The V&A and Burberry Open a Display Celebrating the History and Innovation of the Burberry Trench Coat
Rare material from the Burberry Archive and the V&A collection to go on show at the museum to mark the brand’s 170th anniversary
From the 21 September until the 3 January 2027, the V&A and Burberry will open ‘The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon’ – a free display at V&A South Kensington celebrating a fashion staple that has adapted and endured through the decades, marking Burberry’s 170th anniversary. Bringing together rare material from the Burberry Archive and the V&A collection, the display offers a concise history of the Burberry trench from its origins as practical outerwear and military attire to a world-renowned icon of fashion, rooted in a contemporary British sensibility and celebrated globally.
Situated in the museum’s rarely seen Prince Consort Gallery, whose mahogany cabinets once held fabrics from the textile collection, it offers a snapshot of the history of Burberry, a house that epitomises timeless British luxury.
Beginning with ‘Invention’, the display explores Thomas Burberry’s invention of cotton gabardine in 1879 and how its use in the Burberry trench established the coat as a sought-after piece of protective outerwear, combining function and style. It highlights the trench’s evolution into a design classic that has remained relevant for more than a century. Unpicking the carefully crafted elements that make up the Burberry trench, the focus on ‘Craft’ highlights details such as the hand-finished collar and distinctive House Check lining, the storm flap and detachable throat latch, all of which provide protection when the weather turns.
The display concludes with ‘Creativity’, spotlighting 19 runway looks from the past two and a half decades, including designs by Chief Creative Officers Daniel Lee and Christopher Bailey, celebrating the continued reinvention of the Burberry trench. Inspired by a John Constable oil painting of Hampstead Heath in the V&A collection, a ceiling of clouds illuminates the final section of the gallery, reflecting the British weather. The display also traces the long-standing relationship between Burberry and the V&A, two pillars of British fashion that share a commitment to ensuring that their heritage and collections inspire the next generation of creatives.
Oriole Cullen, Senior Curator, Fashion and Textiles at the V&A, said: ‘In advance of the V&A and Burberry partnership on the forthcoming Fashion Gallery, we are delighted to work with the Burberry Archive to showcase the history of the celebrated trench coat: a British fashion staple that has stood the test of time and continues to evolve over a century on. The display includes a range of rarely seen objects from the Burberry Archive that tell the unique story of the Burberry trench, and showcases standout examples of how the classic style has been creatively reimagined by Burberry’s Chief Creative Officers.’
Carly Eck, Brand Curator, Burberry, said: ‘The Burberry trench is a global design icon rooted in British craftsmanship and a symbol of innovation, creativity and timeless style. In this special display, a myriad of objects from the brand’s Archive will be publicly exhibited for the first time – from early 20th-century catalogues to a Burberry trench coat worn by fashion designer Hardy Amies. We are thrilled to partner with the V&A as a highlight of our global celebrations marking 170 years of the house.’
The display opens ahead of the launch of The Burberry Gallery in autumn 2028 – a major transformation of the V&A’s fashion galleries at V&A South Kensington, supported by Burberry as part of a multi-year partnership with the museum. The redesigned gallery will offer a spectacular space, inspiring visitors and enabling them to experience fashion in innovative and exciting ways.
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