Thomas Burberry (then a tailor’s apprentice) founded the brand in 1856. What began as a collection of sturdy outerwear sold out of a shop in Hampshire, evolved to include jackets in airy, water-resistant gabardine by 1880. Ten years later, Thomas Burberry & Sons debuted in London’s West End. In 1911, the house outfitted the first explorers to reach the South Pole, and by 1914, adapted its coats for WWI soldiers fighting in the trenches (hence the trench coat). Its trademark check pattern lined its trench coats by 1920, and rose to national ubiquity by 1955, when Queen Elizabeth II awarded the house a Royal Warrant (its first of two). In 1961, the house dressed Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, introducing its branch of accessories by the mid-sixties. Aggressive retail expansion in the seventies and eighties spun Burberry into a household name, with stores in every major U.S. city. Embracing another image shift in the late nineties, Burberry furthered its hold on the luxury market through high fashion, debuting its first ready-to-wear collection under Roberto Menichetti, and launching major advertising campaigns. By 2001, Burberry became cool, thanks to then-CEO Rose Marie Bravo, who tagged Kate Moss as muse and Christopher Bailey as designer. Bailey cut his teeth under Tom Ford at Gucci, and he has brought that same sexy edge to the revered heritage brand. He unites punk with luxury, and edge with opulence. And while the house’s legendary coats (and sometimes tartans) still dominate, they serve as a canvas for Bailey’s covetable—and profitable—art.

Status

Established, Household Name

Clients

Kate Bosworth, Mena Suvari, Blake Lively, Kate Beckinsale

Other Product Lines

Beauty, Eyewear, Fragrances, Home, Handbags, Lingerie, Shoes, Underwear

Owned By

John Peace, Burberry Group PLC

Address

18-22 Haymarket
London, United Kingdom SW14DQ
44-20-7968-0000

Where To Buy

Burberry, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York , Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus

Related Websites

• Burberry (Official)
• Facebook: Burberry (Other)
• Style.com: Burberry Prorsum (Media)