What is the first name of Burberry's founder?

Burberry’s founder was named Thomas Burberry. He was an English outfitter and entrepreneur whose interest in practical clothing helped shape the company’s identity.

Born in 1835 near Dorking, Surrey, Thomas Burberry was apprenticed to a local draper before opening his own outfitting business in Basingstoke, Hampshire, in 1856. He focused on clothing for outdoor activities and difficult weather rather than beginning as a purely luxury-fashion designer.

His best-known contribution was gabardine, a durable, tightly woven fabric introduced by Burberry in 1879 and patented in 1888. The material helped establish the firm’s reputation for functional weatherproof clothing and later became closely associated with the trench coat.

Readers sometimes confuse Thomas Burberry with later Burberry designers, executives, or members of the Burberry family. The founder’s first name is Thomas; the company name comes directly from his surname. His legacy is especially tied to the combination of technical fabric innovation and recognizable outerwear.