History of Burberry

 The Burberry Company was founded in 1855 when former draper's apprentice, Thomas Burberry, opened a store in Hampshire, England. The original store focused on outdoor attire and in 1880 Thomas invented gabardine, a water resistant breathable fabric. In 1891, a second Burberry shop opened in the Haymarket, London. This store still exists and is the headquarters for the current Burberry Corporation. Soon after, in 1901, Burberry developed its Equestrian Knight Logo, containing the word "prorsum," which translates to "forwards" and can still be seen on Burberry items.

 From its inception until 1955, Burberry remained an independent company, focusing on creating outdoor clothing for the likes of Roald Amundsen, the first man to reach the South Pole and Ernest Shackleton, known for his 1914 trek across Antarctica. In 1924, the iconic Burberry black, white, and red pattern known as the "Haymarket Check" pattern was created when the company began using it as a lining in its trench coats. By 1927, the "Haymarket Check" was a registered trademark and was used on items such as scarves, umbrellas, and luggage. The Burberry Company was so respected that it received a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1955. With the popularity of its original design, Burberry reached out to a younger market with the introduction of the bigger, diamond check pattern, known as "Novacheck" and an even more explosive version called the "Housecheck" during the 2006 Spring/Summer season.

 Since its inception in 1855, Burberry has been known for the luxury, modern classic style and functionality of its women's and men's wear, accessories and outerwear all designed around the internally recognized tartan print. In fact, the trademarked check pattern used by Burberry since the 1920s is one of the most widely copied designs. Burberry not only has its own international boutiques and franchises, it also sells through third-party stores in addition to its fragrance line and catalog business.