Thomas Burberry founded Burberry in Basingstoke in 1856.
Burberry began when Thomas Burberry, a 21-year-old former draper’s apprentice, opened a store specializing in outdoor clothing. The company’s early identity centered on weather-resistant garments and practical textiles rather than formal eveningwear.
Its most important technical development was gabardine, a tightly woven, breathable, weatherproof fabric patented by Burberry in 1888. The fabric was later used for military and expedition clothing. Burberry also became strongly associated with the trench coat, whose design developed from military outerwear during the First World War.
The brand’s check pattern became another major visual identifier, but it appeared after the company’s original focus on protective clothing. Burberry is sometimes confused with other British outerwear labels, yet its founding date and connection with Thomas Burberry distinguish it clearly.