The Barbour Christmas advert 2023 stars none other than Shaun the Sheep. Created by Aardman studios, the ad follows Shaun, Bitzer and the Flock as they decide to repair the farmer's well-worn Barbour wax jacket. It's a festive tale brimming with heart and mischief.
Sure to put everyone in a Christmassy mood, the one-minute ad sees the famous sheep worry about the farmer's torn jacket. In a bid to help him, Shaun and his friends do their best to repair the jacket using items found around Mossy Bottom Farm. One clip shows Shaun making a zip from hair combs, while another shows the animals sealing the jacket with hot candle wax.
When the farmer puts on his repaired Barbour jacket, it immediately breaks. Thankfully, Christmas is saved when Bitzer clicks his fingers and the farmer's original jacket reappears, lovingly restored by the experts at the Barbour factory.
"This Christmas, we wanted to demonstrate the importance of extending the life of our garments and we've been able to achieve this through our partnership with Aardman. Working with Shaun the Sheep and his friends, we've created a light-hearted and engaging film that we hope will make people smile this festive season," says Paul Wilkinson, Group Commercial Director, Barbour.
"With a Barbour wax jacket, age is no limitation and through our Wax for Life initiative, globally every year over 73,000 of our wax jackets are returned to be re-waxed or repaired. A Barbour jacket is like an old friend – it becomes part of your life and part of your shared experiences and memories. By using our re-waxing and repairs service, your jacket can last for a long time continuing to give many years of faithful service and most importantly, reducing its impact on the environment."
A recap of 2022's Barbour advert
The Barbour Christmas advert featured Paddington Bear. Using the original illustration style from Peggy Fortnum, the ad followed Paddington as he prepared a surprise Christmas gift for his grumpy neighbour, Mr Curry.
Titled 'One of a Kindess-ness', the one-minute video saw Paddington take a snowy trip through Windsor Gardens as he searched for the perfect present. Celebrating acts of kindness at Christmas, it saw Paddington visiting a Barbour shop to buy his neighbour a new coat.
A recap of 2021's Barbour advert
The Barbour Christmas advert 2021 also featured Paddington Bear. In the ad, Paddington is fumbling around trying to think of a present to give his family when he starts looking through old family photographs featuring generations gone by. He realises that the same Barbour jacket has been handed down through the family and so decides to give the well-loved jacket a new lease of life by rewaxing it. In true Paddington style, he makes quite a bit of mess while doing it."As good as new, he wraps the jacket up and proudly hands it to his dad, complete with the bear's original label which reads: "Please look after this bear. Thank you." On the back, Paddington has scrawled: "Thank you for looking after me."
A recap of 2020's Barbour advert
British heritage brand Barbour unveiled a 2020 Christmas campaign inspired by Raymond Briggs' much-loved children's book, Father Christmas.
The two-minute heartwarming ad, titled Father Christmas To The Rescue, saw Father Christmas help a young boy who wants to fix his father's broken heirloom Barbour jacket after his mischievous dog chewed it. Based on the true story of a cheeky Dachshund named Dudley, it's sure to put a smile on your face.
It begins with Father Christmas trying his best to glue the torn jacket back together. After countless attempts he finally heads to the Barbour factory to enlist the help of the experts — where they make it look as good.
At the end of the advert, we see the young boy leap with joy on Christmas morning after finding out Father Christmas has fixed his dad's much-loved jacket. It ends with seeing the family out for a walk in the snow, with the father telling his son that one day the jacket will be his.
A recap of Barbour's 2019 Christmas advert
The heartwarming 2019 advert, titled Thanks Mrs C, follows Father Christmas through the decades as he delivers presents to children around the world.
Animated by Dave Urwin (who also created the original 1991 animated film), the story celebrates Barbour's 125th anniversary, while capturing the spirit of Christmas.
The two-minute short film begins with Father Christmas explaining how his classic red coat has become worn over the years. He then goes on to open a present from his wife, finding an iconic green wax Barbour jacket wrapped inside.
The advert then follow Father Christmas as he delivers presents on Christmas Eve over three different decades, the 1930s, 1960s and 2019 — while always wearing his trusted Barbour jacket. "You would not believe what we've been through. Ah, if only this jacket could talk," Father Christmas says, speaking to his helpful dog.
Packed with charm, the feel-good campaign shows Father Christmas stumbling over presents, spilling milk left out for reindeer and stumbling over a telephone wire. While his trusted jacket has kept him warm, it too has rips and tears from years of delivering gifts (and wriggling down the chimney).
At the end of the advert, we see Father Christmas sit down with a warm cup of tea, looking at a photograph of Mrs C and thanking her for the coat he has worn for the past 125 years.
