie x Mackintosh collection, shot in the Highlands and in the shifting light of the Borders, is brought to life by Veronika Heilbrunner and Justin O’Shea, who perfectly embody this dialogue between heritage and modernity.
Founded in 1903 in Hawick, Barrie is one of Scotland’s oldest cashmere knitting mills and a renowned name in luxury cashmere. The House continues to embody the excellence of Scottish craftsmanship, blending traditional know-how, technical innovation, and contemporary design. Barrie became part of CHANEL’s Métiers d’art in 2012.
Explore the collection
