Burberry

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Image:Burberry handbag.jpg
A ladies' Burberry handbag in the company's trademarked check pattern

Burberry is a British luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing and other apparel. Its distinctive check pattern has become one of its most widely copied trademarks. The company has branded stores and franchises around the world, and also sells through concessions in third party stores. It also runs a catalogue business and has a fragrance line. Both HM Queen Elizabeth and HRH The Prince of Wales have granted the company Royal Warrants. Today, Burberry's trademark products are its fashionable handbags and exclusive fragrances. The current Design Director is Christopher Bailey.

Contents

[edit] Early years

Burberry was founded in 1856 when 21-year-old Thomas Burberry (1835 - 1926), a former draper's apprentice, opened his own store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. By 1870 the business had established itself by focusing on the development of outdoors attire. In 1880 Thomas Burberry invented gabardine, a hardwearing, water-resistant, yet breathable fabric, in which the yarn is waterproofed before weaving. Gabardine was patented in 1888. Burberry was the original name, but then soon switched to Burberrys, after many customers from around the world began calling it Burberrys of London. This name is still visible on many older Burberry products.

In 1891 Thomas Burberry opened an emporium in the Haymarket, London, which still stands today and is the site of Burberry’s corporate headquarters. In 1904, the Burberry Equestrian Knight Logo was developed containing the Latin word "Prorsum" meaning forwards and registered as a trademark. In 1911 they also became the outfitters for Roald Amundsen, the first man to reach the South Pole, and Ernest Shackleton, who lead a 1914 expedition to cross Antarctica.

In 1914 Burberry was commissioned by the War Office to adapt its officer's coat, to suit the conditions of British contemporary warfare, resulting in the modern day "trench coat". After the war, the trench coat became popular with civilians. The iconic Burberry check was created in the 1920s and used as a lining in its trench coats. Over the years, it has been popularized by Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca and Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther films.

Burberry also specially designed aviation garments. A. E. Clouston and Mrs Betsy Kirby Green made the fastest flying time to Cape Town from London in 1937 and were sponsored by Burberry.

[edit] The Burberry Check

Image:Burberry check pattern.png
The trademarked Burberry check pattern.

The trench, black, white and red pattern known as novacheck or the 'Burberry check' was first used as a lining for their trenchcoat in 1924. It wasn't until as late as 1967 that the Burberry Check, now a registered trademark, was widely used on its own for items including umbrellas, scarves and luggage. Widely known to be associated with the british "chav" generation.

[edit] Closure of Treorchy factory

In September 2006 Burberry announced the closure in March 2007 of their factory in Treorchy, South Wales, moving 310 jobs to Hong Kong and mainland China. The firm stated that the Treorchy plant is "not commercially viable". The unpopular decision resulted in protests by workers outside the Burberry flagship stores in London, under the banner "Keep Burberry British". The high-profile campaign was masterminded by local Welsh Assembly Member Leighton Andrews and was supported by politicians from across Wales, including MEPs Glenys Kinnock, Eluned Morgan and Jill Evans. It was also backed by celebrities from the world of cinema, music and sport including: Prince Charles [1], Tom Jones [2], Sir Alex Ferguson [3], Ioan Gruffudd (the international face of Burberry), Emma Thompson, Rhys Ifans, Bryn Terfel, The Automatic, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Irvine Welsh, Michael Sheen, Steve Jones and William Saville. The PR disaster reached a new stage when local MP Chris Bryant made a motion on 23 January 2007 in Parliament to remove Burberry's Royal Warrant if it persists in its intention to move these jobs offshore. The debate lasted 23 minutes.[1]

The campaign has gone global with co-ordinated protests against the closure held in London, Paris, New York, Chicago, Strasbourg and Las Vegas. [2]

[edit] Controversy over fur

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PETA protests Burberry in White Plains, NY

In autumn 2006, animal rights organisation PETA made Burberry the focus of an international campaign, which is ongoing as of July 2007, over the continued use of fur in their clothing. The campaign has involved catwalk protests at fashion shows, appearances in front of Burberry stores, and a dedicated website.[4] PETA have also picketed the head offices in London.

