When Thomas Burberry began the Burberry Prosum Empire in 1956, he undoubtedly had no idea what kind of impact his iconic plaid would have on the fashion world. As a 21-year-old draper's apprentice, Burberry took notice of the designer's wiles, and later opened his own shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. As he began to work with various textures and fabrics, Burberry incorporated his own material called Garbardine into his repertoire, the breathable, weatherproof and tear-proof fabric that soon became a key component to his collections. By the end of the 1920s, the classic check print became the face of Burberry, and as they say, the rest was history.
Over 150 years since its inception, Burberry is a staple on the bill of fashion icons. In an effort to keep the legendary brand contemporary, the Thomas Burberry collection was created last year, a series of rugged, functional fashions aimed at the 18-25 set with a more affordable price tag. Though the designs are only available overseas, the collection of youthful designs (think printed sweats, cargo everything, and chic scarves) is reason enough to jet set to Madrid and Valencia, where the first two shops are set up. Private plane on the fritz? Fear not--here are the best designs of the season from Burberry, available right here in the states.
