History

1856

Thomas Burberry establishes Burberry in Basingstoke, England at just 21 years old. The company was founded on the principle that clothing should be designed to protect people from the British weather.

1879

Thomas invents gabardine, a lightweight, breathable, weatherproof and tearproof cloth. Its genius comes from the small pockets of air which allow for ventilation, revolutionising Burberry's textile innovation and creative legacy.

1888

Burberry patents gabardine.

1893

Norwegian polar explorer, zoologist and later recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize Dr Fritjof Nansen becomes the first recorded polar explorer to take Burberry gabardine to the poles when he sets sail for the Arctic Circle in 1893.

1897

Explorer Major F.G. Jackson, famed for mapping parts of the Arctic Circle, wears Burberry gabardine when undertaking an expedition to Franz Josef Land.

C. 1901

The Equestrian Knight Design (EKD) is crowd-sourced from a public competition to create a new logo for the brand. Imbued with symbolism, it represents protection, innovation and our forward-looking spirit. The banner reads ‘Prorsum’ which translates from Latin to ‘Forwards’, signalling the company’s direction of travel.

1909

Burberry opens the first Paris store at 8 Boulevard Malesherbes.

1910

Celebrated aviator Claude Grahame-White wears Burberry gabardine when he becomes the first person to fly between London and Manchester in less than 24 hours.

1911

Norwegian Explorer Roald Amundsen and his team becomes the first people to reach the South Pole with a Burberry gabardine tent and clothing. 

1912

British Explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole, wearing Burberry clothing and equipped with a Burberry tent. Tragically, he and his team lost their lives on the return journey.

Invented by Thomas Burberry, the Tielocken coat is patented. The predecessor to the trench coat, it proves popular among officers during World War I. The coat closes with a strap and buckle fastening and features a single button at the collar.

1913

Burberry moves to a larger London premise in Haymarket, having had a presence in the city since 1891. The store was designed by the noted architect Walter Cave.

1914

Thomas Burberry funds and furnishes an interdenominational hall in Maidenhead that welcomes people of all faiths.

1914 - 1917

Acclaimed British Explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton wears Burberry gabardine for three expeditions in the early 20^th century, including the Endurance expedition.  

1914 - 1918

During the First World War, Burberry provides apparel and equipment to the Armed Forces. Designed for the military, each detail of the Burberry trench coat serves a purpose: the epaulettes displayed insignia but could also display items such as gloves; the gun flap gave additional protection, the D-rings were used to attach military equipment; the storm shield allowed rain to run off more efficiently. These features of a Burberry trench remain today.

1915

The house donates a soup kitchen to the British Red Cross appeal.

1919

HM King George V grants Burberry its first Royal Warrant as a Tailor.

Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown wear Burberry aviator suits to pilot their plane in an exposed cockpit and complete the first non-stop transatlantic flight in 72 hours. Photo courtesy of Vickers.

1920's

The Burberry Check, now registered as a trademark, is introduced as a lining to rainwear. This marked the beginning of the unmistakable Burberry signature we know and love today. It is now one of our iconic brand codes.

1934

Burberry offers same day delivery for London-based customers.

1937

Burberry sponsors a record-breaking flight from Croydon to Cape Town in an aeroplane called ‘The Burberry’. Both aviators, Flying Officer Arthur Clouston and Betty Kirby-Green, wear Burberry.

1940's

During the Second World War, Burberry supplies the British Army with a range of military apparel and accessories, including the trench coat. Burberry also caters for various other divisions of the British Armed Forces, including the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, the Royal Pioneer Corps, the Officer Cadet Training Unit, and the Auxiliary Territorial Service - including the women’s division.

Despite the austere conditions imposed by war, Burberry continues to make civilian clothing during the 1940’s including weatherproofs, overcoats and suits for both men and women. Burberry adapts the product category to wartime to include women’s siren suits, which were designed to be worn in an air-raid.

1955

HM Queen Elizabeth II grants Burberry a Royal Warrant as a Weatherproofer.