"The vision that Barbour shared with us for this fantastic campaign complements the brand of Raymond Briggs' iconic Father Christmas," Iain Harvey, producer at Illuminated Films explains.
"The character is part of British heritage for so many families every Christmas and to celebrate 125 years with Barbour is certainly an exciting moment in the character’s own timeless history. For us at Illuminated Films, having recently celebrated 25 years, we can’t imagine what the next century will envisage!"
To celebrate the release of the new Christmas campaign, a special limited-edition Father Christmas pin will be given away with every Barbour purchase in selected stores and online.
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30 eco-friendly Christmas gifts for 2023
Bathroom Cleaner - Lavender/Rosemary/Peppermint 500ml
This natural bathroom spray puts the fun back into cleaning. Kind for your home and the planet, its gentle, safe formula has been enriched with essential oils and natural botanicals. The stylish glass bottle can be reused once it's empty.
No Christmas Day table is complete without a glowing candle. This beautiful scent, from small business Great House Farmstores, is at the top of our wishlist. Hand-poured and sustainably made, it boasts scents of vanilla, black pepper, cinnamon and oak. Just delightful.
Better still, you can refill your candle with one of their easy Pillar Refills. Simply choose one in the scent you'd like to try next and drop it into your empty candle pot.
Snuggle up and make your space homier with this beautiful wool throw in sage. Woven using traditional methods, it has been made using some of the finest yarns and pure Welsh wool. It's right at the top of our wish list...
Perfect as a basket, planter or pot holder, this large fabric storage pot with handles will help keep your home clutter free. The dark blue and natural linen pin stripe is a classic weave that co-ordinates beautifully with all interiors, while the waterproof lining means that it's also good for displaying herbs (and is easy to clean).
Dusty Orange Johari Waxed Cotton Bum Bag
Perfect for keen adventurers, this waxed cotton bum bag has been crafted from rugged leather, boasting brass trims and a water resistant finish. Like every order from Gandys, this bag is handmade in small matches using natural materials.
The Kentia Palm is the perfect indoor plant. Unbeatable when it comes to purifying the air, it's incredibly easy to care for and perfect for adding a bright pop of greenery without taking up too much space. We think a houseplant makes an excellent Christmas gift.
Made from recycled plastic bottles which would otherwise have ended up as landfill, these laptop cases fit a 13" machine and are water-resistant and machine washable too. There's two popper fastenings on the flap, and its still slim enough to pop in a rucksack. They're also recyclable too, as well as being vegan and cruelty free. We like this navy/peach colour combo, but there's two other designs to choose from. Kind Bag also donates 1% of all our sales to 1% For The Planet.
Fresh blooms are always a good idea. Surprise a loved one this Christmas with this stunning bunch, featuring alstroemeria, stocks, eucalyptus, lavender, poppy seed heads and ornithagalum. As well as looking pretty, they are delivered through the letterbox in 100% recyclable packaging, with easy arranging tips.
Here's one for the gin lovers. If you loved the Coronation gin as much as us, then order these miniature animal-illustrated tins full of deliciously crafted gin. The ultimate Secret Santa gift idea.
Bug hotels can shelter anything from hedgehogs to toads, solitary bees to bumblebees, and ladybirds to woodlice. Crafted from timber with a decorative woven bamboo finish, this bee and bug hotel from John Lewis will provide a haven for lots of different minibeasts. Perfect for the wildlife lover in your life.
Tea bags are sealed with plastic, so unless it specifically states that it is plastic-free, your favourite brew is likely to contain plastic. Instead swap to this independent brand, which is based in Manchester. The whole package is free of plastic, where the exterior packaging is cardboard and the inner "plastic" looking film is actually made from NatureFlex and can be composted.
Each tea bag is made from cornstarch, and can be composted at home, without worrying that it is putting plastic into your compost or soil. The tea is excellent quality and has since first trying it has become our daily go-to. Brew Tea is part of the Ethical Tea Partnership which supports small estate growers. The packs are all a little cheaper if you subscribe too.
This charming red felt robin — handcrafted in India using traditional techniques — makes a wonderful stocking filler. Bringing plenty of festive charm, place him on your fireplace, sideboard or coffee table.
The fully electric Kensington e-bike from Volt is something special. The design is classic and stylish, it's practical with storage options on the front and back, and it's a joy to ride. It's Lithium Ion 36v battery lasts up to 60 miles and makes for effortless cycling. Live in a hilly area so choose to use your car instead of your bike? With this bike, that's not a problem. Simply choose between five different power modes to get you anywhere. It's got top level security and locking systems, too. This is, admittedly, a more expensive gift but if it means using the car less and saving on both fuel cost and emission fumes, it's a worthy investment.
