The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in South Kensington will open a free exhibition dedicated to the Burberry trench coat, titled 'The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon', running from September 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027 in the Prince Consort Gallery.
Exhibition Highlights and Structure
The display is split into three sections: 'Invention' explores Thomas Burberry's creation of cotton gabardine in 1879 and its use in the trench coat as functional protective outerwear; 'Craft' details the artisanry behind specific features like the hand-finished collar, check lining, storm flap, and detachable throat latch; and 'Creativity' showcases 19 runway looks from the past 25 years that reinvented the trench, including Christopher Bailey's pink metallic silk trench from 2013 and a purple baroque-print fringed coat from the winter 2025 collection.
Rare material from Burberry's archive will be publicly exhibited for the first time, alongside pieces from the V&A's collection. The exhibition is part of Burberry's 170th birthday celebrations.
Historical Significance
The trench coat has been worn since the 1910s, taken to the Antarctic by explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton in the early 1900s, and sported by British officers during WWI and WWII. It featured in iconic Hollywood scenes such as 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and 'Casablanca'.
Speaking on the exhibition, Carly Eck, brand curator at Burberry, said: '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. 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.'
Future of the V&A Fashion Gallery
The exhibition precedes the reopening of the V&A's Fashion Gallery, currently undergoing a major refurbishment supported by Burberry, set to reopen in autumn 2028 as the Burberry Gallery.
