Burberry check is one of the most recognizable patterns in the world. Today Burberry sells checked clothes and accessories, perfume in checked flacons and even sport cars decorated with checks. There is nothing more British, than Burberry – at least, there is no company in fashion world, that promotes British style so passionately, affectionately – and successfully.
Tomas Burberry launched his business in 1856, and became famous for gabardine – light, yet very comfortable and warm fabric, used to produce coats. They say, Tomas Burberry was a keen sportsman, and clumsy, weighty coats, he has to wear when doing sports outdoors made him create something new. The first several decades Burberry’s company specialized in producing coats, that became especially famous after World War I (the coats Burberry produced for the British army became famous as “trenchcoats”). Among those, who adored or still loves Burberry clothes are Winston Churchill and Ronald Reigan, Peter Falk and Charlie Chaplin, and (what Burberry company is especially proud of) Her Royal Majesty Queen Elisabeth II. For many Brits Burberry coat has become a kind of a token: there is a superstitious, that for the first job interview to be a success, an applicant has to come to the interview in Burberry coat.]
The history of Burberry check started in 1924 in a Paris shop of Burberry. At that times the linen of the coats was done in checked (red, black, white and yellow) pattern, and a shop manager decided to show the linen of the coats, exhibited in the shop window, to the public. He opened the sides of the coats and fixed them open with the help of umbrellas. In a day Burberry umbrellas became as popular among the customers, as the coats themselves! Checked products came in and stay fashionable even today.
Quite aggressive and at the same time carefully planned export policy lead to the result of 300 outlets all over the world, not counting post sales and internet-sales. Annual turnover of more than $1,67 billion proves, the tactics was right.
