Burberry and V&A Announce 'The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon' Exhibition

Summary

Burberry and the V&A will present a free display dedicated to the heritage of the trench coat in London from September 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027

Marking Burberry’s 170th anniversary the exhibition inside the Prince Consort Gallery explores fabric innovation construction details and runway evolution

The display features 19 runway looks from chief creative officers Daniel Lee and Christopher Bailey alongside unseen archival artifacts

Burberry and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) have officially announced The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon, a free exhibition opening at V&A South Kensington on September 21, 2026. Celebrating the British house’s 170th anniversary, the display brings together rare archival material alongside historic garments from the museum’s permanent collection.

Hosted inside the mahogany-fitted Prince Consort Gallery, the presentation is structured into three distinct sections: Invention, Craft, and Creativity. The first section examines Thomas Burberry’s 1879 invention of cotton gabardine, highlighting the weatherproof fabric that established the garment’s functional foundation. The Craft section focuses on signature structural elements, including hand-finished collars, House Check linings, storm flaps, and detachable throat latches.

The final Creativity section presents 19 runway looks from the past 25 years, showcasing reinterpreted coats by Chief Creative Officers Daniel Lee and Christopher Bailey. Displayed artifacts also include early 20th-century catalogues and a personal Burberry car coat worn by British fashion designer Hardy Amies.

The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon runs from September 21, 2026, through January 3, 2027, at V&A South Kensington, laying the groundwork for the multi-year partnership ahead of The Burberry Gallery opening in Fall 2028.

The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon
September 21, 2026 – January 3, 2027
Prince Consort Gallery, V&A South Kensington