Burberry designer biography

Burberry family tree

As a young man, he apprenticed as a draper before establishing his own business in Basingstoke, Hampshire in Initially known as 'T. Burberry and Sons,' the shop quickly gained a reputation for its high-quality outerwear. Burberry's breakthrough moment came in when he invented gabardine, a breathable and waterproof fabric. Treated with a special process, gabardine became a sought-after material for its durability and versatility.

In , Burberry opened a wholesale business in London and a flagship store in Haymarket. In , Burberry designed an innovative military officer's coat that became the precursor to the modern trench coat. In , he officially registered the iconic Burberry knight logo and the Burberry trademark a year later. By , the company name was legally changed to 'Burberry.

After the war, the trench coat gained popularity among civilians and became a global fashion staple. Known simply as 'Burberrys,' the coat was widely imitated around the world. Despite not living to see the full impact of his business, Thomas Burberry died in at the age of