The Story of

Burberry

DESIGNER DOSSIER · JUNE 2017

“ I see that fashion wears out more apparel than the man.”

Explore quintessential British brand Burberry’s longstanding link to playwright William Shakespeare, in this fascinating history of the designer…

William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act III, scene 3, line 120

The Story of Burberry

British Icon of Style and Culture

Burberry, known for its iconic outerwear, has an amazing history.

It’s been at the right hand of many historical figures and is one of the oldest, finest and most iconic fashion houses in England and the world. It is and always will be a British cultural treasure. Its credentials are epitomised in the fact that Thomas Burberry invented the fabric gabardine, a fabric mentioned by name in Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

Burberry has accompanied several great adventurers on their expeditions making great achievements around the globe. For example, the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, the first person to reach the South Pole, did so wearing Burberry. And British female pilot Betty Kirby-Green, who broke the world record for a return flight from England to Cape Town in 1937, was dressed by founder Thomas Burberry for the voyage. Her plane was even called The Burberry!

Thomas Burberry was born in 1835. He was an apprentice draper and one who must have had enormous drive and ambition, because this young man, aged just 21 established Burberry in Hampshire, England 1853. He specialised in outdoor clothing, something for which Burberry is still famous today.

Burberry did not merely specialise in rainwear; he revolutionised it. Up until then, the people of Hampshire had no choice but to wear heavy, cumbersome rainwear to withstand the rainy climate. They had no other option to keep dry…until Thomas Burberry introduced a new fabric, gabardine, which changed everything. The weather-proof, breathable fabric was lighter than any rainwear that the people of England had worn. It was named for a Shakespearean term meaning shelter from inclement weather. Burberry developed five different weights of gabardine, called “Air-Light,” “Double-Weave,” “Karoo,” “Wait-a-bit,” and “Tropical.” He even patented “Burberry-proofed” linings made from silk and wool. In this way, Thomas Burberry was an inventor and textile innovator, with a focus on weather-proof garments.

Gabardine was perfect for British soldiers in the trenches of World War 1, which is why the ‘trench coat’ is so-called. Burberry became best-known for men’s trench coats.

Owing to many successes, the company Burberry moved to England’s capital, London where it continued to grow and develop. The first international outlet opened in Paris in 1910. In time, the company began to offer umbrellas, watches, luggage, womenswear and childrenswear.

BURBERRY CAMPAIGN 2017

Signature Style

Burberry style is classic and easily recognisable. The brand was once synonymous with capes, one of their earliest specialisms. They are also best known for trench coats, and a distinctive check pattern called the Nova which is red, black and camel coloured. The trench and the Nova began together as a Burberry classic; the Nova was first used as the lining of a trench coat in 1924. The Nova is now used as something of a trademark and it can be found on many of Burberry’s products.

The Burberry look represents a style that is is smart, sophisticated, confident, somewhat understated and traditionally British. It’s colour palette of camel, red, black and white is a hallmark of the brand. Other colours such as navy blue or pale pink also feature, especially in the brand’s childrenswear offerings.

BURBERRY SUMMER COLLECTION 2017

Burberry Today

Burberry continues to operate from headquarters in Haymarket, London.

Burberry became popular in Britain, then Europe and now -in part thanks to celebrity ambassadors such as Lily James, Sienna Miller and prominently, the Beckham family, for whom son Romeo is the face of Burberry childrenswear and older son Brooklyn shot the 2016 photography campaign- and a genuine authenticity as a fine product, the brand has garnered popularity worldwide.