Thomas Burberry founded Burberry in Basingstoke in 1856 at the age of 21, based on the idea that clothing should be designed to protect against the conditions of the British climate. He is the inventor of gabardine, breathable and waterproof. During the Second World War he invented the trench coat, with a functional design that included shoulder pads to attach military equipment such as gloves and whistles, D-rings for grenades, windbreak flap and rain flap to allow the water to run off easily. The Burberry tartan motif, which is now a registered trademark, is introduced as a lining for rainwear.
