1856–1879
A practical invention
Thomas Burberry opened his business in 1856 and developed gabardine in 1879. The tightly woven, weather-resistant fabric helped establish the company’s outerwear reputation.
The House & Its Designers
Burberry
Basingstoke · 1856
Weather protection became a British design language.
Burberry began with clothes made for life outdoors. Gabardine, the trench coat and the check supplied a vocabulary that later designers carried into ready-to-wear and leather goods.
3 photographs · Reviewed August 2026
Explore the history ↓
01 / The house
The story behind the name.
Early 20th century
The trench takes shape
Military and civilian outerwear helped define the belted trench. Its straps, buckles and functional pockets became familiar elements of the brand.
2001–2018
Bailey’s modern Burberry
Christopher Bailey linked the archive to music, digital presentation and a broader fashion wardrobe. Bags became another place to reinterpret the check and outerwear details.
2018 onward
Revisiting the codes
Riccardo Tisci introduced a new monogram and a sharper graphic direction. Daniel Lee, appointed in 2022, returned emphasis to British references and the equestrian knight.
02 / The designers
The people who shaped the house.
Selected creative chapters; dates distinguish appointments from runway debuts.
2001–2018
Christopher Bailey
Connected the trench and British cultural references to a modern fashion business.
2018–2022
Riccardo Tisci
Reworked logos and silhouettes with a graphic, urban emphasis.
Appointed 2022
Daniel Lee
Reinterprets outerwear, checks and equestrian motifs through colour and texture.
03 / The bags
A vocabulary in leather and form.
A selection of the house’s designs. Resale photographs illustrate individual examples; size, finish and condition vary.
01
Banner
A leather tote with the house check visible at the sides.
02
Belt Bag
A top-handle bag whose belted detail recalls a trench coat.
More designs to know
- Lola
- A quilted chain-strap bag marked by the interlocking TB emblem.
- TB Bag
- A structured flap bag centred on the Thomas Burberry monogram clasp.
- Title
- A top-handle design from Riccardo Tisci’s tenure, distinguished by stud detailing.
- Note
- A rectangular crossbody bag with a flap closure and adjustable strap.
- Pocket Bag
- An external front pocket defines this structured top-handle tote.
- Knight
- A supple leather bag with equestrian references in its hardware.