170 Years of Burberry — Key Milestones
1856 — Thomas Burberry, 21, opens his first outfitter's shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire. Obsessed with protecting people from English weather.
1879 — Invents gabardine: waterproof the yarn before weaving. A textile revolution. Breathable, weatherproof, lighter than rubberised cotton.
1901 — The Equestrian Knight logo debuts with the word "Prorsum" — forwards. Burberry supplies kit to British officers in the Boer War.
1911 — Amundsen reaches the South Pole in Burberry gabardine, leaving a Burberry tent at the Pole itself.
1914 — The War Office commissions Burberry to adapt its officer's coat for the trenches. The "trench coat" is born. Over 500,000 issued to British officers in WWI.
1924 — The Burberry Check is created as a coat lining. Camel, red, black, white. Originally hidden inside.
1955 — Receives the Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II. Later receives warrants from the Prince of Wales.
1999 — The Nova Check explodes: hats, scarves, bikinis, bags. Becomes a cultural symbol — and a controversy.
2001 — Christopher Bailey appointed. Transforms Burberry from a raincoat brand into a global luxury house.
2006 — Burberry becomes the first luxury brand to livestream a fashion show.
2018 — Riccardo Tisci rebrands: new sans-serif logo, TB monogram, streetwear influence.
2023 — Daniel Lee takes creative direction. Returns to heritage, quiet luxury, equestrian roots.
170 years. From a 21-year-old's shop in Hampshire to a global luxury empire worth billions. Every decade shaped by innovation, craft, and reinvention.