When the fearless British draper Thomas Burberry set out to open his own store, perhaps even he couldn’t possibly envision how culturally phenomenal his brand Burberry would become over the next few decades.
It was in 1856 when Thomas Burberry opened his first namesake tailoring shop. He was just 21-years old, a fearless and creative person nonetheless. In the early phase of the realization of his vision, Burberry only focused on developing outerwear.
In its quest to innovate, the brand was the first to introduce gabardine in 1979. It’s been a brilliant success story for the brand and its founder, with the breathable yet water-resistant fabric taking Burberry to new heights. Ever since then, the brand has been regarded as an epitome of Britishness in fashion and recognized worldwide for its tartan prints and trendsetting elegance.
Want to learn more about this great institution in the fashion heritage? Just read on!
A Pioneer of Many Things in Fashion
Whether it is the introduction of Gabardine or the quality assurance it provided for its outerwear, Burberry was bestowed with the responsibility of designing some clothes for the British Army during the First World War. The brand took up the challenge with the introduction of the trench coat.
By then, they have already designed clothes for an adventurist like Roald Amundsen – the first man to reach the South Pole. A combination of such groundbreaking innovations and a plethora of celebrity endorsements over the first half of the 19th century made Burberry a luxurious streetwear brand. It was also when the tailor started using the famous Burberry check in its trench coat linings.
It may sound artificial now considering how influential Burberry is in the world’s fashion, but it was somewhat a brand loved and preferred by the rebellious youth. So, it was no surprise that the cultural shift between 1970 -1980 greatly benefitted the brand. Many celebrities and stars donned their dresses on the London streets and beyond, and created an influential following.
Encouraged by the success, it started to branch out a little and started offering complementary products along with its traditional British offerings. Once a family-owned designer brand eventually became a proven success story with its IPO launch at the beginning of the 21st century.
Burberry Keeps Reinventing in the 21st Century
Despite its particularly troubled few decades in the current century, Burberry keeps on enticing its fans with its incredible design. They are incredibly chic and contemporary, yet manage to exude a kind of grace and elegance synonymous with the quintessential British royalty.
The appointment of Riccardo Tisci as the brand’s chief creative director in 2018 has proved to be a brilliant move so far. As an Italian-born fashion designer, Tisci is rewriting the DNA of Burberry, while upholding its heritage and uniqueness in the new world. The results are astonishing, with everything from the iconic Trench coat to the cashmere scarves and accessories marking the case for another brave, new era in British fashion.