Burberry and the V&A Celebrate the Trench Coat’s Legacy With “Crafting an Icon” Exhibition

British luxury house Burberry and the Victoria and Albert Museum have announced “The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon,” an exhibition exploring the history, craftsmanship and continued evolution of one of fashion’s most enduring garments.

Marking Burberry’s 170th anniversary, the free exhibition will run from September 21, 2026, through January 3, 2027, at the Prince Consort Gallery in V&A South Kensington.

Bringing together rare materials from the Burberry Archive and the V&A’s collection, the exhibition follows the trench coat from its utilitarian and military origins to its emergence as a globally recognized fashion icon, one that remains deeply connected to British design and contemporary culture.

Summary

Inside the Prince Consort Gallery

The exhibition will take over the museum’s rarely seen Prince Consort Gallery, a historic space whose mahogany cabinets once housed fabrics from the V&A’s textile collection.

Against this distinctive setting, the exhibition presents a focused portrait of Burberry and its role in shaping the language of British luxury. More than a study of a single garment, the display examines how technical innovation, skilled construction and creative reinterpretation transformed the trench coat into a lasting cultural symbol.

From Invention to Craft

The exhibition unfolds across three chapters: “Invention,” “Craft” and “Creativity.”

The opening section begins with Thomas Burberry’s invention of cotton gabardine in 1879. Lightweight, breathable and resistant to the elements, the material helped establish the Burberry trench as a highly functional form of protective outerwear while giving it the refined appearance that would define its enduring appeal.

The section charts how this meeting of utility and style allowed the trench coat to move beyond its practical beginnings and become a design classic that has remained relevant for more than a century.

“Craft” turns its attention to the construction of the coat itself. The section highlights details including the hand-finished collar, signature House Check lining, storm flap and detachable throat latch, elements originally designed to provide protection in changing weather conditions.

Together, these features reveal the precision and technical knowledge behind a garment whose apparent simplicity is supported by generations of British craftsmanship.

Nineteen Runway Looks From the Past 25 Years

The final chapter, “Creativity,” considers how the trench coat has been continually reimagined for contemporary fashion.

Nineteen standout runway looks from the past 25 years will be presented, including designs by Burberry Chief Creative Officers Daniel Lee and Christopher Bailey. Through changing proportions, materials, colors and styling, the selection demonstrates how the house has repeatedly transformed the trench while preserving its recognizable identity.

The exhibition will also examine the long-standing relationship between Burberry and the V&A, two institutions whose archives and collections have helped preserve British fashion history while inspiring new generations of creatives.

A British Fashion Staple That Continues to Evolve

Oriole Cullen, Senior Curator of Fashion and Textiles at the V&A, described the trench coat as “a British fashion staple that has stood the test of time,” emphasizing the significance of working with the Burberry Archive ahead of the partners’ forthcoming Fashion Gallery.

Burberry Brand Curator Carly Eck similarly characterized the coat as “a global design icon rooted in British craftsmanship.” She noted that numerous objects from the brand’s archive will be publicly exhibited for the first time, ranging from early 20th-century catalogues to a Burberry trench coat worn by British fashion designer Hardy Amies.

Looking Ahead to The Burberry Gallery

“The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon” arrives ahead of the opening of The Burberry Gallery in fall 2028.

Supported by Burberry through a multi-year partnership with the V&A, the project will involve a major transformation of the museum’s fashion galleries at V&A South Kensington. The redesigned space is intended to offer new ways for visitors to experience fashion, design and material culture.

Founded in Britain by Thomas Burberry in 1856, Burberry has built its identity around innovation, craftsmanship and exploration. By placing the trench coat at the center of the exhibition, “Crafting an Icon” offers a timely examination of how one functional garment came to embody more than a century of British creativity.

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