Burberry
Burberry Group plc · United Kingdom
Burberry is a British luxury brand founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry and listed on the London Stock Exchange, where it is part of the FTSE 100. Best known for the trench coat, gabardine and its check, it is in the middle of a turnaround led by chief executive Joshua Schulman since 2024.
| Founded | 1856, Basingstoke |
|---|---|
| Founder | Thomas Burberry |
| Owner | Burberry Group plc (London Stock Exchange) |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Chief executive | Joshua Schulman (since 2024) |
| Chief creative officer | Daniel Lee (since 2022) |
| Website | burberry.com |
What is Burberry?
Burberry Group plc is a London-headquartered luxury company that designs and sells ready-to-wear, outerwear, leather goods, accessories and beauty. It describes itself as a global luxury brand with a British heritage built on clothing that protects people from the elements.
History
Thomas Burberry opened his first store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, in 1856. In 1879 he introduced gabardine, a breathable, water-resistant fabric made by waterproofing the yarn before weaving. The trench coat was adapted for British officers during the First World War and later became a civilian classic, and the Burberry Check has been used as a lining since at least the 1920s. The company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2002.
Products and positioning
Outerwear remains the core of the brand, with the trench coat and cashmere scarves as signature products. Daniel Lee, formerly of Bottega Veneta, has been chief creative officer since 2022 and has refocused design on outerwear and British heritage codes such as the check.
- Trench coats and outerwear
- Cashmere scarves
- Leather goods and accessories
- Beauty and fragrance, brought back in house after earlier licensing
Business model and distribution
Burberry sells mainly through its own stores and e-commerce, supplemented by wholesale and franchise partners in some markets. It was an early adopter of online sales, launching e-commerce in the UK in 2006. Joshua Schulman became chief executive in July 2024 after a profit warning and launched a turnaround focused on outerwear and core products. In May 2025 the company announced plans for up to 1,700 job cuts as part of £60 million in cost savings by the end of 2027. It operated 410 stores in March 2026, and revenue for the financial year to March 2026 was about £2.42 billion. Gerry Murphy is chair.
Why it matters
As one of the few listed British luxury brands, Burberry is a bellwether for UK fashion and for the challenge of repositioning a heritage label. Its turnaround is being closely watched as a test of whether a return to core outerwear can restore growth in a slower luxury market.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Burberry?
Burberry is owned by Burberry Group plc, a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange and part of the FTSE 100 index. It has no controlling shareholder.
Is Burberry a luxury brand?
Yes. Burberry is a British luxury brand known for its trench coats, gabardine and check pattern. Since 2024 it has been refocusing on outerwear and its British heritage under chief executive Joshua Schulman.