[edit] Corporate history

Burberry was an independent company until 1955, when it was bought by Great Universal Stores (GUS), owners of UK High street retailers Argos and Homebase. Beginning in 2000, there were rumours of GUS releasing Burberry as an independent company. [5] But it was not until December 2005, when Burberry was spun-off as the Burberry Group. Today, Burberry trades on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BRBY.

In the United States, the company currently has boutiques in these select locations Americana Manhasset, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Austin, Beverly Hills, Boca Raton, Boston, Canoga Park, CA, Charlotte, Chicago, Coral Gables, FL, Dallas, Denver, Hackensack, NJ, Houston, Kansas City, King of Prussia, Las Vegas, Mclean, Naples, FL, Natick, MA, New York City, Washington, DC, Northbrook, IL, Oak Brook, IL, Orlando, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Scottsdale, Short Hills, Minneapolis at Mall of America , South Coast Plaza, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Troy, Michigan, and White Plains, NY

To complement the Burberry USA Shop Online, the UK in October 2006 launched their transactional store, and in March 2007, extended order fulfilment across selected European countries at Burberry UK & Europe Shop Online. In November 2007, fulfilment was again extended to the whole of the EU and Norway and Switzerland. Both sites offer the latest new arrivals and classic pieces across rainwear, outerwear, apparel, handbags, shoes & accessories including sunglasses, watches & fragrance.

Rose Marie Bravo, who led Burberry to mass market success from 1997 till 2006, has now become vice executive, while her former job has been given to former DKNY and Liz Claiborne manager Angela Ahrendts.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Prince Charles joins rebellion over Burberry move to China. Times Online (2006-11-26).
  2. ^ Tom Jones joins Burberry campaign. BBC News (2007-01-22).
  3. ^ Sir Alex on-side in 'Keep Burberry open' campaign. ICWales (2007-01-27).
  4. ^ PETA campaign website BloodyBurberry.com, campaign blog, catwalk protest reported by a fashion blog
  5. ^ Burberry earns independence. BBC News (2000-11-30).

[edit] External links

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Royal Warrant holders of the British Royal Family

Image:UK Royal Coat of Arms.svg Royal Warrants Granted by HM The Queen: Alden & Blackwell - A Nash - Angostura Limited - Akzo Nobel - Autoglym - Bentley - Bollinger - Britvic - BT - Burberry - Cadbury - Carphone Warehouse - Carr's - Castrol - Charbonnel et Walker - DHL Express - Dollond & Aitchison - Ede and Ravenscroft - Ford Motor Company - Gieves & Hawkes - H. P. Bulmer - James Purdey and Sons - John Lewis - John Lobb - Schweppes - Kinloch Anderson - Land Rover - MG - Martini & Rossi - Nestlé - Scottish & Newcastle - Steinway & Sons - Twinings - Waitrose - Weetabix Ltd. - William Drake - Windsorian Coach Ltd. - Vauxhall -

Image:Badge of the Prince of Wales.svg Royal Warrants Granted by HRH The Prince of Wales: Aboyne & Ballater - Aston Martin - Autoglym - Bentley - Burberry - Ede and Ravenscroft - Ford Motor Company - Gieves & Hawkes - Holland & Holland - J. Lock & Co. - James Purdey and Sons - John Lobb - Kinloch Anderson - Linn Products - Penhaligon's - Ritz Hotel - Shepherd Neame - Twinings - Vauxhall - Weetabix Ltd. - Winsor & Newton

Image:Philip Duke of Edinburgh Arms.svg Royal Warrants Granted by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh: Dollond & Aitchison - Ede and Ravenscroft - Gieves & Hawkes - Hatchards - Holland & Holland - J. Lock & Co. - James Purdey and Sons - John Lobb - Kinloch Anderson Ltd - Land Rover - Lyle & Scott - Penhaligon's - Truefitt & Hill -

cy:Burberry

da:Burberry de:Burberry fr:Burberry it:Burberry nl:Burberry ja:バーバリー no:Burberry pl:Burberry pt:Burberry ru:Burberry sk:Burberry fi:Burberry sv:Burberry

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