‘The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon’ opening at V&A Museum

“The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon” opens at V&A South Kensington on Sept. 21. Image credit: Burberry

British luxury house Burberry is opening its archive inside a national museum.

Burberry and the V&A have announced “The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon,” a free display at V&A South Kensington running Sept. 21 through Jan. 3, 2027. Staged in the museum’s rarely used Prince Consort Gallery, it marks the house’s 170th anniversary and draws on rare material from both the Burberry Archive and the V&A collection.

“As we mark 170 years of the house, we are thrilled to partner with the V&A to celebrate the enduring legacy of the Burberry trench coat, a global design icon rooted in British craftsmanship and a symbol of innovation, creativity and timeless style,” said Carly Eck, brand curator at Burberry , in a statement.

“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.”

Three chapters, and a gallery to come

The display is structured in three parts. “Invention” covers Thomas Burberry’s development of cotton gabardine in 1879 and the fabric’s use in protective outerwear.

“Craft” isolates the coat’s construction, including the hand-finished collar, House Check lining, storm flap and detachable throat latch.

“Creativity” closes with 19 runway looks from the past 25 years, among them designs by chief creative officers Daniel Lee and Christopher Bailey.

Staged in the museum’s rarely used Prince Consort Gallery, the show marks the house’s 170th anniversary. Image credit: Burberry

Open to all, the display also functions as a preview. It launches ahead of The Burberry Gallery, a transformation of the V&A’s fashion galleries at South Kensington scheduled for autumn 2028 and supported by the house as part of a multi-year partnership with the museum.

“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,” said Oriole Cullen, senior curator of fashion and textiles at the V&A, in a statement.