Burberry is acquired by UK retailing group Great Universal Stores (GUS).

1960's

Burberry holds fashion shows in London, Paris, Milan, Brussels, Berlin and Tokyo, bringing its collections and inspiration to customers around the world.

1964

Burberry becomes the official outerwear supplier for the British women’s Olympic team who participates in the Tokyo Olympics.

By 1965

Burberry exports one in five coats from Britain.

1967

A buyer in Burberry’s Paris store has a flash of inspiration while preparing a fashion presentation for the British ambassador, Sir Patrick Reilly. She removes the check lining from a coat and uses it to wrap luggage and create an umbrella cover. The check accessory is born.

1967

Burberry’s first television commercial is broadcast in Britain.

1972

Burberry acquires a factory in Castleford, Yorkshire, where it continues to make its heritage trench coats today.

1990

Burberry is granted a Royal Warrant by HRH The Prince of Wales as an Outfitter.

1993

Burberry opens two stores in China.

1999

Burberry changes the company name from Burberrys to Burberry.

2000s

Burberry opens its first store on Bond Street, London, cementing the brand's status as an iconic, global luxury brand and becoming the blueprint for Burberry’s global store network.

2002

Burberry is listed on the London Stock Exchange in July following an initial public offering.

Christopher Bailey joins as Design Director.

2004

Burberry launches its first transactional website, serving customers in the United States.

2005

Burberry’s demerger from GUS plc, the company’s former majority shareholder, is completed.

2006

Burberry expands its transactional website to cover the United Kingdom.

2008

The Burberry Foundation launches, a philanthropic arm dedicated to helping young people realise their dreams and potential through the power of creativity. Burberry donates a percentage of annual group profit before tax to charitable causes.

2009

The Womenswear Spring/Summer 2010 runway show relocates to London from Milan, marking the 25th anniversary of London Fashion Week.

Burberry launches Art of the Trench, a website showcasing people around the world wearing their Burberry trench coats, providing a platform for the Burberry community to come together and connect with each other, one year prior to the rise of global social media platforms.

2010

Burberry is the first luxury brand to live stream its Autumn/Winter 2010 show online, bringing its collection into the homes of millions of consumers around the world.

2011

Burberry launches the expansion of its e-commerce website, Burberry.com, to serve 44 countries, in 13 different languages. Burberry is the first luxury brand to allow its customers around the world to interact with and shop its products online. 

2013

Burberry’s Prorsum Menswear Spring/Summer 2014 show returns to London from Milan, showing as part of London Collections: Men.

Burberry is the first luxury brand to create an Instagram account to inspire customers with engaging, beautiful and creative digital content.

2016

Burberry is the first fashion brand to make runway collections available to consumers for purchase immediately after the show.

2018

Burberry introduces the Burberry Rainbow check, a colourful reimagination of the house check, in support of LGBTQIA+ communities.

Burberry appoints Riccardo Tisci as Chief Creative Officer.

Burberry opens centre of excellence for leather goods in Scandicci, Italy.

The Burberry Foundation launches 'Burberry Inspire', a youth engagement programme designed to empower young people in Yorkshire through creativity. 

2019

Burberry launches its first Augmented Reality experience in London and Tokyo.

2020

Burberry retools the factory in Castleford, England, to make Personal Protective Equipment for the British National Health Service. Burberry leveraged its global supply chain to manufacture and source more than 160,000 pieces of PPE that it donated to the UK National Health Service and healthcare charities.

2022

Burberry appoints Daniel Lee as Chief Creative Officer.

2023

Burberry celebrates its heritage with the launch of a new book ’Burberry’. The richly illustrated volume is filled with material from the Burberry archive and beyond. 

The Burberry Foundation transforms its youth engagement programme, Burberry Inspire into a global initiative that will support 500,000 young people in three years. 

2024

Burberry supports 'ENDURANCE', the National Geographic documentary by recreating the garments worn by Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew on their landmark expedition to Antartica.