Burberry
With its authentic, rich heritage, Burberry began in 1856 in Basingstoke, England and has today grown into a global luxury brand. The company, which invented gabardine, a breathable, weatherproof material originally worn by local sportsmen, has to date been twice awarded a Royal Warrant. Burberry undeniably possesses one of the most recognizable (not to mention, copied) trademarks. The black, red and tan check, originally dubbed the Haymarket, named after the company’s first location and initially introduced as a coat lining, has more recently morphed into the Nova, a larger take on the classic pattern. Burberry’s modern classic styles of apparel and accessories are geared towards women, men and children.
Defined by its iconic Trench, Burberry holds true to its roots with other best-selling outerwear consisting of coats in quilted, puffer and packable styles. So loved is the Trench, though, that Burberry die-hards can even submit their own photos wearing one for possible publishing on the site’s “Art of the Trench” section. Apparel, which is varied and seems to follow a spectrum of tonal hues, is also featured in specialty collections including Prorsum, London, Brit and Sport. Accessories like scarves, hats, jewellery and belts are smart, though handbags, especially those sporting the signature check, seem to reign in this category.
Burberry is keen on environmental and community awareness with a variety of programs in place throughout the company. Energy-saving light sensors and timers, less cleaning chemicals, waste reduction like “binless” recycling, plastic to paper packaging and sea versus air shipping initiatives are just a few of the brand’s named efforts. The Burberry Foundation was formed with a mission “to empower young people to use their intellectual creativity” in order to reach their life goals. Investing in select grassroots charities, the Foundation also encourages Burberry employee participation and regularly makes in-kind donations.
As represented by its prime collection, Prorsum (Latin meaning “forward”), Burberry’s longevity and successes are derived both from its solid history and progressive approach to the luxury goods marketplace.
For more information, visit www.burberry.com.
By Suzanne Petrizzi
