• Website: burberry.com
• Founded: 1856, Basingstoke, England.
• Founder: Thomas Burberry
• Owned By: Burberry Group plc
• Known For: Trench coats, gabardine, Burberry Check, Equestrian Knight Design, British outerwear
• Category Focus: Outerwear, ready-to-wear, handbags, footwear, scarves, accessories, fragrance, beauty
Burberry is one of Britain's most influential luxury fashion houses, renowned for weatherproof outerwear, textile innovation, and a distinctly British identity. Founded in Basingstoke in 1856 by Thomas Burberry, the company began by creating practical clothing designed to protect people from the British weather before expanding into ready-to-wear, handbags, footwear, scarves, accessories, fragrance, and beauty.
Known for combining function, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage, Burberry created some of fashion's most recognizable signatures. House codes—including gabardine, the Burberry Check, trench coat details, and the Equestrian Knight Design—remain central to its global identity.
Today, Burberry operates as an independent publicly listed company, continuing to shape British luxury under Chief Executive Officer Joshua Schulman and Chief Creative Officer Daniel Lee.
Heritage Trench Coat
Kensington Trench Coat
Chelsea Trench Coat
Camden Car Coat
Burberry Check Scarf
Quilted Jacket
Knight Bag
Burberry Goddess
Burberry's story began in 1856, when 21-year-old Thomas Burberry opened a clothing store in Basingstoke, England. Believing that clothing should protect people from difficult weather without restricting movement, he developed practical outerwear for travelers, explorers, soldiers, and everyday life.
The invention of gabardine, a lightweight and breathable weather-resistant fabric, established Burberry as a pioneer of functional clothing. The Tielocken coat and military trench coat later transformed technical outerwear into enduring symbols of British style.
Today, Burberry continues to reinterpret its archive through fashion, accessories, music, film, and British cultural collaborations while preserving its historic connection to outerwear craftsmanship.
Key milestones:
• 1856: Thomas Burberry establishes his clothing business in Basingstoke, England.
• 1879: Thomas Burberry invents gabardine, a breathable and weather-resistant fabric.
• 1891: Burberry opens its first London store on Haymarket.
• 1901: The Equestrian Knight Design is created following a public competition.
• 1912: Burberry patents the Tielocken, an early predecessor of the trench coat.
• 1914–1918: Burberry develops practical military outerwear that evolves into the modern trench coat.
• 1920s: The Burberry Check is introduced as a lining for the house's raincoats.
• 1955: Burberry receives a Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II as a weatherproofer.
• 1999: The company changes its name from Burberrys to Burberry and introduces a modernized identity.
• 2002: Burberry becomes publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Burberry transformed protective outerwear into an international fashion language, combining practical innovation, British identity, and enduring design.
“Burberry transformed protection from the weather into an enduring expression of British style. Its strength lies in combining function, craftsmanship, and cultural identity.”
Burberry matters because it transformed functional outerwear into one of the world's most recognizable expressions of British luxury.
Its influence can be seen across:
• The evolution of the modern trench coat
• The development of weather-resistant luxury clothing
• The global recognition of heritage check patterns
• The connection between fashion and British culture
By combining technical innovation, outerwear craftsmanship, and modern British creativity, Burberry continues to define contemporary luxury.
