Burberry Blue Label
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Trench Coats
Recent Sales
20th Century Unknown Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
20th Century Unknown Top Handle Bags
2010s Japanese Evening Bags and Minaudières
2010s Trench Coats
2010s Italian Tote Bags
2010s Italian Tote Bags
20th Century Tote Bags
20th Century Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
20th Century Tote Bags
2010s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Tote Bags
20th Century Top Handle Bags
20th Century Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Blouses
21st Century and Contemporary Blouses
21st Century and Contemporary British Scarves
21st Century and Contemporary Scottish Ponchos
2010s Italian Scarves
2010s Italian Scarves
2010s Italian Scarves
21st Century and Contemporary British Mini Dresses
2010s Ties
2010s Italian Coats and Outerwear
2010s Chinese Shoes
21st Century and Contemporary British Mini Dress
2010s Shoulder Bags
Late 20th Century British Trench Coats
2010s Italian Trench Coats
2010s British Sandals
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Tote Bags
20th Century Unknown Mini Dress
2010s Italian Scarves
21st Century and Contemporary British Scarves
2010s Shirts
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Sport Jackets
1980s English Trench Coats
1980s British Single-Breasted Jackets
1960s British Capes
Burberry Blue Label For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Burberry Blue Label?
Burberry for sale on 1stDibs
Burberry, a luxury British fashion house with origins in battlefield gear and outfitting real-life explorers, is universally renowned for its vintage trench coats, jackets, footwear and handbags. The brand has undergone several transformations since its inception in the 19th century.
When the 21-year-old apprentice draper Thomas Burberry (1835–1926) opened a small clothing outfitter in Basingstoke, Hampshire, in 1856, he catered to the needs of the local population, focusing on weatherproof clothing designed for outdoor activities like hunting, riding and fishing.
Building on his success, Burberry researched more fabrics that would be suitable for these country pursuits. In 1888, he patented gabardine, a durable, breathable fabric that was ready for any British weather. The material was groundbreaking for rainwear, which previously had been bulky and heavy. Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen wore it on his 1893 North Pole expedition and Burberry later outfitted Sir Ernest Shackleton on his Antarctic expeditions. These high-profile demonstrations of its design for extreme conditions fueled Burberry’s growth as a trusted brand.
The Tielocken coat — a forerunner to the trench coat — was patented in 1912, featuring just a button at the collar and a single strap. Higher-ranking British officers during World War I donned trench coats designed by the likes of Burberry, Aquascutum and other firms.
The design of Burberry’s classic trench demonstrated a consideration of the demand for both weather protection and function on the battlefield, with every element having its purpose, whether it was the epaulets for an officer’s rank or the gun flap at the breast. When the now-familiar check — a plaid check with black, white and red stripes on a background of beige — was added as a lining during the 1920s, a fashion icon was born. Scarves and other items featuring the pattern rendered the Burberry plaid an instantly recognizable hallmark of the house around the globe.
The brand continued to gain popularity throughout the 20th century, but by the 1990s, it was in dire need of a refresh. By the time Christopher Bailey was named design director at Burberry in 2001, the check was so ubiquitous through rampant knockoffs that it had become a reference for kitsch rather than quality.
Drawing on its heritage of craftsmanship with a new streetwear edge, Bailey helped rebuild Burberry’s relevance as a reputable fashion brand. Key to this reimagining was developing an understanding of how to democratically market high-end luxury fashion. Milestones in this regard materialized in 2010, when Burberry became the first brand to livestream a fashion show (and did so using 3D technology), and in 2020, when the house brought its London Fashion Week presentation to Twitch, a popular American livestreaming service. The international visibility brought with it renewed interest in the brand, which eventually revived its tartan after dropping it from many of its clothes, including in a 2018 collaboration with Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy that swathed shirts, dresses, coats and bags in the check.
Although tastes have changed, the signature trench coats that date back to Burberry’s beginnings remain at the brand’s core, with new fabrics and fits continuing to adapt this British style classic to contemporary trends.
Find vintage Burberry trench coats, shoes, handbags and other outerwear and accessories on 1stDibs.
- Why is Burberry so expensive?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Since its inception in 1856, Burberry has become one of the world's most premiere fashion houses. Known for the classic trench coats with a plaid lining, Burberry pieces are made with high quality materials and attention to detail.
Read More
How to Tell If Your Burberry Coat or Bag Is Authentic
The iconic British brand is irresistible to fashion lovers — and counterfeiters. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.