What is Burberry?
Burberry is a British luxury fashion brand founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry. It is famous for its trench coats and its distinctive check pattern, in beige, black, red and white.
Thomas Burberry opened his first shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire. In 1879, he invented gabardine, a durable, waterproof and breathable fabric.
Gabardine was used by explorers, including Roald Amundsen, the first person to reach the South Pole.
The trench coat
During World War I, Burberry supplied coats to British officers. The coats were worn in the trenches, giving them the name trench coat.
The Burberry check, introduced in the 1920s as a coat lining, became one of the most recognized patterns in fashion.
In the early 2000s, the check became associated with a less fashionable image after it was widely copied. The brand later worked to restore its luxury reputation.
Burberry holds royal warrants and is headquartered in London. Its trench coats are still made in Castleford, Yorkshire.
The brand's runway shows during London Fashion Week attract worldwide attention, and its flagship store is on Regent Street in London.