Burberry marks 170th anniversary with V&A display of rare objects
‘The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon’ opens on 21 September 2026 in the museum’s Prince Consort Gallery, a space that once housed the V&A’s textile collection in mahogany cabinets and is only rarely opened to the public. Marking Burberry’s 170th anniversary, the display brings together rare material from the Burberry Archive and the V&A collection to trace the coat’s full story, from invention to icon.
The display moves through three chapters. ‘Invention’ goes back to 1879, when Thomas Burberry developed cotton gabardine: a lightweight, waterproof, breathable fabric. The trench coat it made possible became standard-issue for British officers in the First World War. ‘Craft’ focuses on the construction details that have defined every version since: the hand-finished collar, the House Check lining, the storm flap and detachable throat latch, built to keep out the weather and to last.
“A British fashion staple that has stood the test of time and continues to evolve over a century on.” Oriole Cullen, Senior Curator, Fashion and Textiles, V&A
The final section, ‘Creativity’, brings the story up to date with 19 runway looks from the past two and a half decades, including pieces by Chief Creative Officers Christopher Bailey and Daniel Lee. Early 20th-century Burberry catalogues will be shown publicly for the first time, giving a sense of how the house presented the garment to the world long before it became a global emblem of British style.
“A global design icon rooted in British craftsmanship and a symbol of innovation, creativity and timeless style.” Carly Eck, Brand Curator, Burberry
The display opens ahead of The Burberry Gallery, a major transformation of the V&A’s fashion galleries at South Kensington supported by Burberry, due to open in autumn 2028.
The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon is at V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL, from 21 September 2026 to 3 January 2027. Entry is free.
