The history of the famous English brand Burberry begins in 1878. A former apprentice draper in a small workshop managed to turn the world upside down and become part of history. His journey began in the county of Hampshire. There young Thomas worked and gained experience from a local tailor.
A few years later, a small store opened selling casual outerwear as well as waterproof sportswear, which was a huge success among travelers and explorers.
In 1878, Thomas Burberry founded a factory that was engaged not only in the production, but also in the supply of military equipment for the British army.
And in 1879, Thomas Burberry invented gabardine – the world’s first “breathable” water-repellent fabric, which has no analogues. The new product very quickly replaced the old, heavy and impractical materials previously used in the production of waterproof clothing. Gabardine got its name from a secluded place in the works of Shakespeare in which one could hide from the weather.
In 1888, the gabardine production technology was patented. Gabardine has become an excellent alternative to the previous heavy mackintosh raincoats that hampered movement. And wartime required dexterity and speed from soldiers.
In 1901, Burberry started thinking about their logo. The design was inspired by the Middle Ages. The emblem represented a mounted knight in armor with a shield and banner. On top of the banner was the symbolic word “Prorsum”, which translated into Russian means “forward”. In 1909 it was registered as an official trademark.
In 1912, the Tielocken raincoat was patented, which became the predecessor of the famous Burberry trench coat – a model of a rain trench coat with classic Burberry “chips”: double-breasted, with shoulder straps and a turn-down collar, cuffs, a yoke, a belt and a slit at the back. The style of the Tielocken raincoat had a slightly different cut and design – without a fastener with a belt and a buckle and a button on the collar.
In the period from 1910 – 1925. the company is growing rapidly, announcing clothing lines for men and women, and opening branded stores. During the war and post-war periods, gabardine raincoats were actively used by the army and famous travelers on expeditions.
In the 20s, Burberry gained additional fame thanks to cinema. In Burberry clothes you can see characters from such famous films as “Casablanca” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, and even the famous TV series “Agatha Christie’s Poirot”.
The brand gained incredible popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. World stars began to dress up in Burberry clothing. And during the 1970s and 1980s, Burberry acquired the status of a brand and entered the list of famous world fashion houses. An agreement was signed with global manufacturers to release additional products and expand the range. The number of new items included suits, trousers, shirts, sportswear, accessories for men, women and children.
As befits any famous fashion house, Burberry began producing its own signature perfume. The first Burberry fragrance was released in 1981. It was developed in collaboration with Inter Parfums, which has licenses to produce perfumes under the brands Banana Republic, Celine, Christian Lacroix, FUBU, Gap and many others. etc.
Unfortunately, Thomas Burberry died in 1926, long before the incredible changes and popularity of his invention. The company was headed by his second son Arthur Michael. He successfully managed his father’s business until the early 1950s. In 1955, Burberry was acquired by Great Universal Stores (GUS). In the period from the 50s to the 2000s. Not a few company managers have changed. From 2018 to the present, the company is headed by Riccardo Tisci.
