Burberry's British Inspiration

Founded in 1856 the Burberry brand has a rich historical and military past, on which it has drawn to establish itself as one of the most internationally recognised brands. Its distinctive Burberry check was first introduced in the 1920s as the lining for their trademark trench coat; however the brand became the favoured clothing of the Casuals in the 1970s and then became somewhat of a national embarrassment when it was later adopted by the unflatteringly-named ‘chavs'.

Burberry today has revitalised itself: although it shows its high-fashion Prorsum line for men and women in Milan, Burberry’s creative director Christopher Bailey consistently examines key British motifs in the label’s collections. Recent sources of inspiration include photographs of Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Windsor, the work of Cecil Beaton, the industrial paintings of L.S. Lowry and even the court of King Arthur.