Thomas Burberry (27 August 1835 – 4 April 1926) was an English fashion designer, and the founder of international chain Burberry, one of Britain's largest branded-clothing businesses. He is also known as the inventor of gabardine.
Early life and career beginnings
Born at Brockham Green near Dorking in Surrey, and educated at Brockham Green Village School, Thomas Burberry was apprenticed to a local draper's shop before he opened his outfitting business in Basingstoke in 1856. During this time, Basingstoke was just a small town with a population of only 4,500 people. Initially, his designs were inspired by everyday clothing worn by commoners. However later, Burberry began to experiment with the development of materials and clothing that could be used for outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting.
His main interest was developing waterproof clothing as well as a wider range of products. To do so, he partnered with British cotton manufacturers, and aimed to provide weatherproof textiles that would appeal to the growing middle-class and countryside. By 1878, he founded a larger factory, which focused on wholesale manufacturing and 'ready to wear' clothing, which employed over 200 workers by 1881.
With the success of gabardine, Burberry was able to order his son, Arthur, to start placing orders from the elites at the Jermyn Street Hotel, which ultimately led to the opening of Burberry's flagship store at 30 Haymarket. British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton wore Burberry gabardine for a total of three expeditions in the early 20th century, including the famous Endurance Expedition.
Retirement and death
Burberry retired to Abbot's Court near Weymouth, Dorset, in 1917.
After witnessing the transition of his company from a small store to a public company, Burberry, in 1920, Thomas Burberry peacefully died at his home at Hook near Basingstoke in 1926, aged 90.
Portrayal in film
On 1 November 2016, Burberry released The Tale of Thomas Burberry, a short film inspired by Thomas Burberry’s life and achievements, reimagining key events from the brand’s history. Filmed in the style of a cinematic trailer by Academy Award-winning director Asif Kapadia and written by Academy Award-nominee Matt Charman, it starred actor Domhnall Gleeson as Thomas Burberry.