The Burberry Story
British Heritage Since 1856
British Heritage
Since 1856
1856
At just 21 years old, Thomas Burberry, a former draper’s apprentice, opens his first shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The store at No. 20 Winchester Street serves the local rural community, notably with clothing and fabric.
1879
Britain experiences a series of cold, rain‑soaked summers. Existing waterproof clothing is heavy, stiff and uncomfortable, made from waxed, oiled and rubberised fabrics. Thomas Burberry believes there must be a better way. He begins experimenting with weaving, searching for a fabric that keeps out the rain while remaining breathable.
The result is gabardine – a tightly woven cloth that transforms rainwear. Lighter, more flexible and built to last, it changes how coats feel and perform. The name comes from ‘gaberdine’, a word once used in the Middle Ages to describe a loose outer garment and later found in William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’. Revived for a new purpose, gabardine is patented in 1888.
Invented in 1879 and patented in 1888, gabardine has defined Burberry outerwear for more than a century.
1880s
Burberry capes are worn for outdoor pursuits including motoring, cycling and rambling. Often made from gabardine, they reflect the company’s early focus on function and movement. During this decade, the car coat appears – a practical design that predates the trench coat and remains part of Burberry’s outerwear language.
1891
Burberry opens its first London store at 30 Haymarket.
As demand grows, a wholesale division is established, with dedicated offices opening in Golden Square, London, in 1900. In 1913, the company moves to larger premises on Haymarket, designed by architect Walter Cave. The Haymarket store becomes Burberry’s flagship, serving the brand for nearly a century.
1901
Burberry’s Equestrian Knight Design is chosen through a public competition in the early 1900s. The emblem shows a mounted knight carrying a banner marked ‘Prorsum’, Latin for ‘Forward’, reflecting a spirit of progress that continues to define the brand.
1908
Polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton uses Burberry gabardine to cover his car’s engine to prevent it from freezing in Antarctica.
1912
Thomas Burberry patents the Tielocken coat. Fastened with a single strap and buckle and finished with a buttoned collar, it is widely regarded as the forerunner of the trench coat.
1915
Burberry donates a motorised soup kitchen to the Red Cross to distribute hot food to those in need.
1914–18
During the First World War, Burberry develops the trench coat for military use. Functional details – epaulettes, D-rings, a storm shield and gun flap – are introduced with purpose. More than 500,000 Burberry coats are worn by members of the armed forces.
Shaped by necessity, the coat evolves beyond its military origins. Designed to protect against the elements while allowing ease of movement, it becomes part of everyday life – worn on wet mornings and busy city streets, a coat people return to and rely on.
1919
Burberry is granted its first Royal Warrant by King George V as a ‘Tailor’.
1920s
The Burberry Check is introduced as a lining for rainwear – practical, distinctive and revealed only in glimpses. It is inspired by a long tradition of checks: in the 19th century, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert brought checks and tartans into fashion after establishing Balmoral Castle as their Scottish retreat.
Though not a tartan, the House Check echoes this tradition, reflecting a heritage of pattern and identity, later evolving into an enduring symbol of the brand.
The Burberry Check is introduced as a lining for rainwear – practical, distinctive and revealed only in glimpses. It is inspired by a long tradition of checks: in the 19th century, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert brought checks and tartans into fashion after establishing Balmoral Castle as their Scottish retreat.
Though not a tartan, the House Check echoes this tradition, reflecting a heritage of pattern and identity, later evolving into an enduring symbol of the brand.
1926
1926
After Thomas Burberry’s death at the age of 90, the business passes to his sons, Thomas and Arthur. His philosophy – clothing made to protect, adapt and endure – continues to shape the brand, visible in every piece and in the quiet practicality that defines it.
1940s
During the Second World War, Burberry supplies military apparel to multiple branches of the British Armed Forces. Uniforms and outerwear, including the trench coat, are designed with intention and built to perform.
1965
One in five coats exported from Britain is a Burberry product.
One in five coats exported from Britain is a Burberry product.
1967
In Burberry’s Paris store, a buyer has a moment of inspiration while preparing a presentation for the British Ambassador, Sir Patrick Reilly. Removing the check lining from a coat, she uses it to wrap luggage and create an umbrella cover. From this simple idea, the House Check accessory is born.
1968
Burberry shoots a campaign at the newly opened Hayward Gallery in London – marking the beginning of a long-standing relationship with the arts.
1972
Burberry formally acquires its factory in Castleford, Yorkshire. It is here that tradition and craft come together in the hands of skilled artisans – and where all Heritage Trench Coats are made.
1978
The first archival reference to the ‘Burbrolly’ appears – an umbrella featuring the Burberry Check.
1980s
Burberry introduces quilted jackets and the Harrington. Originally designed in the 1930s as a golf jacket, the Harrington had outgrown its sporting roots to become an icon of British subculture. By the 1980s, it is firmly embedded in fashion history, with Burberry campaigns highlighting its effortless versatility.
1988
Thomas Bear first appears in Burberry’s children’s book, ‘The Very Special Party’, as a teddy in a Burberry coat on his way to a garden party with friends. Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, bears feature across childrenswear. From 2002, Thomas Bear grows into a beloved gift and collectible – especially the key charm dressed for every season. In 2018, a giant inflatable Thomas Bear appears in New York, Shanghai and London.
1988
Burberry produces more than 280 kilometres of cashmere scarves – approximately the equivalent of a scarf stretching from London to York.
Burberry produces more than 280 kilometres of cashmere scarves – approximately the equivalent of a scarf stretching from London to York.
1999
1999
Under Chief Executive Officer Rose Marie Bravo, the company shortens its name from Burberrys to Burberry as part of a wider transformation into a global luxury fashion house. Alongside the rebrand, Bravo repositions the business upmarket, tightens control over licensing, expands internationally and refocuses the offer on design, innovation and brand consistency – laying the foundations of Burberry’s modern identity.
2000
Kate Moss stars in a campaign alongside Liberty Ross.
2001
Christopher Bailey joins the brand as Design Director, becoming Chief Creative Officer in 2009 and Chief Executive Officer in 2014. He spends 17 years shaping Burberry’s modern identity, defining its vision while pushing boundaries creatively and commercially, as well as driving digital innovation. He rethinks the runway and retail calendar, introducing a series of industry firsts. Through collections, shows, campaigns and retail experiences, Bailey establishes a distinct point of view – rooted in a contemporary British sensibility and celebrated globally.
2010
The Spring/Summer 2010 womenswear show relocates to London from Milan, marking the 25th anniversary of London Fashion Week.
2010
The brand announces Burberry Acoustic – a platform supporting the next generation of British musicians by giving them a stage to showcase their talent through live performances and exclusive content.
2010
Burberry Beauty launches, blending British elegance with modern sophistication across make-up and fragrance collections that reflect the brand’s heritage of innovation, craftsmanship and style.
2010
Burberry is the first brand to livestream a fashion show.
2018
Riccardo Tisci is appointed Chief Creative Officer. The renowned Italian designer reinterprets Burberry’s heritage through a contemporary lens, blending iconic house codes with streetwear influences, modern craftsmanship and a global vision for the brand.
2018
The Burberry and Vivienne Westwood collaboration launches, with Westwood’s celebrated designs reimagined in iconic House Check.
Daniel Lee is appointed Chief Creative Officer, marking the start of a new chapter. The Bradford-born designer brings a fresh perspective – rooted in craft, clarity and British identity. His vision reimagines the house’s codes, with renewed emphasis on artisanship and the enduring spirit of British design.
2022
2025
2025
The Knight attends his first Burberry runway show.
2026
