A product timeline - Burberrys

The company, founded in 1856 by 21-year-old Thomas Burberry, was established to produce clothing to protect people from the British weather. In 1879 Thomas invented gabardine which was a hardwearing breathable and weatherproof fabric.

1916 'The Burfon' Burberry Coat by Burberrys of Haymarket London

Striking example of descriptive advertising used in the early part of the twentieth century in the lead up to the First World War. Advertisements of the time were designed for black and white publications in newspapers. To see this advertisement, and others from our fashion advertising collections please get in touch.

1934 The Burberry Coat - Weatherproof - by Burberrys of Haymarket, London

Another fabulous design led full page advertisement from Burberrys. Typically of the time, this advertisement still relies heavily on descriptive copy writing but more space is given to the illustration.

1938 The Dual Burberry, Advertisement for a reversible Burberry coat by Burberrys or Haymarket, London

As time and technique moved on, Burberrys advertising changes with the times. The advertising is still in black and white but now the text is becoming secondary to the image.

1951 The Burberry Gabardine Coat by Burberrys of Haymarket, London

This distinctive mid-century full colour advertisement features Burberrys innovations in materials. The full coulour advertising shows off the companies new bright coloured gabardine fabrics.

1954 Burberrys 'A Distinguished Tradition' Early brand advertising

This mid-century full colour advertisemtn moves away from advertising a specific product and into the realm of brand advertising, selling an aspirational affluent lifestyle to consumers.

1958 The Walking Burberry Coat by Burberrys of Haymarket, London

This advertisement features an early reresentation of the distinctive Burberry check fabric lining which has become synonymous with the Burberry brand as we know it today.

One of the first notable uses of a Burberry was by the Norwegian explorer Dr Fridtjof Nansen on his polar trip around the Arctic Circle in 1893.

Further promotion of the brand came in 1911 when the company became the outfitters for Roald Amundson (first to reach the South Pole) and Ernest Shackleton (1914 expedition to cross Antarctica).

In 1924 George Mallory wore a Burberry gabardine jacket on his attempt on Mount Everest.

During the First World War Burberry created the Burberry trench coat specially designed for use in the trenches.

In the 1920s Burberry patented the Burberry check used for the lining of their coats.

In 1955 Burberry receive their Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth (as a weatherproofer) while in 1990 they are granted a Royal Warrant by Prince Charles as an outfitter.

In 1999 Burberry’s is rebranded as BURBERRY.

A beautiful full-colour Burberry Gabardine ladies coat mid-century advertisement from 1951.