Made in Devon by Willie Harcourt-Cooze's artisan chocolatiers, the brand goes further than the Fairtrade standard, and instead champions what he calls "direct trade" meaning he buys his ingredients directly from farmers. The chocolate isn't certified organic, but Willie only buys from farmers that don't use chemicals. The brand is best known for its truffles, so this box of praline truffles dusted with sea salt is the ultimate luxury for dark chocolate fans. You can also personalise the cardboard sleeve on the outside too.
SURI, the recently launched sustainable wellness brand, has just created an eco-friendly toothbrush to help combat the wasteful impact of oral care. Available in a range of colours, the toothbrush features an aluminium handle and plant-based heads. It also has a long-lasting rechargeable battery, that lasts for around 30 days between charges.
"The days of choosing between keeping the planet or your teeth clean are over," says Gyve Safavi, co-founder, of SURI.
An RHS membership lasts all year and will allow the receiver to spend more time enjoying beautiful gardens and flower shows. They'll be able to learn more about gardening and how to welcome more wildlife into their own outdoor spaces.
To be more eco, consider travel to and from RHS locations. Can you get public transport or car pool with a group of people who would like to go? Can you visit them when you are already in the area instead of making a special journey?
Surprise a loved one with this beautiful cosmos printed, handmade using water-based ink on Fabriano Rosaspina paper. It's also available in black.
Made from soft organic cotton and featuring coconut buttons, this knitted oatmeal cardigan has a boxy look and ideal for staying snug in autumn. We love the added stripe detailing at the top.
Looking for a tasty tipple? The first vodka of its kind, Respirited is bottled in 100% recycled glass, uses a sustainable cork and has a compostable capsule with the label printed on recycled paper. Raise your glass to the festive season.
Alleegra Organic Cotton Velvet Jacket - Dark Sapphire Blue
A wardrobe staple, this organic cotton velvet jacket is perfect for special occasions. In royal sapphire blue, it has a super-soft feel and has been crafted from recycled materials.
A perfect stocking filler, these tooth tabs are a plastic-free toothpaste alternative that are worth a try. They are ideal for travelling or look great on your bathroom shelves compared to the ugly tubes we have become used to. Designed by dentists, they are eco-friendly, vegan, plastic-free and British-made.
Forget about using clingfilm or tinfoil if you're saving fruit and veg from drying out in the fridge, or covering up some leftovers. Beeswax wraps will do the job perfectly, and cling to whatever you're trying to wrap, keeping the air out. They are reusable for years too, making them sustainable compared to their single use counterparts. Coming in a pack of four of varying sizes (small, medium and large), these little wraps will be of no end of use in your kitchen.
This linen bread bag is both beautiful and practical. Take it to the bakery or supermarket and feel better about not bringing your purchase home in a plastic wrap.
Country Living subscription
We've made the switch from plastic bags to paper wraps on our subscriber copies, making a Country Living subscription a worthy eco-friendly Christmas gift. All our paper is FSC certified and can be recycled.
We've all heard the devastating truths about how much plastic is in our tea bags. The alternative? Go loose. All you need to make a loose leaf brew is a beautiful tea pot and a strainer (£4.87, Amazon). We like to use metal tea bags (£4.99, Amazon), which are great for single mugs, too.
For bookworms, this is a great packaging-free gift they can enjoy for months. On top of one book credit a month to download new releases, Audible members can enjoy a host of free books and podcasts too.
Tried, tested and loved by our CL digital team, these merino wool trainers are completely waterproof thanks to weather-repellent natural materials. The are warm, cosy and look amazing.
Help a loved one welcome more birds into their garden with this stylish bird box. Watching them flit in and out will be a mindful and soothing activity and the birds will be grateful for the help.
Tried, tested and loved by our CL digital team, there's a reason why Ethique's hair and skin bar range has been a huge hit since it made its debut in Holland & Barrett last year. This shampoo bar is made using pink grapefruit and warming vanilla and foams up just as generously as a liquid shampoo. Slightly more expensive than a bottle of shampoo, it lasts a lot longer so is actually cheaper over all.
Helping to make pack lunches both zero-waste and stylish, this reusable lunch box from Black & Blum is made from stainless steel with a bamboo lid. It's perfect for carrying sandwiches or small snacks, all of which can be kept safe with the rubber band that secures around the middle.
Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
Emma-Louise Pritchard is the Membership Director for Country Living UK & House Beautiful UK, previously Executive Digital Editor for Country Living UK. Emma-Louise is a digital expert specialising in content strategy, social media and newsletters. Her topics include sustainability, homes and interiors, gardening, health and wellbeing, pets, travel and countryside news. She has previously written for Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan and has won several awards, from AOP Digital Editor of the Year 2019 to PPA 30 Under 30. Emma-Louise studied at Cardiff University where she completed an MA in Magazine Journalism.
