Burberry was founded on the principle that clothing should protect people from the weather. The original performance material, gabardine was invented by Thomas Burberry in 1879. The breathable weatherproof fabric revolutionised outerwear and opened spaces for wearers to explore the outdoors by providing warmth and protection from the elements.
For 169 years, Burberry has championed British craft and production. We proudly uphold that legacy today by preserving traditional craftsmanship while driving innovation in all areas of our business.
We seek to use responsibly sourced materials of the highest quality to make long-lasting products. When making business decisions, we consider environmental impacts and the wellbeing of people in our supply chain.
We create beautiful products inspired by our brand heritage and elevated by our instantly recognisable brand signifiers. Based in our London headquarters, our Design, Product and Merchandising teams work together to ensure our products delight and inspire our customers.
We weave gabardine and craft our iconic Heritage Trench Coats at our mill and factory in Yorkshire, UK. Our classic Burberry Check cashmere scarves are made in Scotland by our long-term partner Johnstons of Elgin. We operate wholly owned leather goods and technical outerwear centres of excellence in Italy and work with a network of global suppliers.
We sell products through directly operated stores, concessions and wholesale partners globally, as well as via Burberry.com. We provide exceptional customer service and ensure a seamless experience across in-store and online channels. For some products, including eyewear and beauty, we work with licensing partners to benefit from their product and distribution expertise.
Inspired by the principles of our founder, our purpose and values guide how we operate as a business. Our purpose, Creativity Opens Spaces, is supported by four values, which we uphold every day. We are creatively driven, forward thinking, open and caring, and proud of our heritage.
We foster talent and creativity in a purpose-driven environment. Our people’s diversity of skills, backgrounds and life experiences help drive innovation within our business. We are proud that our colleagues represent 129 nationalities across 32 countries and territories.
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We build and reinforce connections with our customers through desirable products and our iconic brand signifiers. We create unique experiences to provide exciting opportunities for customers to engage with our brand.
We aim to create sustainable long-term value for our shareholders. We allocate capital by reinvesting for organic growth and, subject to there being further capital available, we allocate it to dividends, strategic inorganic investments and additional returns to shareholders.
Our people are our greatest asset, and we endeavour to provide a rich and rewarding colleague experience. We aim to create workplaces where our people can grow, express their creativity and foster a sense of belonging. We also seek to protect and enhance the livelihoods of people in our supply chain, while respecting and upholding human rights.
We support local communities where we operate, with a particular focus on driving positive change in the lives of young people through the work of The Burberry Foundation. Our global youth empowerment programme, Burberry Inspire, works in partnership with local organisations to create opportunities for young people.
We engage with governments on a range of topics, including environmental, social, economic and governance issues. We work with governments to seek solutions to mutual concerns and to be a positive force wherever we do business.
We work collaboratively with our partners, which include suppliers, retail third parties, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society groups, to explore shared opportunities for development and innovation, and to drive social and environmental improvements for our communities.
We are dedicated to being a responsible business and working to reduce our impact on the environment. This includes managing climate and nature-related risks to ensure the long-term success and resilience of our business.
